McGarr joined Argent Trust as a Senior Wealth Advisor at our Birmingham location in 2022. In his role, he will focus on holistic wealth management for high net and ultra-high net worth families by providing sophisticated and integrated tax, estate, closely held business consultation, trust services and investment management services to individuals, their families, and their families’ businesses within the Argent footprint.
Bringing 39 years of experience, he joined the faculty at Birmingham Southern College in 2020 as the Business Executive-In-Residence after teaching income tax at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (October 2019-July 2020) and retiring from KPMG LLP (September 2019). McGarr served clients across a broad spectrum of business and financial concentrations, instructing and mentoring students, leading practices, executing strategies and developing talent. While at KPMG LLP, he served as lead partner and tax partner on clients in various industries, including Fortune 500 companies, and served in regional and national leadership roles.
McGarr holds a B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting Major, from Auburn University and a Master of Tax Accounting degree from the University of Alabama. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Alabama (retired) and (inactive) in Georgia and Florida.
Sam is active in his community, serving as a local office coordinator for United Way of Birmingham, a member of the Tocqueville Society and the Ivan Allen Circle of the United Way of Great Atlanta. Recipient of several National Multiple Sclerosis Society Awards and a past member of the Board of Directors of Central Atlanta Progress. He is also active in his church, where he serves on the Missions Committee and serves as a Sunday School teacher.