With so much financial and investment planning information available these days, and so much media hype around the economy and investments, it is hard for many people to know where to focus when it comes to managing their own wealth. Michael helps clients determine their priorities and focus on a plan to achieve their goals. He has worked mainly with business owners, corporate executives and retirees.

With over 21 years in the tax, financial and investment planning business, Michael brings to clients experience in all areas of wealth management. In addition to the CPA license, Michael earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 1995 and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2003. This allows him to bring to his clients a combination of technical expertise and real world experience in an effort to integrate all areas of financial planning.

One area that illustrates the need for integrated planning is the Roth IRA conversion decision. Making the decision to convert or not (and if so, how much) requires an analysis of the relevant income tax, investment, cash flow and estate planning elements. And once the decision to convert is made, the Roth IRA account must be monitored to determine if additional action (i.e., a re-characterization) is appropriate! Michael assisted many clients with this analysis during the last few years.

Michael started his career with Price Waterhouse, and later spent time with The Ayco Company (now part of Goldman Sachs) and JPMorgan before founding Four Corners Wealth Management, which was merged into Southern Wealth Management in early 2012. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration and a Master of Accounting (Tax).