Payton Null, Vice President of Technology

Payton Null serves as the Manager of Technology for Gulf Coast Financial Advisors. He also serves as a Para-Planner with our Financial Planning clients.

Payton is a graduate of Fairhope High School and currently attends Auburn University on the "Spirit of Auburn - Presidential Scholarship". Payton has been recognized by the Alabama House of Representatives via an official state resolution recognizing his perfect ACT score of 36. Payton is a double major at Auburn, pursuing a B.S. in Finance and Accounting.

Josh Null

Founder & CEO

Josh Null is the Founder and CEO of Gulf Coast Financial Advisors, LLC.

Josh grew up at Wappapello Lake, Missouri, a 8000 acre Corps of Engineer's reservoir situated at the edge of the Ozark Foothills in Southeast Missouri (SEMO). Wappapello Lake is a beautiful and rustic place bordered by the Mark Twain National Forest and the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. When not busy with school or sports, Josh worked along side his Dad H.B. Null in the family excavation business, which involved running heavy equipment, pouring concrete, and more often than not, having a shovel in his hands.

In 1993, Josh graduated Valedictorian from Puxico High School, and enrolled at Missouri State University (Southwest Missouri State, at the time) in Springfield, MO. Josh attended college on an academic scholarship, as well as earning a Bright Flight scholarship for his ACT score. In 1998, Josh graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major in Economics and Business Management, earning his Bachelor of Science degrees in both. After spending a few years in the corporate world after graduating college, Josh got back to his construction roots, founding custom home company Timeless Homes along with several real estate development companies. In 2006 and 2007, Timeless Homes won 2 Remodel of the Year and 1 Custom Home of the Year awards from the Kansas City Homes & Garden Magazine. However, life had a different path for Josh, and after the housing market crash, he entered the financial services industry in 2009.

In 2018, Josh made the decision to go independent and founded Gulf Coast Financial Advisors. Josh believes that the best way to serve his clients is in a transparent fee-for-service environment, with no sales quotas, no proprietary products, and in an open and honest relationship where he and the clients are part of a team. Josh also believes that a financial advisor should ultimately have one boss: the client.

Josh is married to Michelle Melton-Null, J.D. Michelle is a City Planner for fast-growing Fairhope, AL. Together they host the the popular radio show "Coasting in Retirement with Josh Null", heard every Sunday from Noon to 1 PM CT on Mobile, Alabama based FM Talk 106.5. Josh also co-hosts "Every Dollar Counts with Josh & Jay" with Jay Stubbs, CLU. Every Dollar Counts is an industry facing podcast dedicated to captive and semi-captive financial advisors looking to make the jump to full independence.

Josh has three children from a previous relationship: Payton, Ashton and Josephine. Oldest son Payton is attending Auburn University in the Fall of 2024, second son Ashton attends St. Michael's Catholic High School in Fairhope, and daughter Josephine attends Christ the King Catholic in Daphne. Josh and Michelle are active in various local community and charity groups, while Josh's kids stay very busy with sports and school activities. Josh, Michelle and the kids enjoy being outside as much as possible, especially boating on all of the wonderful waterways of Lower Alabama.

Michelle Lee Melton-Null, J.D.

Manager of First Impressions

Michelle serves as the Manager of First Impressions for Gulf Coast Financial Advisors, as well as co-hosting our popular weekly radio program, “Coasting in Retirement with Josh Null”, heard every Sunday from Noon to 1 PM on FM Talk 106.5.

Michelle earned her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of Denver - Sturm College of Law, with an emphasis in Land Use and Natural Resources. She attended St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She has worked with various law firms, national corporations, non-profit organizations and municipalities across the U.S.

Michelle currently serves as a City Planner for the City of Fairhope, Alabama, one of the fastest growing cities in Southeast U.S. Her previous roles include Deputy Director of Real Estate for the City of Mobile, as well serving as the Director of Real Estate and Economic Development Director for the Mobile Airport Authority.

Michelle does volunteer work with the Baldwin County Trailblazers, Hope Blooms and Prodisee Pantry. Michelle grew up in Opelika, Alabama and is a huge supporter of everything Auburn University.

Robert Ikner

Group Benefits Coordinator

Robert Ikner serves as the Group Benefits Coordinator for Gulf Coast Financial Advisors.