Brian Joseph Fernander Jr.

Counterweight Private Wealth is an independent, fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm based in Raleigh and Wilmington, NC, serving clients virtually nationwide. Founded in 2021 by Nick Murphy, CFP®, the firm specializes in tax-forward retirement and business-exit planning, helping executives, business owners, and professionals turn decades of accumulated wealth into a tax-efficient, purpose-driven retirement. Counterweight is one of the few advisory firms that prepares client tax returns in-house, allowing deep integrated tax planning strategies for lifetime tax optimization to be directly implemented with precision into the financial plan. Clients typically range from $2 million to $30 million or more in investable assets. Who We Serve Our clients are successful individuals and families in the later stages of their careers who desire a collaborative partner to help them transition through significant professional and personal milestones. We typically partner with clients who have $2 million or more in investment assets, a threshold that reflects the level of complexity where our deep, tax-integrated planning and wealth management approach delivers the most value. Most of the families we serve generally have between $2.5 million and $30 million or more in assets, and are often navigating retirement transitions, business sales, or other major financial milestones. Our Services Our team provides expertise in the areas of Retirement Planning, Investment Management, Tax Planning, Business Succession Planning, Sudden or Inherited Wealth, Legacy and Philanthropic Planning, Executive Compensation Strategies, and Social Security Income Strategies.

Michael Santana is the sole advisor at Pembroke Wealth Management, LLC in Wilmington, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He worked at Edward Jones from 2010 to 2015 before founding Pembroke Wealth Management in 2015. Outside of his advisory role, Santana serves as a business consultant for several farming operations and manages multiple non-investment real estate ventures as a managing member or owner. Pembroke Wealth Management provides tailored, non-discretionary portfolio management and wealth consulting services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other entities. The firm emphasizes client approval for all transactions and employs a combination of technical and fundamental analysis along with modern portfolio theory in its investment recommendations.

Scot Stark is the sole advisor at Stark Strategic Capital Management, Inc. in Hampstead, NC. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 65 license and has 28 years of experience with his current firm. Stark Strategic Capital Management provides financial planning, counseling, investment supervision, portfolio management, risk management, and tax-planning advice primarily to individual clients. The firm manages approximately $18.4 million for about 19 clients and follows a structured six-step planning process, constructing tailored portfolios mainly using mutual funds and ETFs on a non-discretionary basis.

Brian Apple is the principal of Brian Apple Retirement Planning LLC in Hampstead, NC. He holds a Series 65 credential and has over 18 years of experience running Restoration Boatworks. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in volunteer tax-preparation services and is developing a book on Social Security and tax integration. Brian Apple Retirement Planning LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and individual investment management for individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes tax and Social Security integration and utilizes both third-party and custom model portfolios within a structured investment approach that includes fundamental analysis and asset allocation.

Steven Swierkowski is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Counterweight Private Wealth. His prior roles include positions at Guardian Life Insurance Company and Park Avenue Securities. Outside of finance, he works as a lacrosse referee for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Counterweight Private Wealth is an SEC-registered adviser that provides discretionary asset management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis alongside Modern Portfolio Theory to construct targeted asset-allocation models, managing approximately $168 million for about 80 clients.

Austin Griffie is a financial advisor at Zermatt Wealth Partners with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Raymond James & Associates, Merrill, Bank of America, and also engaged in entrepreneurial activities with Suited Media LLC. Zermatt Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered, fee-only wealth advisory and investment management firm serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm uses an asset-allocation–driven approach tailored to client objectives and offers comprehensive wealth planning and portfolio management services.