Harli PalmeCFA, CFP®
Chief Operating Officer, Principal
What fuels you every day at work?
I enjoy the never-ending puzzle of how to make an organization better. Change in our industry is constant, which provides new challenges and new opportunities. Having the chance to innovate, ideate, and try new things is what makes work fulfilling for me. I want to constantly curate a better client and employee experience.
Where did you grow up? Where do you live now?
I was born in Macon, GA, and moved around the southeast as a child, including living in Savannah, GA, Columbia, SC, and Charlotte, NC. I spent my formative high school years in both Macon and Huntington, WV. I went to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, where I met my husband, and we’ve made Asheville our home since 2003. Asheville is filled with people who have recently moved here, so around here, we are considered old-timers.
What sparked your interest in financial planning?
To be honest, financial planning wasn’t on my career radar when I first started out. But I happened into a client service job at Parsec Financial (which recently joined Modera) and saw a group of good people dedicated to helping clients reach their goals. The company had the right values, and I saw how I could make a positive difference in people’s lives, so I started on the path to make financial planning my career. The people who believed in me and supported my learning and education along the way made all the difference.
When you retire you’re going to…?
I have a dream daily regimen that involves walking, artfully shopping for produce, reading novels, and eating elaborate sandwiches.