Chuck Clifton, CFP®, CDFA®
Senior Financial Planner & Principal
Chuck is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, as well as the founder of Sycamore Financial Planning, LLC, a Fee-Only financial planning firm headquartered in Durham, NC. Chuck has been a part of the financial services industry since 2008, when he joined a local investment advisory firm in the roles of financial analyst, research analyst, and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to this, Chuck worked for IBM for 10 years as a software engineer, project manager, and financial operations manager.
Chuck enjoys engaging with his local community through involvement with civic commissions, community non-profits, and mission work through his church. He is deeply committed to social and economic justice issues, with particular emphasis on alleviating poverty, hunger, and food injustices.
You can learn more about Chuck in this interview that discuss why he became a financial planner and his thoughts about fiduciary advice.
Education:
Master of Trust & Wealth Management, Campbell University
Master of Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, Virginia Tech
Bachelor of Arts, Economics, Virginia Tech
Contact Chuck for a complimentary, no obligation initial consultation.
Josh Holland, CFP®
Financial Planner
Josh, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, joined Sycamore Financial Planning in September 2015 as an Assistant Financial Planner and is now working directly with clients as a lead adviser. Josh has been a part of the financial services industry since 2013 when he joined Fidelity Investments as a customer service representative with the Workplace Investment team. While at Fidelity, Josh expanded his role on the Workplace Investment team by providing investment and retirement guidance to Fidelity 401(k) participants. Prior to working at Fidelity, Josh worked as an operations analyst for Credit Suisse for 6 years.
In his free time, Josh enjoys spending time with friends and family while staying active by playing basketball and hiking with his dog Gabriel. He also enjoys volunteering for causes such as Habitat for Humanity and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC.
You can learn more about Josh in this interview that discuss why he became a financial planner and his thoughts about fiduciary advice.
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Business Management, North Carolina State University
Executive Certificate in Financial Planning, Duke University
Contact Josh for a complimentary, no obligation initial consultation.
Ethan Earles, CFP®
Associate Financial Planner
Ethan joined Sycamore Financial Planning in May 2021 as an Associate Financial Planner. Prior to joining Sycamore, Ethan earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance with a focus on CFP® Education from Virginia Tech and went to work as a Financial Planning Associate at an investment advisory firm located in Durham, NC. Ethan passed the CFP® Exam in September 2020, and he is currently working on the remaining requirements to obtain the CFP® Certification. Ethan supports the firm’s financial planners throughout the financial planning process.
When he is not helping craft financial plans, Ethan can be found spending time with his family and friends listening to live music, watching his beloved Hokies, or visiting one of Charlotte’s many breweries.
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Finance with Financial Planning concentration, Virginia Tech
John Abernethy, CFP®
Associate Financial Planner
John joined Sycamore Financial Planning in September 2022 as an Associate Financial Planner. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. John earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Florida and completed the Executive Certificate in Financial Planning through the University of Georgia. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a financial advisor at Vanguard and as a para-planner at a fee-only financial planning firm located in Gainesville, FL. John assists the firm’s lead advisors through the different stages of the financial planning process.
John enjoys spending time with his friends and family, cheering on his Florida Gators, and hiking with his fiancé Hannah in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, History, University of Florida
Executive Certificate in Financial Planning, University of Georgia
Ansley Bolin, FPQP®
Operations Manager
Ansley joined Sycamore Financial Planning in March 2022 as the firm’s Operations Manager. She attended the University of South Carolina where she studied Mass Communications. Prior to joining Sycamore, Ansley worked for various local businesses in Columbia, South Carolina in operations focused roles. She obtained her Associate Project Management Certification in May 2021 and is currently working on the remaining requirements to achieve PMP certification.
In her free time, Ansley enjoys spending time with her family and three dogs, staying active outdoors, and exploring the many things that the city of Charlotte has to offer.
Thomas Beahn
Financial Analyst
Thomas joined Sycamore Financial Planning June 2020 as a Financial Analyst, assisting the firm’s financial planners with plan preparation and analysis. Thomas is a recent Clemson University graduate, and he has worked in various firms with roles focused on operations and financial analysis. These roles include work as a financial analyst intern at DLA Piper and financial planning intern at Jason Howell Company.
In his free time, Thomas enjoys spending his time with friends and family hiking, camping, and exploring the outdoors. He also enjoys cooking, baking, and volunteering with his church and other nonprofits to combat homelessness.
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Financial Management (concentration in Financial Planning), Clemson University