Top financial advisors working with young families in Richmond, VA

Kelly Spelsberg is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, following a decade at BB&T Securities. Based in Richmond, VA, she serves clients through the enterprise-level firm. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Harvey Abbott is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of experience, currently serving at Frontier Financial Partners, LLC since 2010. He is based in Richmond, VA, and works within a four-advisor team. Frontier Financial Partners provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a factor-investing, core-and-satellite approach using passive index funds and ETFs as the core, supplemented by active funds or alternatives in satellite positions, with global diversification.

Dustin Newton is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ascent Financial Group since 2020. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisors, and S&P Global Market Intelligence. Outside of advising, he is a partner in a family real estate rental business. Ascent Financial Group provides comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm applies a mix of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and economic analysis to manage client accounts on a discretionary basis, delivering ongoing planner access and regular portfolio monitoring.

Melanie Lee is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Integrity Advisory Solutions in Richmond, VA, and has one year of experience in financial advising. She also owns and operates Lee Law Office, P.L.L.C., where she has practiced law since 2007. Additionally, she reviews funeral trust products with clients through her involvement with Insurance Funeral Trust and serves as Assistant Commissioner of Accounts, reviewing probate files as needed. Integrity Advisory Solutions serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, and corporations through a network of approximately 100 independent advisors managing around $1.1 billion in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and utilizes a range of investment strategies and third-party platforms to tailor services to client needs.

Tyler Dove is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Richmond, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Cetera Advisors LLC for three years before joining LPL Financial in 2018. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of investment solutions including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by various operational and research tools.

Garrett Dahm is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been providing financial guidance since 2017. He specializes in developing strategies and offering advice tailored to the short- and long-term financial objectives of individuals, families, and businesses. As a qualified Portfolio Manager, Garrett manages discretionary Personalized and Defined Strategies that may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management model portfolios, and third-party investment options. His areas of focus include family wealth management, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, liquidity management, retirement planning, portfolio management, tax minimization, and strategies for sports and entertainment clients. Garrett earned a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He completed his high school education at Prospect High School and attended Harper College without earning a degree. Outside of his professional role, Garrett has a background in classical guitar, having performed solo and with orchestras worldwide since the age of four. Notably, he performed in multiple cities in Australia during the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics. He lives in Mt. Prospect with his wife Tanya and their son Jace. His personal interests include golfing, ice hockey, practicing guitar, and spending time with his family.

Jon Bernier is a CFP® and ChFC® with 23 years of experience in financial advising. He has been with TandemGrowth Financial Advisors, LLC in Alpharetta, GA since 2000. TandemGrowth Financial Advisors serves individuals, high net worth households, trusts, and estates with comprehensive wealth management and financial planning, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside retirement-plan oversight and account aggregation tools. The firm uses a strategic, long-term investment approach across equity-risk spectrums, incorporating mutual funds, ETFs, independent managers, and alternative investments, and provides unique services such as a NextGen program and healthcare planning partnerships.

David Martula is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience. He has been the sole advisor at Fee-Only Financial Planning since 1991. Fee-Only Financial Planning serves individual clients, including high-net-worth households, by providing financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm emphasizes a low-cost, buy-and-hold investment approach using no-load mutual funds, tailoring recommendations to clients’ goals and life stages.

Ai Mendoza is an Investment Consultant currently working at Fidelity Investments since 2022. In this role, she focuses on understanding each client's unique financial needs and providing professional guidance and tailored solutions to help clients make informed financial decisions and pursue their goals. Prior to her current position, Ai worked as a Private Client Banker at JP Morgan Chase from 2019 to 2022. Her experience includes assisting clients with their investment and banking needs. Outside of her professional work, Ai enjoys family activities, fishing, social events with friends, gardening, outdoor adventures, and painting.

Welcome and thank you for taking a moment to read more about Bolt Financial Group and Shaun Carney, CFP®! Shaun Carney is the Co-Founder of Bolt Financial Group, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM and serves as the firm’s Wealth Advisor. Shaun has over seven years of experience in the financial services industry. Responsible for establishing and maintaining client relationships, Shaun finds immense satisfaction in helping individuals better prepare for retirement. Prior to forming his own firm, Shaun served in the United States Air Force and worked with Edward Jones. After earning his Master of Science degree in Cost Analysis, Shaun went on to obtain his CFP(R), Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. As a member of the Air Force Reserve, Shaun continues to fly C-17s in service to the United States of America. When he isn’t helping people plan for retirement, and piloting C-17s, Shaun is an avid golfer, traveler, husband, and father to three children. Always eager to help others and give back in any way that he can, Shaun regularly volunteers with the Reserve Officers Association and the Knights of Columbus.