Michael E. Spears, CRPC®, APMA®
Private Wealth Advisor | Wilmington Location and Kinston Location
I learned about planning ahead and proper money management at an early age because of family circumstances that required me to support myself and live independently. I worked full-time to pay for school while attending East Carolina University, where I pursued my bachelor’s degree in finance. One particular event that changed the course of my career was when my wife's grandmother requested my input about her pension options. I was shocked at how little she would receive to supplement her social security after many years of service. At that moment, I knew I wanted to spend my career educating people on how to live well versus just getting by financially.
My mission in life is to live by example, leaving the individuals with whom I interact and the world around me better than I found them; to be a great husband to my wife of 26 years, Jimi; and a great father to my son, Cameron, 25; my daughter, Madison, 21; and grand dogs Paisley and Harley.
I opened my financial planning practice in 1995 and served business owners and multiple generations of families through Ameriprise Financial. In June 2019, I joined Crossbridge Financial Group and became associated with Commonwealth Financial Network®. To focus solely on client needs is important to me, which is why I have pursued advanced designations from the College for Financial Planning, such as the Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor and Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM designations. I was blessed to receive the Five Star Wealth Manager* award in 2014 from the Wall Street Journal Digital Network for the Carolinas*. In 2018, I was appointed to the Fidelity Investment Advisory Council.
2014 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, created by Five Star Professional. The 2014 award was presented in August 2014 based on data gathered within 12 months preceding the issue date. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.