Meet Brandon Cabaniss | CFP (R), Private Wealth Advisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandon Cabaniss and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandon, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?

“When you let go of trying to get more of what you don’t really need, it frees up oceans of energy to make a difference with what you have.” – Lynn Twist

Lynn Twist is author of “Soul of Money”. She is also a philanthropist. In reading her book, I learned that money is energy, it isn’t created or destroyed, it moves. It shifts from one place or hand to the next. We must utilize it like we do our own energy. Create awareness around how we use it and when and our why.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and Private Wealth Advisor with Williams Wealth Management. We operate and practice mainly in Greenville but have clients in 13 states. I help clients organize, set goals and build wealth over time through financial planning strategies. We manage investment portfolios and help clients make decisions about major purchases, retirement and college savings, distributions, tax strategy, estate planning and insurance planning. I am especially focused on working with women to start and stay involved in personal finance. It is important to know your situation and your choices in life. Have the conversation with your spouse and parents early. Come to the meetings. Check balances regularly. Women will inherit and manage the majority of the wealth because they are likely to live longer and become caregivers. This was my grandmother’s story. Women often face life transitions that require the need to focus on financial well-being.

I began my finance industry career in administration working for transactional commission-based stock and bond traders. While I loved the industry and had interest in the markets and personal finance, I knew clients needed more holistic financial planning, so I got licensed and became a financial advisor. It wasn’t easy to obtain clients as a young woman in a male dominated business, but I had a knack with retired couples probably due to the manners my grandmother taught me. I joined The Williams Group team at Raymond James, built a book of clientele, worked to maintain and service our joint clients over the years. I went part time during times of personal changes like building a family, living abroad, caring for my mother and starting a side hustle. Now at age 47, I am fully committed to our firm and finally at the peak of my career. People take you more seriously with a few grey hairs and a couple of decades of experience under your belt.

As Williams Wealth Management moved away from the broker dealer industry toward independence, we rebranded, and our motto became BE BOLD. LOVE YOUR LIFE. We evolved as a group to follow our personal passions and build a practice that puts clients first always. We want our clients to do the same. We want them to define and move toward a life that is bold, fulfilling and meaningful. We took some risk and worked very hard to move independent in 2021 and haven’t looked back. We are now affiliated with an RIA firm out of Atlanta, Advisory Services Network. With their support, we are building a practice that is client focused.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would start by telling them to stay near downtown, bring or rent a bike and plan to hit Swamp Rabbit Trail for a long ride. Stop for coffee at Methodical and take the trail to Travelers Rest, go for a yoga class at Zen Rabbit, have lunch at Sidewall Pizza or Topsoil and ride back. I enjoy shopping downtown at Augusta Twenty and Copper Penny.
I would encourage a show at the Peace Center with dinner before at OKU.
Pendelton is great area to enjoy – Anchorage is the best dinner, cocktails at Rabbit Hole beforehand.
If they enjoy hot yoga, visit Soul Yoga for a good sweat.
If they like kitchenware and cheffing, Cooks Station is a great spot to grab a glass of wine and shop. Ask for Devin – the best wine pro.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Oh wow, where do I start.

I would like to thank my late grandmother, Mary Register. She was a strong, smart and energetic woman who believed in financial literacy and giving back. From a young age she got me involved with family finances and volunteer efforts. My grandfather passed away at age 70 and my mother was single. She insisted my sister, mom and I understand what we owned and why and how to manage our own money, creating a sense of financial independence. She always said “to whom much is given, much is expected” derived from Luke 12:48.

I would also like to thank my spouse, Chad and our two daughters, Isabella and Rivers. They have always supported my career and appreciated my work ethic and my desire to serve others outside our family. They celebrate my independent thinking and passions and do their part at home to make this career outside the home possible. And many thanks to the (4sets of) grandparents that love and helped raise and form our girls! Boofy always encourages me to pace myself and loves me unconditionally. Oma, GPa, Pappy and JuJu are always ready to lend a helping hand. It means so much that that Poppy and Kat have referred me to their friends to help build my business. That trust is monumental. My Dad owned his own business for years. His example certainly contributed to my entrepreneurial spirit.

I am very grateful for the team at Williams Wealth Management. Jeremy Strickler and I have been working together since we met at the CFP (R) exam prep course in 2006. He has been a dear friend, mentor and supporter of my career as life unfolded with babies, a move to Germany and the side yoga business I built for five years. Rachel Poole has supported me, the operations of our business and has serviced our clients as we have grown and moved firms several times. Mike Giordano has been a wonderful addition to the team, and I am so grateful for his abilities in media, helping me to be less camera shy and collaborating on financial plans for clients. We are a dream team and I am excited for the growth ahead.

A shout out to our clients is a must! Of course, I cannot name them to protect privacy but if they are reading, they know who they are! Without their full trust and commitment to the process, our mutual success isn’t possible.

I am grateful to the Certified Financial Planner / CFP (R) board for supporting fiduciary advisors like myself in serving clients’ best interest always and the Registered Investment Advisor industry for creating and sustaining an independent fee only means for private wealth management.

I want to thank Deborah Bucci, RN PhD. She is my professional and personal coach and dear friend. She taught me that I can integrate my passion and love for yoga in my daily work. It has been a game changer for me. She helps me sustain a work-life balance. All life is about the work, the service to others and self.

I am very grateful for the yoga teachers and community in the Greenville area and around the world. The practice has taught me so much about self-love and self-care (mind, body and spirit) and that sustains me when the material world tries to invade. The physical and mental practice is part of my work now and for that I am so grateful. God’s love shines bright daily in all endeavors!

Advisory services offered through Williams Wealth Management, a Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC. This is because it is the registered name with the SEC.

Website: www.wwmgreenville.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/williamswealthgvl/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/williamswealthmanagement

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/williamswealthgvl

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_dZP-m3z61NaSnLTRGLxXw

Other: brandon@wwmgreenville.com Watch “Mike on the Money” on WYFF News 4 every Wednesday at 4:30pm. Stream globally at wyff4.com

Image Credits
Christy Hollywood Photography