,CFP®, RICP®
As a dedicated financial advisor, Melissa is committed to helping individuals navigate important life decisions with clarity and confidence. She understands that clients entrust her with their most sensitive financial and family matters, and she strives to exceed their expectations at every step. While her clients come from diverse backgrounds, Melissa has a particular passion for retirement planning. She recognizes that this phase of life can be both emotional and overwhelming, involving complex decisions and significant tax implications. Melissa takes pride in showing her clients how to make the most of their investments in the early years of retirement, enabling them to enjoy life now while helping to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
Melissa has over 25 years of financial services experience. Prior to joining Modera in 2020, she worked at an all-female, fee-only wealth management firm. Before that, she was a financial planning consultant to financial advisors and worked as a financial planning associate for a large insurer.
Melissa received a B.S. in applied mathematics from North Carolina State University. She is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a Retirement Income Certified Professional®. Melissa is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), Financial Planning Association (FPA), and the Charlotte Estate Planning Council. Passionate about preventing cyber fraud amongst seniors, she represents at-risk adults through the Vulnerable Adult Guardian Ad Litem.
What do you value most in your client relationships?
What I value most in my client relationships is trust. Clients are trusting me with their most sensitive financial and family matters. In return, I want to exceed their expectations by delivering on what I say I am going to, following through on items, and earning their trust through my actions.
What sparked your interest in financial planning? What fuels you every day in your work?
I became interested in financial planning upon seeing how some couples manage finances, where one person has knowledge and the other does not. I liked how I could work with these couples and help engage both parties so that they would be on the same page when it comes to their financial future and goals.
How do you feel you help to create impact for clients?
I create a lasting impact for clients by encouraging them to do what they would like to do in retirement. I do this by demonstrating how all the puzzle pieces come together when it is time to start using your investments to fund your lifestyle. I give my clients honest, straight forward answers to their questions about retirement, such as how much money they will have and what they can spend, what trips they can take, and when they should start taking Social Security.
What do you feel is a strength that you have?
A strength I have is being very organized. After each meeting I send a follow up email that summarizes our discussion and clearly states what I am working on, and what you the client is working on. I think this helps prevent errors, ambiguities, and it is also a great item to review at the next meeting to make sure we keep each other on track.
What do you enjoy most about working at Modera?
I enjoy my colleagues the most at Modera. I appreciate how we work as a team. Everyone is willing to help and share knowledge. Also, after working at other companies, I understand how special and unique Modera is. We have a 12 core values that we lean into and often review before internal meetings. My favorite core value is Make Each Interaction Count.
How do you do good in your community?
Something I am passionate about is talking to my senior clients about preventing cyber fraud and being taken advantage of. This passion led me to work in my community as a Vulnerable Adult Guardian Ad Litem where I will represent adults who are at risk of, or have experienced abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.
When you retire you’re going to…?
Travel is usually top of mind for retirees. For me I would like to move and live somewhere for an extended period of time, and then move somewhere else and repeat. That way I can immerse myself to each location’s unique culture and lifestyle, without the pressure of doing everything in a few short weeks.
Where did you grow up? Where do you live now?
I am a Charlotte native which is unusual. After living in Charlotte most of my life, I lived in Raleigh for a few years, then relocated back to the area, settling in Fort Mill where I started a family.
6101 Carnegie Blvd Suite 220 Charlotte, NC 28209
6700 Fairview Rd., Suite 360 Charlotte, NC 28210
704-358-3322
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, Retirement Income Certified Professional®
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