After over 40 years of guiding clients on their life path, it is time for Jim to turn his attention to his own future plans and focus on what he enjoys more in the practice. As Jim makes plans to step away from the day-to-day operations of the firm, our team has been focused on a transition plan that would not only ensure continuation of the high level of service our clients deserve but also provide the opportunity to enhance that experience with a larger team and more robust resources.
After two years of thoughtful planning, it is with great enthusiasm that Keystone Financial Partners announces our merger with Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. We are excited to introduce you to the Pathfinder team, a firm of like-minded, smart people based in Wilmington, North Carolina, in the near future.
your team
GUIDING YOU FORWARD
Jim Trull
Jim is CEO, wealth manager, and founder of Keystone Financial Partners. He is passionate about helping clients protect and grow their hard-earned assets. After over four decades guiding clients on their financial journey, it is time for Jim to focus his attention on the next phase of his life path.
Jim has always viewed his clients like family, and his biggest priority is that his clients will continue to receive the high level of service they deserve. The experienced team Jim has built in Cary, and the addition of the partnership with Pathfinder, will offer him the peace of mind to step away from the daily responsibilities of running the business and pass the baton to the next generation. He knows his beloved clients are in good hands!
As Jim transitions towards a new lifestyle next year, he looks forward to spending more time with his grandsons, capturing photography, and watching the North Carolina State Wolfpack, while still spending time teaching and volunteering around financial literacy.
Christopher Walsh
Chris began working in the financial services industry in 2006 and has been a wealth manager with Keystone Financial Partners since 2010. He is passionate about financial planning and helping clients make better decisions with their money. Chris truly enjoys guiding clients through complex financial matters to fuel their life passions.
As part of Keystone’s continued evolution, Chris will become a partner of the new combined firm. After nearly 13 years of commitment to Keystone, this is a natural next step in Chris’ career. The years of mentorship and collaboration with Jim, along with his own professional interests and pursuits, have prepared him well for this role. Chris is looking forward to leading the focus of continued excellence in client service and long-term success of the growing firm.
When Chris isn’t keeping up on financial news or meeting with clients, you can find him checking out local breweries with friends, hitting the golf course, taking trips to the beach, and spending time with his daughters, Aubrey and Ella.
Jason Wheeler
Jason is CEO, wealth advisor, and founding partner of Pathfinder Wealth Consulting in Wilmington, NC. He has been in the financial services industry since 1999. Jason’s passion for the business begins with helping people and working with select families to accomplish their personal and business goals. Growing and managing a knowledgeable and respected team to support those efforts is also a large part of Jason’s professional expertise.
Jim and Chris have known Jason for over 10 years, and Pathfinder is one of the leading Commonwealth-affiliated firms in the country. With a shared passion for client service and comprehensive financial planning, the partnership was a natural fit for both firms.
Jason spends the majority of his free time with his wife, Ashley, their daughter, Merritt, and their black lab, Jedi. Jason plays average golf as often as possible, coaches youth sports teams, and hopes that maybe this year he will have more time for all the coastal activities that his family loves.
timeline
PARTNERSHIP TRANSITION TIMELINE
Announcement
It is with great excitement that Keystone Financial Partners announces our merger with Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, a Commonwealth-affiliated firm in Wilmington, North Carolina. The guidance, advice, and support you’ve come to expect from your Keystone team will remain unchanged, and we intend to incorporate the best features of each firm in the future. We look forward to continuing to guide you forward on your financial path.
Paperwork
The only thing needed from you at this point is your signature on a new Master Services Agreement (MSA) or MSA Addendum, which lists Chris and Jason as additional advisors to your existing MSA. Adding Jason to your accounts is solely for continuity purposes, and Chris will continue as your trusted advisor as Jim pursues this exciting next phase of life. You can learn more about the MSA by clicking here. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Meet The Team
Mark your calendars for October 25 for our Annual Shred Event! Whether it’s team members you’ve worked with for years but haven’t had the chance to meet in person, new staff additions, or familiar faces you haven’t seen in a while, join us as we gather and get to know each other a bit better.
Can’t make it to the Shred Event? Don’t worry, there will be multiple opportunities to meet the team throughout the coming months! In the meantime, you can read more about the teams here and here.
New Office Location
Even before the finalization of the new partnership, our team had begun to outgrow our current space. Our new office is just two traffic lights (and one Starbucks!) away and will feature new, modern meeting spaces, collaboration and event spaces, and more convenient access and parking for clients.
New Name
Through the merging of two firms, Keystone Financial Partners will become Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. We look forward to sharing more of the Pathfinder Wealth Consulting story with you and will keep you updated as our official name change takes place in 2023.
Jim's Next Steps
We are so excited for the next phase of Jim’s life as he adjusts his focus to his family and passions. We look forward to including you as we celebrate his professional legacy later next year.
Q&A
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What is IAR Only? Will my investments be affected?
Keystone Financial Partners is rooted in serving our clients and acting in your best interest. As CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ Professionals, we are held to a fiduciary level of care. Currently, Keystone operates in an environment where we may be compensated either with commissions from a specific product sale or advisory fees based on the assets that we are managing and the complexity of our clients’ planning needs.
The financial services industry describes our current type of business model as one where the advisor is a Registered Representative (commissions) and Investment Advisor Representative (fees). As part of the merger with Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, effective 09/30/2022 we will be acting solely as Investment Advisor Representatives, where compensation is only possible through fees. Fee-only only advisors are held to fiduciary standards that Registered Representatives are not; this change simply formalizes and reinforces our commitment to acting in your best interest.
For the vast majority of our clients, your investments and accounts will not be impacted by this change, though additional paperwork may be required. We will be reaching out to each client household to confirm if there is any action or paperwork needed for any of your accounts. In the meantime, rest assured no changes will be made without your knowledge and consent.
Are my assets moving? Will I get new account numbers? Is any action required on my side?
All accounts will continue to be held through Commonwealth Financial Network at National Financial Services. Your account numbers will remain the same. The only change is a new Master Services Agreement (MSA) or MSA Addendum, that lists Chris and Jason as additional advisors to your existing MSA. Adding Jason to your accounts is solely for continuity purposes, and Chris will continue as your trusted advisor as Jim pursues this exciting next phase of life. You can learn more about the MSA by clicking here.
Will advisory fees on my accounts change?
Throughout this transition, our fee schedule and commitment to serving you will remain unchanged.
Will my log-in information or statement change?
We will maintain our partnership with Commonwealth Financial Network®, our Registered Investment Advisor-Broker/Dealer; therefore, your log-in information for Investor 360 will not change. National Financial Services will remain our custodian, and your statement will look the same.
Who do I contact for an account-related question?
First and foremost, our staff is here to serve as your dedicated team. Please reach out with any questions as they arise, by calling our office at 919-463-0018 or emailing ClientService@KeystoneFinancialPartners.com.
Why are you merging with Pathfinder Wealth Consulting?
After over 40 years of guiding clients on their financial journey, it is time for Jim to turn his attention to his own path to the next phase of his life. In anticipation of this transition, our team has spent the last two years developing a transition plan that would not only ensure the continuation of the high level of service our clients deserve but also provide the opportunity to enhance that experience with a larger team and more robust resources. As a result, we are excited to announce our partnership with the team at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, a firm of like-minded, intelligent people based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Jim and Chris have known Pathfinder’s co-founder and CEO, Jason Wheeler, for over ten years, and Pathfinder is one of the leading Commonwealth-affiliated firms in the country.
We assure you that Pathfinder shares our values and passion for client service. The guidance, advice, and support you’ve come to expect from Keystone will remain unchanged, and we intend to incorporate the best features of each firm in the future.
Who will be my contacts?
Your service team in Cary will remain the same and our operations will continue as usual. Chris Walsh will continue as your trusted advisor, with Karen Brock, Alex Greer, and Stephen Neubig to help assist with any questions or concerns. We look forward to introducing you to additional team members in the near future!
How will the team structure change?
As part of Keystone’s continued evolution, Chris will become a partner of the newly combined firm. After nearly 13 years of commitment to Keystone, this is a natural next step in Chris’ career. The years of mentorship and collaboration with Jim, along with his own professional interests and pursuits, have prepared him well for this role. Chris is looking forward to leading the focus of continued excellence in client service and the long-term success of the growing firm.
Will the firm name change?
Through the merging of two firms, Keystone Financial Partners will become Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. We look forward to sharing more of the Pathfinder story with you and will keep you updated as our official name change takes place in 2023.
Will there still be a Cary office?
Yes! The newly combined firm will have office locations in both Cary and Wilmington, NC.
Why is the Cary office moving?
Even before the finalization of the new partnership, our team had begun to outgrow our current space and made plans to move to a newly renovated space close by. The new Cary office will feature modern meeting spaces, collaboration and event spaces, and more convenient access and parking for clients.
When will the Cary office move? Where is the new location?
We will be moving to 121 Edinburgh S Dr, Cary, NC in November/December 2022. We look forward to welcoming you to an open house next spring!
