I became a financial advisor in 2006, first working with advisor Deborah Hining. In 2009 we merged with the practice that eventually became Hilltop Wealth Advisors. Although I entered financial services just after college, my education was in the liberal arts at UNC-Chapel Hill – a BA in Journalism with a minor in Chinese.My first financial services role was at the State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, where I studied for and passed the Certified Financial Planner™ exam. Through the CFP® education, I found my calling to the life-changing impact of financial planning. I am also a Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠ (CRPS ®), and I lead Hilltop’s client communications and online marketing, including the Hilltop Views blog.I live in Raleigh with my wife, Lori, our children, Nathan and Emily, and our energetic Goldendoodle, Sam. I have served on the board of the Financial Planning Association of the Triangle, including stints as President and as Pro Bono Director. Outside of the office, I like cheering on the Tar Heels, chauffeuring my kids to soccer and dance, picking the guitar, and tackling obstacle course races.See important disclosures at https://www.hilltopwealthadvisors.com/disclosures.