Finding a financial professional you can trust is key to achieving a successful retirement.
Certified Financial Fiduciaries® are sworn to uphold the highest moral, ethical and fiduciary standards of service when providing advice to potential or existing clients. By choosing to work with a Certified Financial Fiduciary® you can be confident that your best interests will always come first!
Grady Lee Elliott, a dedicated Main Street business Fiduciary, is an Authorized Taxation and Financial Consultant for Excel Empire Services, specializing in facilitating advanced financial solutions for businesses. His expert areas encompass Advanced Tax Reduction Strategies, Regulatory Compliance, Estate Planning, Tax Credits, Business Valuation & Brokerage, and Legacy Planning. Utilizing his comprehensive understanding of industry dynamics, Grady and Excel Empire craft growth-oriented strategies for businesses and high net-worth individuals. As a reliable partner of Excel Empire, Grady enhances the proficiency of accountants, thereby driving unprecedented success.
Grady's educational background features a Master's Degree in Public Administration, underscoring his well-rounded abilities. His comprehensive skill set, a key driver in augmenting revenue growth, improving client satisfaction, and formulating strategic business plans, is always exercised with a fiduciary approach. This commitment ensures prioritizing the best interests of every client is at the forefront of his professional endeavors.
I love a good story and I became a financial advisor because I want to tell great stories. I want to tell great stories about dream retirements, kids going to college, farms successfully transitioning to the next generation, businesses standing the test of time because of critical succession planning, families leaving a lasting financial legacy and so much more.
I served 7 years in the US Army, training and deploying in diverse and challenging environments. Many of those environments were crucial in shaping the man I am today. Although I left the service in 2004, the Army’s core values are continuously top of mind for me. As a financial advisor, those values are a part of our everyday life: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
I live in McFarland with my wife, Angie and my son, AJ and we love our fluffy English Cream Golden Retriever, JoJo. We love a good adventure because they make the best stories and honestly, I can’t wait to hear yours and help you write the next chapters.
Michel Vekved, Certified Financial Fiduciary® , CAP®
Michel is the principal of Trusted Roots, LLC. She has called the Pacific Northwest home for over 25 years. Michel holds a degree in Political Science, paralegal studies and a masters in Organizational Development.
At Trusted Roots our mission is to provide limited fiduciary services responsibly, ethically, and transparently, by creating a high level of trust, based on strong morals, to meet individual needs.
Vision: As a trusted personal representative, trustee, or power of attorney, I will accept responsibility for carrying out financial fiduciary services in a manner which will provide a reasurrance for you now and hereafter for your beneficiaries.
We offer these fiduciary services along with philanthropic advising, nonprofit fund development consulting, and notary services.
Michel Vekved, Certified Financial Fiduciary® , CAP®
Thomas Wells is originally from Dupo, Illinois. He is a graduate of Webster University and has a BA in Business Management.
In the past, Thomas was a lineman at Southwestern Bell, investing twenty-five years in telecommunications. During this time, he made inroads in his career to the financial industry, working part-time for a decade with his wife helping educate families about money, how to get out of debt and invest for the future. With The Chamberlin Group, Thomas is excited to be a part of a team that focuses on taking a holistic approach to financial planning and helping families in retirement.
When he’s not working with clients, Thomas enjoys spending time with his wife, Tami, their two children, Sydney and Tristin, and their four dogs. As a family, they are very involved in Scouts, marching band, football, and lacrosse. For Thomas, the family unit is of extreme importance, making the art of balance crucial. He loves cheering for his kiddos and is a huge Blues hockey fan looking forward to the next Stanley Cup.
Steven Crane is a serial entrepreneur and United States Marine Corps veteran known for high-preformance coaching and helping people break into the next level of their life. He has 125+ professional certifications and licenses, countless executive education programs under his belt, and multiple degrees.
As a veteran who ecperienced homlessness while transitioning out of the military, Steven has a proven track record of successfully building and running companies focused on supporting and advancing people's professional careers. His overall mission is conquering limiting beliefs, introducing a world of possibilities, and ensuring no warrior is left behind.
Steven Crane is a highly-respected advocate of the veteran community, dedicating 2,500+ hours of mentorship and volunteer work and delivering over $2.5B in benefits to veterans around the world. His work has been featured at NBC, FOX, ABC, CBS, MarketWatch, Digital Journal, Daily Herald, USA Today, and Bezinga.
Jake joined Infinity Wealth Management in 2022, relocating to Asheville from Savannah, GA. He has five years of experience in the financial services industry, and he has a sincere passion for this kind of work. He currently holds his Certified Financial Fiduciary designation, Series 6, 63,65, and his NC life/health licenses. He graduated from Guilford College with a double major in Business and Accounting.
Before coming to Infinity, Jake worked with an advisory firm based out of Raleigh, NC where he oversaw the investment operations. He enjoys digging deep into clients’ financial situations and recommending solutions in a comprehensive and responsible way.
When he’s out of the office, Jake spends time with his girlfriend, Bazhena. He has two cats, Jack and Loki, and a sweet old dog, Lady. He gets very involved in all his hobbies and considers himself “The Jake of all trades”. He likes to stay active by playing pickleball, golfing, disc golfing and one wheeling.
When Yvette Barrera was in middle school, she remembers thinking about what career she wanted and thought it would be both exciting and empowering to be a woman in the financial industry. After attending the University of Oklahoma on a volleyball scholarship, Yvette began her career in financial services working for a company with many senior clients. She learned that she could significantly impact pre-retirees and retirees by guiding them in their pursuit of a stable and healthy retirement.
Yvette’s goal is to create the most value she can for her clients by showing them how much she cares through her actions, while always placing their best interests above her own. Yvette acts as a counselor and educator for her clients, learning what is important to them and what they value in life, and why. Creating peace of mind for her clients is her driving force.
After attending the University of Texas at Austin, Tammie Tirres was provided the opportunity to work for a private real estate investment company. During this time, she discovered that helping people reach their financial goals and become fully prepared for the future in order to enjoy their retirement without worry is what motivates Tammie and provides her purpose in her career.
Tammie appreciates that there are always opportunities for growth, development and knowledge. She has a passion for learning and thrives in discovering innovative methods and finding solutions to problems. Constantly learning how to better serve her clients is what keeps Tammie on her toes, which she truly enjoys.
Tammie leads with compassion and respect, two attributes that contribute to her admirable client relationships. She genuinely wants to support her clients in reaching their goals.
In 2008, Brooklynn Chandler Willy found her purpose and her passion in helping individuals and families plan for their future and reach their financial goals. She wanted to ensure that they could live their best lives, free from nagging financial concerns and hardships, with her help and guidance.
Brooklynn was led to this role by her own personal experience. She and her sisters lost their father and although he was a life insurance salesman, he did not have life insurance coverage, putting the family in a financial predicament. After following in her father’s footsteps in insurance sales, Brooklynn realized that she could do more than ensure families had the appropriate life insurance coverage. She saw the power in having a total and complete financial plan, guiding individuals and families forward with intentional preparation and risk management.
In launching her own firm, Texas Financial Advisory, and offering these services to her clients, Brooklynn is deeply aware of the depth of responsibility she has and she takes it to heart. It’s a job that comes with much trust and one that she always takes very seriously. Her calling to help others avoid financial dilemmas similar to the one she and her family experienced is what guides everything she and her team does.
Mr. Gotses is an honor graduate of San Diego State University with a B. S. in Finance with an emphasis in Financial Planning, with minors in Economics and Accounting; he was recognized as a member of several honor societies, including Beta Alpha Psi. Mr. Gotses obtained numerous securities and insurance licenses and designations including the Series 7, 63, 65, Life, Health and Disability, Long Term Care, Buy/Sell agreements insurance and Key Man Insurance certification.