JOE WRIGHT CPA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- INVESTMENT ADVISOR
- REPRESENTATIVE
Job Titles:
- President
- President and Portfolio Manager for AdaptFirst Investments
- President of Adapt
Charles F. Freeman, Jr. is the President and Portfolio Manager for AdaptFirst Investments. Charles is responsible for investment research and portfolio decision making for clients. He began his career in investments in 1998 while in New York City. Originally from Kernersville, NC, Charles found his way to NYC on a fencing scholarship to the New York Athletic Club.
In New York, a fellow fencer introduced Charles to a small investment stock trading firm. Charles knew immediately after starting with the firm that he had a passion for investing. After moving back to North Carolina, Charles began to help others with their investments in 2005 by joining AXA Advisors, and then continued to do so at Holderness Investments in Greensboro, NC.
Charles Freeman, President of AdaptFirst, joined Joe, Debbie, and Sandra three years ago with the goal of expanding his tax knowledge. He obtained his Enrolled Agent tax designation with the IRS and assisted in tax preparation and tax planning for our clients. And recently, an opportunity came about in the last seven months with Charles and AdaptFirst to deepen that relationship, integrate services, and create additional resources for our clients. The integration of services between the two firms has been so successful, we wanted to bring everything under one roof for the convenience of our clients.
There will be no disruptions to our services due to the change. Joe, Debbie, Sandra, and the rest of our staff will continue to help you with tax preparation and bookkeeping. Our new department, led by Charles, will be a resource for investment management and comprehensive financial planning.
Job Titles:
- Investment Advisor
- Representative
James Byers attended North Carolina A&T where he earned a BS in Accounting. Upon graduating, he started his career in financial services as a branch manager with Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo). However, Byers passion for helping people make well informed financial decisions lead him to pursue the financial specialist role in 2005.
Today Byers helps small businesses and families traverse the financially tumultuous road towards retirement. Byers has had the opportunity to learn from some of the sharpest minds in the financial services industry and takes the lifetime student approach to learning. His ability to connect with clients and their goals paired with his knack for making complex information digestible to any client is what people who work with him appreciate most about him.
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS
Financial Services Certified Professional
Job Titles:
- Investment Advisor
- Representative
Jared Gibbs attended the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where he earned a BS in Finance. During college, he interned at multiple financial institutions, including Adaptfirst Investments, where he had hands-on training with the current Founder & President, Charles Freeman. After graduation, he continued his passion for helping others reach their financial goals by becoming a Mortgage Loan Officer and assisting clients in completing their dream of home ownership and financial freedom.
Whether you're on the brink of retirement or embarking on the journey of buying your first home while nurturing a growing family, he possesses the expertise to assist you in optimizing your objectives through tailored investment strategies, regardless of scale. Jared is dedicated to helping his clients lay the groundwork for their future by implementing meticulous financial planning strategies. He begins this process by conducting comprehensive assessments encompassing Financial Planning, Investments, Tax strategies, Protection strategies, and Estate Planning.
PERSONAL
I am recently married to my high-school sweetheart with our two puppies, Mickey and Nala. In my spare time, I enjoy teaching financial literacy, volunteering at local schools, cooking new recipes, and watching/attending sports events.
Karen attended UNC-Chapel Hill and received a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Relations, where she found her passion for the field of human resources (HR). She shared her love of HR with others as she taught courses at the community college level and has worked as an HR leader in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors for over 25 years. Throughout her career, Karen has helped to advance the HR profession through national membership in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and served as President of a local SHRM chapter where she was also named the chapter's 2013 HR Professional of the Year.
Ms. Caines was bestowed one of 10 national, full-ride scholarships to the University of Phoenix in 2014 and attended grad school while working full-time. She graduated in 2016 with her Master's of Business Administration degree.
In the community, Karen serves on local Executive Boards of a local high school's PTSA and Choral Boosters Club. In her church, she actively serves on the Personnel Committee and sings on the Praise Team each week.
Consulting with small-to-medium sized business owners and helping them realize how the "people" side of the business impacts the financial success of the company is her specialty. Even though she stays busy, Karen finds time to devote to her loving husband who is a 5th grade science teacher and their beautiful, teenage daughter.
Job Titles:
- Investment Advisor
- Representative
- Certified Financial Planner
Live Life in the Black® says Leslie Garner, CFP®, one of Piedmont's assets when it comes to strategizing and managing one's personal finances. A graduate of Emory University's Goizueta Business School, Garner specialized in finance. Her clients include college professors, medical doctors, and even some struggling working students. Whether you're about to retire or a first-time home buyer with a growing family, she can help you maximize your goals with a customized investment strategy, big and small.
Garner is a Certified Financial Planner™️ dedicated to helping individuals cultivate a wealthy mindset, that want to garner wealth and be benefactors within their own families and community. In 2017, Leslie Garner and James Byers officially formed an independent financial planning company. Together they are driven by one mission, to help families align sustainable habits with their financial goals.
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS
Certified Financial Planner
Job Titles:
- Director, Greensboro Foundation for Financial Service Professionals, Inc. ( 2014 - Present )
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Senior Accountant
Sandra M Kiger, CPA has worked in public accounting since she graduated with honors from Winsalm Business College with an Associate's Degree in Applied Science with a concentration in accounting in 1979. She passed the CPA exam on her first attempt in 1982. Sandra is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accounts and an honored member of Who's Who in American Accounting.
Sandra's years of experience in all aspects of public accounting has given her the opportunity to provide business and tax advice to many long-standing clients who value her input. In addition to individual and business tax services, she has vast experience in training bookkeepers and business owners with the necessary skills to run their business on a day-to-day basis. She is dedicated and wholeheartedly finds fulfillment in serving the client's needs.
Sandra obtained her 1st Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do in 2014. She enjoys church, spending time with her family, is a familiar face at the YMCA at 5:30 in the morning, and loves outdoor activities.
Job Titles:
- INVESTMENT ADVISOR
- REPRESENTATIVE
One of the things that inspires Tristen is his never-ending desire to improve and constantly be better in life. Whether it's being a better communicator, father, son, or competitor, there is no end to pursuing greatness. It's with this passion that he coaches his clients to work towards their own personal definition of financial independence. Whether he is working with clients approaching retirement or others managing student loan and credit card debt, he approaches them with the same degree of specialized focus to find a plan that works towards their own success.
Tristen is passionate about golf, a game that has taught him integrity, sportsmanship, competitiveness and a work ethic that carried over into the everyday aspect of his professional career. When he's not assisting clients, you can find him on the golf course, playing basketball, or spending time with his family at the beach.
Born and raised in Orange County, California, Tristen graduated from Cal State Fullerton University with a degree in business. He is an Investment Advisor Representative and holds his Series 65 registration. He also holds his Life and Health Insurance License and his Real Estate License.
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS
Financial Services Certified Professional
Job Titles:
- Investment Advisor
- Representative