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Publication: Charlotte Business Journal. Featuring: Nick Kolbenschlag. For those who are lucky enough to have one, a pension plan can
Publication: Charlotte Business Journal. Featuring: Nick Kolbenschlag. If you’re an employee with company stock as a part of your compensation,
I co-founded Crown Wealth Group with the mission to help as many families as possible experience financial peace, creating balance between their life and wealth. Empowering them to make good decisions, preventing them from making bad decisions and removing financial stress from their lives. I can achieve this not only by working directly with clients, but by teaching other, like-minded advisors how to do what I do as a Personal CFO.
Prior to co-founding Crown Wealth Group, I spent two years at a Charlotte-based wealth management firm building out their Personal CFO division as the Director of Personal CFO Services. I spent the previous 8 years building and executing this model as the Managing Director of a private wealth management firm with offices in Raleigh, Richmond and Charlotte.
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Finance, with a minor in accounting, from North Carolina State University. I hold the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® certification, administered by Investments & Wealth Institute® and taught in conjunction with Yale School of Management.
In my free time, I’m either golfing or spending time with my wife, Jessie, our son Bennett, and our dogs, Stella and Tim. We love traveling and spending weekends at our home in Pinehurst.
Along with Tyler, I Co-Captain a Walk MS Charlotte team, a top fundraising team annually. We will find a cure!
As an Associate Advisor at Crown Wealth Group, I am focused on creating time and service efficiencies through strategic task management, meeting prep, and planning support while interfacing with clients on behalf of the CEO. I strive to provide our family of clients with timely communication and assistance to produce the one thing that everyone desires most – peace of mind.
Prior to joining Crown Wealth, I worked for Wells Fargo as a Wealth Analyst where I learned about financial industry compliance standards and investment portfolio allocations. Not to mention a thing or two about using Excel.
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from Emory University as well as played college soccer. After graduating, I spent time in Costa Rica where I learned Spanish, experienced another culture, and taught English. Outside of work, you can catch me traveling, hiking, reading a good book, and spending time with family.
Since moving to Charlotte in 2024, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering with several local organizations – giving financial literacy talks to Habitat for Humanity’s homebuyers, serving the Charlotte Latino community through volunteer income tax assistance and preparation, helping plan the Charlotte Financial Planning Association’s symposium, feeding and sheltering the unhoused through my church, and becoming a part of the Charlotte Emory Alumni Association’s Board.
As a Consultant to the Crown Investment Committee, I work alongside the CIO to research and recommend investment strategies that are aligned with the firm’s goals-based investment philosophy. These strategies are based on current economic and market themes across all sectors and asset classes, with a tilt towards large cap growth and forward thinking technology.
My career spans over 40 years, with industry experience in high end money management at some of Wall Street’s largest asset managers, including Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, Oppenheimer, and UBS. I was the co-founder of Professional Alliance Group, a $2billion investment partnership with nationwide CPAs, now owned by Morgan Stanley. Most importantly, in 2022, I merged my wealth management business with Crown Wealth Group.
Prior to all of this, I graduated with a BA/BS in The Philosophy of Science from the New College of Hofstra University. I pursued my MBA studies at New York University and received the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) certification from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
In my free time I enjoy creating and collecting art, traveling with my wonderful partner Leslie, designing and rehabilitating unique income producing real estate and am a veracious reader.
As Executive Director and Investment Committee Chairman I have several responsibilities but one ultimate goal: to help clients sleep well through varied investment environments as I have done for over four decades. I founded Client First Advisors, LLC in 2011 and subsequently merged with Crown Wealth Group in 2019. As the Chairman of the Investment Committee I engage in economic and market research and collaborate with the CIO on investment decisions for all Crown Wealth Group clients.
My career has spanned over 40 years. I have been fortunate to have traveled the globe while working for some of the world’s leading investment banks including The First Boston Corporation, Morgan Stanley International, and Goldman Sachs. I have acted as a consultant to a number of major investment institutions in Europe and the Middle East. During my career I have acted as broker, general partner and investment advisor.
I earned an MBA from New York University and received a BA in Economics and English Literature from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, NJ. I also studied at Hautes Etudes Commerciales in France and The London Business School.
In 2009 my wife Mary Jo and I moved south to Chapel Hill. We enjoy wine, traveling and the many delights that North Carolina has to offer. We have six children and five grandchildren living in four different states.
As the Client Relations Manager for Crown Wealth Group, my role is to support the execution of each client’s wealth plan; ensuring all of the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. By taking the operational duties off of advisor’s, I ensure they can focus their time helping clients achieve their life goals.
I bring 30 years of service in public education to Crown Wealth Group. My varied experiences in database management and technology training have prepared me to maximize the efficiency of the advice delivery process utilizing Crown’s extensive technology stack. Learning the financial services world has been deeply rewarding and as a lifelong learner I look forward to each new day.
I earned my associate degree in Business Administration with a certificate in Computers from Forsyth Technical Community College. My free time is spent tending to our multigeneration farm with my husband, daughters, mother and in-laws. We are also enjoying our newest hobby, bee keeping.
As Operations Manager at Crown Wealth Group’s headquarters, I am dedicated to driving operational excellence and streamlining organizational processes that support our continued growth and service to ultra high net worth families.
With a background in customer relationship management, digital marketing, and public relations, I work to enhance both the internal efficiency of our team and the external reputation of our firm. I am passionate about creating systems that empower our advisors and bring greater financial peace and confidence to the clients and partners we serve.
Before joining Crown, I earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Integrated Strategic Communications from the University of Kentucky. As part of my undergraduate capstone, I studied International Wine Marketing at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
Furthering my education through the UNC IBSA Dual Master’s Degree Program, I received both an MBA and a Master’s in International Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the University of Valencia in Spain. These experiences not only shaped my global business perspective but also deepened my love for international travel.
Outside of work, I love spending time with friends and family, going on walks with my dogs, Mally and Murdoch, or getting lost in a good book.
As a Senior Wealth Planner at Crown Wealth Group, I am responsible for delivering the family-office style Personal CFO solution to successful individuals and families that work with Crown. As their single point of contact, I am responsible for the coordination of all aspects of a client’s financial life and accountable for them achieving their life goals.
Prior to joining Crown Wealth Group, I spent 11 years at Sanderson Wealth Management as a Financial Advisor to individuals and families, as well as Chief Compliance Officer for the firm. Since 2015, I have been a volunteer with the Make A Wish Foundation as a wish granter, helping to create magical memories for children who have been diagnosed with a critical illness.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Business and my MBA in Finance from the State University of New York at Buffalo. When not at work or volunteering, I love to be outside on the golf course or at concerts, and most importantly, spending time with all my girls: wife Melissa, daughters Morgan and Peyton, and dog Aspen.
As a Managing Director at Crown Wealth Group’s Charlotte office, I am responsible for providing comprehensive advice to high and ultra-high-net-worth families. As a family’s Personal CFO, I bring a team of internal and external experts to coordinate, enhance and improve upon a family’s entire wealth picture. In a world with so many complexities, I can help simplify one of the most meaningful pillars of life: sound financial standing.
Prior to joining Crown Wealth, I spent 22 years in Commercial Rates and FX Solutions within Wells Fargo’s Corporate & Investment Banking division. It’s through this experience that I gained a passion for financial markets and strategic advisory. While at Wells Fargo, I was responsible for helping clients manage foreign currency risk and navigate global interest rate markets. In addition to the risk management roles I held, I also provided direct oversight for our junior talent development program throughout the East Region.
Upon graduating from Virginia Tech with a BS in Finance and a Risk Management concentration, I moved to Charlotte in 2002. I live in Myers Park with my wife Lauren and daughters Stella & Nora. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, golfing, working out, cooking (typically on the Big Green Egg), watching Pittsburgh sports (where I was born and raised), and traveling.
As Managing Director of Crown Wealth Group’s Athlete Division, I’m responsible for delivering the family-office structed Personal CFO solution to successful former, current and next-gen athletes. I am the quarterback of all aspects of an athlete’s financial life and accountable for them achieving all their goals. This entails financial education, being their first line of defense, navigating complex financial landscapes, ensuring their long-term financial well-being, while delivering comprehensive advice on all financial areas and ensuring the full execution of that advice.
Prior to merging with Crown Wealth Group in 2020, I spent 10 years at Thrivent Financial as a Financial Consultant. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting, from Lenoir-Rhyne University where I was a four-year letterman on the football team. In 2013, I earned my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designation, in 2022, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ designation, and in 2024 I was approved by the NFL Players Association to work with NFL athletes. I bring a deep understanding of athlete-specific needs and challenges to the Crown Athlete Division.
Outside of work, I cherish spending time with my family – my wife Lauren, my sons Wyatt and Luke, and our dogs, Nyla and Ava-Mae. I also enjoy exploring the outdoors and cheering on my alma mater, the Chicago Bears and Cubs.
Beyond my professional pursuits, I am an active member of my community; I am a founding member, past winner and President of the Winston Salem Under 40 Board, Founding Member of the Ducks Unlimited Davie County Chapter, and Founding Member of the LLK advisory board. In 2020, I was awarded the Rising Star Young Alumnus Award from Lenoir-Rhyne University.
As Chief Investment Officer, I am responsible for ensuring our firm’s goals-based investment philosophy is properly implemented to ensure our clients achieve the objectives identified in the financial planning and advice delivery process. This includes maintaining an effective and efficient investment process along with the proper allocation and management of investment portfolios.
Prior to joining Crown Wealth Group, I was a Regional Vice President and Investment Executive at Questar Capital for five years where my responsibilities included recruiting advisor talent and growing the businesses of over 125 registered representatives. My career started in New York City analyzing banks for the U.S. Department of the Treasury where I interpreted and enforced banking laws set forth by Congress. In June 2008, I joined a Wall St. trading floor that traded $1 billion worth of equities daily and the financial crisis began shortly thereafter. Much of my knowledge, passion and respect for the financial markets and global economies were shaped during those historic years. I later spent two years at an investment bank authoring buy/hold/sell investment recommendations with a focus on semiconductor stocks.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Finance from St. Cloud State University, and also studied at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. I hold the Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification, administered by Investments & Wealth Institute® and taught in conjunction with Yale School of Management.
My wife Melissa and I have moved across the country twice since being married and are happy to have found our forever home in Charlotte. North Carolina has proven to be a great place to raise our three boys Camden, Mac and Austin as we enjoy ski vacations in the winter and beach trips during the summer. During my free time you may find me at local breweries, on a golf course or cheering for UNC basketball.
Proudly, I serve as the President of the Charlotte Economics Club. The Charlotte Economics Club’s mission is to provide leadership in the use and understanding of economic information and industry trends that affect our region’s economic growth.
I co-founded Crown Wealth Group with the goal of bringing more financial clarity and confidence to those we work with. I am able to do this by continually improving the way advice solutions are built, delivered, and executed by our team.
As a licensed real estate agent, I manage the real estate process, partners, and local market analysis for Crown clients and their families through my affiliation with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Carolinas Realty.
Prior to co-founding Crown Wealth Group, I spent two years at a Charlotte-based wealth management firm building the operations for a Personal CFO division and leading the firm’s merger and acquisition strategy. I spent the previous four years at a Raleigh-based private wealth management firm providing client advice, as well as a lead member of the firm’s merger and acquisition strategy – helping source and complete acquisitions in Richmond and Charlotte.
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Finance from North Carolina State University. I currently live in SouthPark with my wife Eden, our son Boyer, and our Goldendoodle Sampson. I love being outdoors, whether it’s on a golf course, at a concert, or on a beach with Eden, Boyer, and Sampson.
I proudly serve on the Greater Carolinas Board of Trustees for the National MS Society, a cause near and dear to my family, who all live right here in Charlotte. Along with Nick, I Co-Captain a Walk MS Charlotte team, a top fundraising team year after year. We will find a cure!
