Betsy CunaginCFP®, CRPC®

What do you value most in your client relationships?

I value that client relationships are deep relationships, fostered in trust. We are hired to manage clients’ financial lives and my job is to strive to become that trusted advisor who takes the time to build a relationship. This enables our clients to spend more time on their family, careers, and other life callings. Knowing that I play a role in relieving a time-consuming and sometimes stressful task is very fulfilling.

What sparked your interest in financial planning?

Early in my career, I went through a bank training program. After only a short timeframe, the learning curve became flat, and I knew I wanted to pursue something more challenging. This was in the mid-90s only a decade or so after the Certified Financial Planner Board was established. After completing the Certified Financial Planner program, I knew I had found my life’s work. Financial planning encompasses an immense body of knowledge that is applicable to all clients in all stages of life and with varying degrees of wealth. I often equate a client’s financial life to a puzzle. I enjoy analyzing the pieces and putting them together to form a complete wealth profile. This can be an overwhelming task, so taking this burden off clients is what I love.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, but am proud to call Asheville home. My oldest son was born in New York City where we lived for seven years and my two younger children were born in Nashville, TN, where we spent nine years. Of all the paths we took, our three years in Cape Town, South Africa, were the most memorable. While it took a winding road to land in Asheville, the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains will be our forever home.