ALPHA FINANCIAL ADVISORS - Key Persons
As a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Ann is uniquely qualified to understand complex issues surrounding effective financial, estate and tax planning. Ann enjoys designing and implementing customized financial plans that provide clarity for clients. She believes it is paramount that recommended solutions align with each client's unique vision, values and goals. Ann's commitment to excellence, integrity, and authentic relationships helps her coach clients to make wise financial decisions. This gives clients the confidence and peace of mind to pursue their dreams knowing their finances are right on track. In addition to her client advisory role, Ann functions as Alpha's Chief Executive Officer.
After earning degrees in Accounting and Japanese at Villanova University, Ann began her career in New York City at Deloitte & Touche and then transferred to Tokyo where she specialized in financial services. She went on to serve as Asia regional controller for Bear Stearns based out of Tokyo. This international experience sparked her interest in helping expatriate clients navigate complex tax and financial issues that their unique situations present. After repatriating to Charlotte, Ann pursued her interest in tax planning and personal finance, earned her CFP® designation and joined Alpha in 2010. She is passionate about leading the Alpha team, and enjoys mentoring and developing leaders.
Ann is a member of the AICPA and has earned the Personal Financial Specialist designation. She is also member of the North Carolina Association of CPAs and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). She served as Chair on NAPFA's South Regional Board, as a member of NAPFA's Finance Committee and is currently a member of the Audit Committee. Ann has been consistently recognized with the FIVE STAR Wealth Manager award from Charlotte Magazine and is frequently quoted in national news publications. Ann enjoys spending time with her 4 children, traveling the world and building relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. She is inspired by those who are committed to growth, eager to learn and passionate about pursuing their life's purpose.
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Manager / Associate Financial Advisor
As a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Cameron understands the importance of aligning financial goals with sound investment portfolio construction. In his role at Alpha, Cameron applies his investment expertise to provide input which directly impacts clients' financial plans. His combination of strengths in data analysis and relationship building are unique assets he brings to the Alpha team.
Prior to joining Alpha, Cameron spent time as an equity analyst at a similar sized advisory firm in Burlington, VT and at Bank of America in Charlotte. Cameron earned a degree in Finance and Banking from Appalachian State University.
Outside of work, Cameron loves to be active and spend time outdoors. Cameron enjoys trail running, snowboarding, paddle boarding and spends any chance he can get to be out on the water. Cameron grew up in Egypt which sparked his passion for traveling and experiencing new cultures. He's looking forward revisiting Egypt as well as other unique places both domestically and abroad!
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA), Heather brings over two decades of experience in financial, estate and wealth advising. She collaborates with clients as they develop and manage their comprehensive goals-based financial plan. Heather takes the time to thoroughly understand each client's goals, dreams, resources, and life perspective. She then works closely with them to develop a personalized plan that is objective, coordinated, purposeful and continually evolving.
Prior to joining Alpha Financial, Heather gained extensive industry experience at Deloitte & Touch, First Union/Wachovia, First Citizens, and BB&T (now Truist) where she focused on financial and estate planning, tax projections, investment advisory and risk management. Heather thrives on helping affluent and ultra-affluent clients determine how they can retire, live vibrantly, and transition assets to the next generation while keeping a keen eye on taxes and protecting family members from unforeseen events. Helping clients understand their planning options and make informed and deliberate choices is Heather's passion. Heather earned a B.S. in Financial Counseling & Planning and Consumer Affairs from Purdue University.
Heather currently serves on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Board of Trustees for Thompson Child and Family Focus. She is also the chair of the Foundation Committee (investment committee) and the Client Rights Liaison. Additionally, she mentors and supports families in the Charlotte area who are new to tube feeding their children with blended diets. Residing in Mint Hill, Heather is married with three boys, and is devoted to her family. Heather enjoys almost any activity that is outdoors, travel, football and spending time with family.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor, and Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA), Janice thrives on helping people to live their best life. She believes in enjoying all that life has to offer by balancing the present financial experiences with saving for future retirement. Having experienced an unexpected death in her family first hand, Janice is particularly passionate about guiding widows and widowers through the estate settlement maze. With her background in trusts and estates, Janice serves on the Queens University Estate Planners Day Steering Committee.
After graduating Cum Laude with a Business Degree at Saint Anselm College, Janice began her career in Boston at Fidelity Investments. She continued to work in financial services in The Private Clients Group at Fleet Bank and The Wealth Management Department at Cambridge Trust Company where she served high net worth clients. Janice decided to relocate to Charlotte with her husband in 2007 and has since fallen in love with all the city has to offer, including the milder weather. Prior to joining Alpha in 2019, Janice spent 10 years with Modera Wealth Management (formerly Matrix Wealth Advisors) where she served as a Wealth Manager and Financial Planner.
As a former college basketball player, Janice enjoys remaining physically active. She loves traveling, spending time with her husband, and chasing her two young daughters.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Financial Advisor
In her role as Associate Financial Advisor, Marissa is responsible for supporting advisors and providing an exceptional client experience. She is knowledgeable in managing multijurisdictional teams, building client relationships, and enhancing and streamlining processes and procedures. Marissa is dedicated to serving the general public and thrives on teamwork and procedural compliance.
Marissa earned her BS in Accountancy and a minor in Writing & Rhetoric from Villanova University. Before moving to Charlotte, she spent most of her life in New Jersey and New York City. Marissa completed a year of service with the Augustinian Volunteers in 2014 in San Diego, CA. Prior to joining Alpha, Marissa built her career at EY as Senior Business Consultant specializing in Financial Crimes Compliance as a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).
Marissa has a lifelong love of learning. She is currently completing the Financial Planning Certificate program through Boston University. In her downtime, she enjoys exploring the exciting restaurant scene in Charlotte. Some of her favorite activities include traveling, listening to podcasts, biohacking, and spending time with family, friends, and her family dog Rocco. Marissa is passionate about growing new relationships while maintaining previous relationships concurrently.
Megan has served on the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) 's South Region Board. Megan was named as a 2017 InvestmentNews 40 under 40 award winner and in 2020 she was recognized with the The University of Georgia's Financial Planning alumni "Young Financial Planning Achiever Award". Outside of work, Megan can be found exploring Anne Springs Greenway with her husband and young daughter, practicing yoga or awaiting the next opportunity to enjoy outdoor music and travel again.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), and NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor, Nick specializes in designing and implementing financial plans for clients. Nick values the present moment that we are given and attempts to take full advantage of all opportunities. He believes that the key to enjoying life is not regretting past decisions or anxiously worrying about the future. Utilizing planning to isolate the variables that can be controlled can help put your mind at ease as you work towards your goals and dreams. Nick strongly believes the key planning is to start early and stay disciplined. In addition to his advisory role at Alpha, Nick also serves a leadership role on Alpha's Investment Committee.
Prior to joining Alpha in 2013, Nick worked for the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) where he served as both a Trust and Senior Financial Services officer. Nick graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance and Banking with a concentration in Financial Planning. Nick finds tremendous value in giving back to the community by volunteering for many different non-profits. Currently, he is the Area Chairman for the Charlotte Ducks Unlimited Chapter which raises awareness and funds for the conservation of America's wetlands. He is also actively engaged with the Tarheel Trailblazers working on a local project in Belmont for The Rocky Branch Trail Project. He recently served on NAPFA's South Regional Board to support the independent, fee-only professional association and help spread consumer awareness of the fee-only planning profession.
Outside of work, Nick prioritizes exercise to maintain a healthy balance in life, both mentally and physically. This includes being a part of F3, hunting, fly-fishing, mountain biking, or just relaxing on the water. Nick is married to his wife, Merritt, and they have two young boys who keep them very active! They live in Belmont, NC where they enjoy the community feel and proximity to all of the outdoor activities.
As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Craig brings over a decade of experience in accounting, risk management, and regulatory compliance to his role at Alpha as the Chief Operating Officer. Craig's primary areas of focus are managing the firm's operations, compliance, and client service processes.
Prior to joining Alpha in 2023, Craig worked in a variety of risk management and corporate finance roles at both Wells Fargo and Bank of America. Prior to his career in banking, Craig worked as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers primarily serving small middle market clients throughout the Carolinas. Craig is a graduate from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and obtained his master's in accounting from the Kenan Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Craig enjoys spending his time volunteering and helping others in the Charlotte community. Currently, he serves as a deacon at his church where he helps manage the church's finances and volunteers in the children's ministry. Craig has been an active member of the University of Virginia Alumni Association and serves on their Legacy Scholarship Committee. Craig has also volunteered in the past as a lunch buddy to students at Brookstone Schools as well as serving on the school's corporate partnerships committee.
Craig enjoys spending time with his family and friends and pursuing several hobbies and interests. This includes being an active member in his church, fishing, exercise, keeping up with family and friends, and following the Virginia Cavaliers and North Carolina Tar Heels sports teams.
Job Titles:
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
Tyler is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) who is passionate about helping clients find their "why" and working with them to build a plan to accomplish the goals that are most important to them. Tyler is a member of Alpha's Investment Committee and is actively involved in the day-to-day management of client portfolios. Tyler is currently pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation as part of his commitment and passion to build upon his investment knowledge and expertise.
Tyler joined the Alpha team in 2017 after earning a degree in Finance (CFP® education track) from Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech, Tyler also earned a minor degree in International Business. He spent a semester studying in Switzerland, and this priceless experience reinforced his interest in the global economy and his passion for immersing in new cultures. This also sparked an interest in learning more about the intricacies of financial planning opportunities for global professionals and how he can potentially add value in this area.
Outside of work, Tyler is an avid reader and constantly seeks new knowledge to further his understanding of people and the world at large. Tyler loves live music and is currently counting the days until he can safely attend a concert. When Tyler isn't reading or listening to music, you may find him ardently following his favorite professional sports teams which include the Red Sox, Celtics, Washington Football Team and Liverpool FC. Tyler also enjoys any activity that takes him outdoors or to new horizons both home and abroad. He is hoping his next adventure will take him to Australia and New Zealand.
In her role as Office Manager, Vanessa makes it her priority to help the advisory team function cohesively and make sure they are adequately supported by back office administration. Prior to joining Alpha, Vanessa built her career in the retail industry where she focused on managing sales teams, building client relationships, and enhancing customer service. She effectively managed stores from well-known brands such as Pier 1, Coach, Brighton and Ann Taylor. Vanessa earned her BS in Management at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI and spent the majority of her life in the northeast.
Vanessa and her husband Christopher moved to Waxhaw, NC, from Long Island, NY, in 2019. They enjoy exploring new places and working around their home, inside and out! Favorite activities include hiking, kayaking, and trying new restaurants.
Vanessa enjoys spending time with her extended family and catching up with her 8 nieces and nephews. Vanessa is passionate about building new relationships and growing existing ones.