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THE Alphastar Difference
Imagine an organization designed around the client. One that anticipates their needs, supports their operations, and helps fuel their growth.
Welcome to Alphastar, an RIA created from the ground up to put the advisor at the center of everything we do. Discover the difference at Alphastar – where we are redefining the RIA model.
Brian Williams
Brian is also the Chief Operating Officer of Financial Independence Group (FIG), an industry leading financial and insurance marketing organization. After a decade of public service, Brian entered the private sector by joining FIG in 2007 as the Chief Operating Officer. Two years later he was FirstNamed partner of Financial Independence Group. In his role, he is responsible for the overall business operations of the company. He works with his colleagues on the executive team to develop global strategies and direction for FIG with a goal of providing opportunities for advisors while progressively integrating internal efficiencies for greater effectiveness. He also oversees all areas of IT as well as Compliance for FIG.
Brian received his MBA from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also holds a Bachelor of Technology in Business Technology as well as an AAS in Aviation. He began his career in the public sector where he implemented and led a nationally recognized economic development initiative that was born out of the State of North Carolina legislature.
Brian is also a partner in Barnabas Capital, a wholesale broker dealer focused on IVA’s and VA’s, as well as partner in Life Innovators, a product development company. Brian has served on various industry committees and advisory boards such as the Board of Directors for the National Association for Fixed Annuities. He also honorably serves on the Leadership Counsel for Great American Insurance Group.
Managing Partner
TONY PARISH, CFA®, CQF
Tony brings a wealth of experience to the Alphastar team, most recently having worked with Sage Advisory Services in Austin, TX as the Director of Quantitative Strategies; helping manage multiple objective-based investment strategies and serving on the firm’s Investment Committee, providing input on ~$12.5 billion of AUM. Previously, Tony worked in product development and analytics with Deutsche Asset Management, Credit Suisse, and OppenheimerFunds in New York City. He is passionate about working on financial data science projects (yes, really), and he specializes in quantitative modeling of multi-asset portfolios. Before moving to portfolio management, Tony began his career as a financial journalist, leading an editorial team for Investor Relations Magazine.
Tony is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and holds a Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF). He earned his MBA, with a concentration in Finance, from Fordham University in New York, a Certificate in Data Science from the University of Washington, and a BFA from Concordia University in Montreal.
His favorite activities include movie-watching with his wife Bethany and son Robert, as well as recording buttery R&B bass tracks with his Rickenbacker bass.
Chief Investment Officer
LAURA FURNER
Laura previously led a distinguished technology team for one of the largest Insurance Marketing Organizations (IMO/FMO) in the country, Financial Independence Group. While there, she utilized cutting-edge technology to bridge the gap between insurance and investments, with a true focus on holistic financial planning.
Laura brings vision to Alphastar through her passion and tenacity. She understands the profound impact technology has, and will continue to have, on the independent financial advisor. She takes that drive and utilizes her skills to create next-level technological solutions to market, all while working hand-in-hand with advisors and the Alphastar team to tweak and refine. Laura’s passion lays in learning new workflows and finding ways to make all processes as efficient as possible both with and without the use of technology.
In her spare time, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband, Dan, and two baby girls, Olivia and Natalie.
Chief Operating Officer
Sean Whelan
Sean serves as the Chief Sales Officer for Alphastar Capital Management where he heads both the sales and marketing divisions. Sean has over 15 years of financial services experience across multiple focuses from sales, marketing, leadership development, wholesaling and beginning his career as a financial advisor.
Sean brings to Alphastar a real passion for our business and for helping others. His roles have uniquely positioned him to acquire the knowledge and skills to make an impact while serving our advisors and teams. His previous roles of creating and facilitating development opportunities, virtually and in-person programs, to help grow assets and clients will be a main influence on the practice management and coaching program being developed for ACM. His diverse work experiences with large life insurance companies, insurance based broker-dealers, and asset managers serve him well as he continues to promote and encourage the Alphastar Capital Management value proposition to the clients and advisors that we serve.
Sean and his wife Giedre live in Waxhaw with their daughter and son. As a family, they love to travel and be active outdoors anywhere, especially the mountains. Sean is a competitive athlete who has raced in and completed several Ironman 70.3 races, as well as plays in a Master’s league for men’s lacrosse. He enjoys coaching youth lacrosse and give back to the sport when he can.
Chief Sales Officer
Armin Sarabi
Armin earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in Denver, CO. He also holds a Bachelor of Art in Psychology and one in Philosophy from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD.
Armin enjoys cooking, travel and unique experiences. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys camping, backpacking, kayaking, hiking and has climbed several 14ers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Chief Compliance Officer
JONATHAN BLEVINS
Jonathan attended Radford University obtaining a B.B.A. in Finance with minors in both Economics and Psychology, and he brings 16+ years of sales, financial planning, and wealth management experience to the Alphastar team.
On a personal note, Jonathan resides in Huntersville with his wife Michelle and two children. During his free time he enjoys fishing and volunteering as a local youth sports coach in the North Charlotte area.
VP – Advisor Services
Bob Drury
Bob has a Bachelor of Science in Communications, with an International Business minor from Appalachian State University. He obtained his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2018 and the Certified Financial Planner designation in 2008. He has extensive experience in the investment industry including positions at Vanguard as a Financial Planner, on LPL’s bond desk, as a Research Allocation Analyst with Linden Thomas & Co, and as an Annuity principal for MetLife. Prior to his finance career, Bob worked as a news reporter which further developed his communications skills. These skills have been utilized through a variety of education initiatives and presentations as part of the Financial Planning Desk.
Financial Planning Consultant
AARON KINGREY
Aaron holds his Series 3 license and began his career at a proprietary trading firm in Raleigh, NC which dealt primarily in the trading of options and futures contracts. He then established his own private investment management firm to cater to a select HNW clientele and implement strategies in the options and futures markets before coming to Alphastar.
Aaron enjoys disc golf, poker, hiking, and playing golf in his spare time
Trader
VINCE TRAVAGLINI
Vince comes from a fast-paced environment and plans to bring that type of energy when working with current and future financial advisors. With FS Investments, Vince gathered experience working with Wirehouse, RIA and Broker-Dealer advisors, which gives him a range of understanding as to what various advisors’ day-to-day entails. He looks forward to the opportunity to educate advisors on ways to grow, expand, and think differently about their business.
Vince is a Philadelphia native, and currently resides there in Center City. Prior to moving back to Philadelphia, he played collegiate lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Vince remains involved in the lacrosse community as much as he can to be able to work with the next generation of players. In his free time, you can find Vince staying active, playing golf, and spending time with friends and family.
Senior Vice President
Natalie Carter
Natalie attended the University of Missouri. She Graduated with a finance and banking degree. She has her SIE and series 63. She was born and raised in Orlando, Florida.
In her free time, she likes to spend time with friends and family.
Advisor Services Manager
JESSICA ABRAHAM
Jessica earned her BSBA with a concentration in Corporate Finance from Western Carolina University. She spent the early part of her career with UBS Financial on a Client Services Team assisting clients by providing product education and operational support. After spending 5 years with UBS, Jessica moved on to an inside sales and client management role with Performance Friction Corporation. At PFC she worked closely with her team to deliver an exceptional client experience and help grow sales along with the customer relationship.
Advisor Services Manager
MADELINE KLATT
Madeline received her Bachelor’s in Economics from the State University of New York at Oswego in 2016 and moved down to Charlotte shortly after to pursue a career in finance. She came to Alphastar from a small firm in Charlotte as a paraplanner. There, her efforts were focused on prepping for client meetings and handling transactions after the meetings.
Madeline likes to spend most of her free time outside, whether it is on the lake or playing tennis, and visiting her family.
Advisor Services Associate
GARRETT GRAFTON
Prior to joining the Alphastar team, Garrett worked as a Due Diligence Analyst at Credit Suisse Securities in Raleigh, North Carolina. He began his career there after earning his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from West Virginia University. Garrett also has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from West Virginia State University where he played football.
In his free time Garrett loves to travel with his fiancée, spend time with his two dogs and two cats, and cheer on the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Compliance Associate
WHITNEY PULVER
As a Compliance Associate at Alphastar Capital Management, Whitney is responsible for conducting advisor branch exams, processing new compliance-related requests from advisors, and reviewing transactions for potential errors. Prior to joining the Alphastar team, Whitney worked as a Senior Contracting Specialist at Financial Independence Group, Inc.
She began her career there after graduating from the College of the Redwoods with an Associate Degree in General Business. Whitney, along with her husband and son, now calls North Carolina home, but she enjoys returning to her home state of California often to visit friends and family.
Compliance Associate
ERICKA REA
Ericka earned her BSBA with a concentration in Organizational Management from UNC Charlotte. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband and their daughter, Laken.
Onboarding Specialist
Larry Lotwin
Larry has the unique perspective of having worked in various capacities within the wirehouse, bank, insurance company, independent broker dealer and third-party advisory platform space over the course of his career. He has enjoyed working with advisors in support of their business development and growth by assisting in the succession planning and transition of their business. As a core value Larry strives to bring meaningful content and purpose in every advisor’s path to excellence.
Larry, and his wife Janice, live in Carlsbad, CA while their grown kids now both reside in Denver after completing college. Janice works in the fitness world as a Pilates and yoga instructor. In their free time you can find them enjoying the local beach, riding bikes, walking and spending time with good friends.
Senior Vice President
