I joined Blakely Financial in June 2019 in the Client Services Department. After a few years, I went to another firm and truly came to appreciate the level of care and service that the team at Blakely Financial provides their clients. It is the level of care that people should be provided. I rejoined the Blakely Financial team and now oversee the daily office operations and client services department. Knowing that our clients’ life’s work is in the care of a great team and that their loved ones will be taken care of gives me great satisfaction and pride in what I do every day. 

I am bilingual and speak fluent Spanish. I reside in Asheboro, NC, with my husband Juan and our three children. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family & traveling. I love helping/mentoring first-generation College Students. Many believe they cannot afford school; I like to show them how they can qualify for financial aid and loans that will allow them to go to a 4-year university and not settle.

Professional Designations, Certifications, Registrations, and Licenses

• Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, CRPC®, College for Financial Planning
• Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional^™, FPQP^™, College for Financial Planning
• North Carolina Notary Public

Education

• The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, N.C. – B.S. in Accounting and Business/Management
• Randolph Community College, Asheboro, N.C. – A.A.S. in Accounting and Business/Management

Personal Points

If I wrote my own job description…

Client Service Administrator

My favorite quote is…

Live the life you love, Love the life you live

My superpower would be…

Healer

My top 3 reads and podcasts are…

Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Red Table Talk

My happy hour order is…

Mango Colada

My dream travel destination is…

Egypt

The Blakely Financial marketing team consists of Cara Chatellier (Founder & Creative Director) and Isabel Tomasi (Digital Marketing Manager) from the  Bubbly Creative Marketing Agency. 

Cara and Isabel are responsible for social media management, the monthly newsletter, blog creation, web maintenance, and overall creative direction.  Their goal is to create compelling content for both current and future Blakely Financial clients. 

Bubbly Creative is located in Salem, MA, and offers digital and content marketing services to small and medium-sized businesses. Cara Chatellier and Isabel Tomasi, and the services they offer, are not affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network ®.

Originally from Tolland, Connecticut, I graduated from High Point University in 2022 with a major in Business Administration and a minor in sales. At Blakely Financial, I’m primarily responsible for providing investment research, assisting advisors as they manage models, and preparing for client meetings. Outside of Blakely Financial, I am an avid hiker, backpacker, and skier, and love traveling and exploring new places.

Personal Points

My superpower would be…

the ability to see into the future (to pick the best stocks for our clients, of course)

My top 3 reads and podcasts are…

Podcasts – The Tim Ferris Show / Masters in Business with Barry Ritholtz / Book - Principles by Ray Dalio

My favorite quote is…

“The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.” – M.K. Gandhi

My dream travel destination is…

the Himalaya mountains of Nepal

Causes I’m passionate about…

I am very passionate about environmental conservation and the protection and the protection public lands. I am a frequent donor of non-profits such as the Sierra Club & the Trust for Public land with the belief that nature should be protected, experienced, and appreciated by all.

My happy hour order is…

an ice cold Blue Moon

I joined Blakely Financial in 2022 as a Client Service Assistant. I work with clients on many different kinds of administrative needs, including executing account updates, paperwork, scheduling, and client requests of all kinds.

I reside in Sophia, NC, with my husband, Tyler. I was a special education teacher for five years prior to joining the team at Blakely Financial. I am passionate about helping others and volunteering.

Professional Memberships

• Guilford/High Point Special Olympics – Volleyball and Rollerskating Coach

Education

• The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, N.C. – Bachelor of Arts in Adapted Special Education with a Minor in Early Childhood and Family Development

Personal Points

My top 3 reads and podcasts are…

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens | Crime Junkie Podcast | The Elisabeth Elliot Podcast

My superpower would be…

to teleport to anywhere in the world I wanted to go.

My favorite quote is…

“His mercies are new every morning -Lamentations 3:23”

My dream travel destination is…

Bora Bora

Causes I’m passionate about…

Special Olympics and the bus ministry at my church

My favorite restaurant is…

Strada Italiano in Asheville, NC

I joined Blakely Financial in May 2022 after spending more than 20 years as a human resources and employee benefits executive within both the private and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on retirement plans and compensation. I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and earned an MBA in finance from Boston University. I also hold life, accident, and health insurance licenses and am an Accredited Investment Fiduciary®. The most fulfilling aspect of my job is when I feel that I have truly earned the trust of my clients and have made a difference in their lives.

My practice spans the entire spectrum of wealth management and retirement plan consulting, although my area of specialty is helping pre-retirees/retirees with planning their retirement goals and assisting them transition from the accumulation stage of their retirement investing to the retirement income distribution stage i.e. developing a strategic distribution strategy which takes into account tax ramifications, proper asset allocation, inflation, social security maximization, and ongoing and long-term health care planning.

I am an advisor with the Pro Bono Financial Coaching Program, a collaborative effort of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Financial Planning Association of Massachusetts.

My wife, Linda, and I live in Beverly with our golden retriever Ozzie.

Professional Designations, Certifications, Registrations, and Licenses

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification awarded by CFP Board
• Accredited Investment Fiduciary, AIF®, College for Fiduciary Studies
• Registered representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®
• FINRA Series 6 securities registration
• FINRA Series 7 securities registration
• FINRA Series 63 securities registration
• FINRA Series 65 securities registration

Professional Memberships

• Family Reach organization – Pro Bono financial planning for cancer patients

Education

• Boston University, Boston, MA – MBA in Finance

Personal Points

My superpower would be…

Being able to fly without using the airlines

My favorite quote is…

“The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself”

My top 3 reads and podcasts are…

Cloud Cuckoo | Land Premonition | The Code Breaker

My dream travel destination is…

East African safari

My favorite restaurant is…

Abe & Louie’s Steakhouse in Boston

My happy hour order is…

Jameson or Moscow Mule

I founded Blakely Financial in 1995 on the belief that our client’s wellbeing is our first and foremost priority. Therefore, I tailor my focus on comprehensive wealth planning to meet our clients’ individual needs. Through my relationship with our clients, I understand each client’s unique goals and work with them to implement a thorough plan to achieve those objectives. There is a deep satisfaction in the feeling that I am truly making a difference in the lives of other people.

I am an active volunteer with charitable and educational organizations in our community and reside in High Point with my wife, Donna.

I am proud to have been recognized as a Chairman’s Level advisor —a distinction based on annual production attained by just 3 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.

Professional Designations, Certifications, Registrations, and Licenses

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification awarded by CFP Board
• Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies
• Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), The American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
• Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), The American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
• Certified Fund Specialist (CFS), Institute of Business and Finance
• Registered representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, FINRA Series 7 securities registration
• Life and disability insurance licensed
• Long-term care insurance licensed

Professional Memberships

• Financial Planning Association
• Society of Financial Service Professionals

Education

• Averett University, Danville, Virginia, B.A. in Business Administration

Personal Points

If I wrote my own job description…

Duties Delegation Director

My favorite quote is…

"Never, never, never give up." - Winston Churchill

My dream travel destination is…

Jackson Hole, Wyoming and/or a trip to Italy

My happy hour order is…

A very nice bourbon on the rocks with a splash of water

My superpower would be…

Time Traveler – I would travel ahead in time research all major stock market corrections, come back and time the market, which just like time travel, is impossible to do.

My top 3 reads and podcasts are…

"Simple Wealth, Inevitable Wealth" - Nick Murray, "Stay Positive" - Jon Gordon and Daniel Decker, "Think & Grow Rich" - Napoleon Hill

As an affiliated partner of Blakely Financial, Inc., Rebecca Linhart, AIF® offers investment management services, retirement income planning, financial planning, and wealth management to a myriad of individual clients at various stages in their lives.  Through her years in business, she has helped many people, particularly women going through transitional periods, such as divorce, the death of a spouse, or retirement. Her degree in psychology has given her invaluable insights into the importance and power of the personal side of money and the unique challenges of transitions. She has a rich and comprehensive understanding of how people subjectively experience change and co-creates their highest outcomes with them.

Rebecca Linhart thought differently about financial advice when she founded Light Tower Financial Strategies.  She knew that offering financial advice meant so much more than selling stocks and bonds, that it is more about understanding how money fits into your life and living that life intentionally. She knew that considering the goals and dreams of each client is paramount to helping them navigate through the complex details of planning meaningful lives.

A commitment to serve the community

Becky has a long-time commitment to serve her community. Being involved is what it’s all about to her. To that end, she held the following positions in the Town of Essex, Massachusetts:

• Board of Selectmen
• Board Member of the Housing Authority
• Chair of the Finance Committee

In addition, she served as chair of the finance committee for Glen Urquhart School, a small private school in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts.

She is a past president of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor, a service organization dedicated to giving back to the community.  She founded the “It takes a village” program to help less fortunate people in the community, not just at Christmas time, but year-round.  The family she remembers most is a single mom with five children.  The mom had cancer and, when she was undergoing chemotherapy, the group cooked meals for the kids and set up a schedule of drivers to make sure they got to school on time.

Being a female in a male-dominated industry, Becky understands the challenges women can face when building their careers.  So, she joined the Boston Club, an organization dedicated to advancing women leaders.  A club and a cause, the group offers camaraderie and opportunities for networking; its core belief is that more women in significant and visible leadership roles mean better business performance and strengthened economic health in our communities.  She served as treasurer on its board of directors for six years.

A sailing advocate, Becky served as a board member of Sisters Under Sail, an organization dedicated to teaching leadership skills to teenage girls through a sailing program on a tall ship.  In 2013, many of the tall ships gathered on Lake Erie for a re-enactment of the war of 1812.  Becky was fortunate enough to be on board and had the privilege of shooting the cannon.

Becky is currently the chair of Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor Enhanced Scholarship Trust, an organization that gives scholarships to community members.  Many of the scholarships are given to high school seniors, but the group found another pressing need for scholarships: for people who didn’t go to college, who live paycheck to paycheck, and can’t afford a class or certificate program to improve their employment opportunities.  It became known as the 2^nd Chance Scholarship.

Becky received a graduate certificate in special studies in management from Harvard University and earned a BS in psychology from Roanoke College.  She has been recognized in Boston Magazine as a Five Star Wealth Manager ^[i] in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 and the Women’s Choice ^[ii] award in 2014-2015 and 2016-2017.  She has achieved several professional credentials that speak to her experience:

• General Securities Registered Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network^®
• Securities Agent and Registered Investment Adviser Representative
• Managed Futures License
• Accredited Investment Fiduciary^®

I joined Blakely Financial in 2021 as an Administrative Assistant, but I affectionately think of myself as the A.M. Administrator because I work early in the morning. I assist the team in daily office operations, including scheduling appointments. I like helping the team so that they have more time to help others.

I reside in Clayton, NC, with my husband and our four homeschooled children. I love homeschooling my children for the strong family bond it builds. I also enjoy reading, puzzles, watching movies/TV, and playing video games with my husband.

Professional Designations, Certifications, Registrations, and Licenses

• Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional^™, FPQP^™, College for Financial Planning

Education

• Meredith College, Raleigh, NC – B.A. in Spanish & Education

Personal Points

My favorite quote is…

“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

My superpower would be…

Invisibility

My dream travel destination is…

England! I really enjoy English history and would love to tour some of the castles.

My top 3 reads and podcasts are…

Mother Culture by Karen Andreola is my current favorite book; I also listen to a lot of Matt Chandler and Voddie Baucham.

Something people don’t know…

I am the mother of a micro preemie. My first child was born weighing in at 1lb 13oz.

My favorite restaurant is…

Houston’s in Atlanta, GA

I am responsible for office management and customer relations at Blakely Financial. Since I am more in an operational role, I love knowing that the things I do behind the scenes can help our team be most efficient. I continue to be inspired by the difference that our BFI team makes in our clients’ lives each and every day. 

Before working with Blakely Financial, I was a pharmaceutical sales representative with GlaxoSmithKline. I then became co-owner and general manager of the J.H. Adams Inn. With the experience gained in these service positions, I believe that no one is more important than the customer. My goal with Blakely Financial is to help us meet the needs of all of our clients through personalized attention and service.

I’m very passionate about giving back my time, talents, and treasures to my community. Volunteering with kids and being a mentor to them is one thing I feel very strongly about.  My favorite activity has been teaching healthy cooking classes to fourth graders with CIS of Thomasville and Crockpot Cooking Classes taught by members of the Junior League of High Point for moms at the YWCA and The Salvation Army. Beyond volunteering, I enjoy cooking, gardening, and playing golf.

Professional Designations, Certifications, Registrations, and Licenses

• Accredited Asset Management Specialist, AAMS™, College for Financial Planning
• FINRA Series 7 securities registration

Professional Memberships

• The United Way of Greater High Point (2020 Campaign Co-Chair & Board Member)
• Women In Motion
• Past-President of the Junior League of High Point

Education

• Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C. – B.S. in Biology & Chemistry
• The University of North Carolina at Greensboro – MBA

Personal Points

If I wrote my own job description…

Director of Anything That Needs Fixin’

My superpower would be…

To sprinkle love and happiness everywhere!

My top 3 reads and podcasts are…

“Inside the O’Briens’ by Lisa Genova, “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrick Backman, “The Alice Network” by Kate Quinn

Something people don’t know…

I am actually more introverted than I appear.

My dream travel destination is…

Italy and a Mediterranean Cruise

My happy hour order is…

Cosmopolitan made with Titos Vodka