Les Watson, CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA®, RMA®, CEPA®, RICP®, TPCP®
I help clients build a Healthy Plan so they can live a Wealthy Life™.
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I help clients build a Healthy Plan so they can live a Wealthy Life™.
Areas of Focus
- Business Owners
- Estate Planning
- Financial Life Planning
- Investment Management
- Retirement Income Planning
- Retirement Planning
- Social Security Optimization
- Taxes
About Les Watson, CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA®, RMA®, CEPA®, RICP®, TPCP®
Hi, I'm Les Watson, Managing Director of Wealth Solutions and Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) at Yellowwood Wealth Solutions, a Financial Planning and Investment Management boutique in Charlotte, NC.I hold the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®), Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) and Retirement Management Advisor® (RMA®) designations awarded by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute). I also recently acquired my Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®) designation, helping prepare business owners for their transition into their next act or retirement.
I started my financial planning career with A.G. Edwards and Sons, Inc. from 2001–2007, and worked for Merrill Lynch from 2008 until 2018, when Jason and I opened the doors of YellowWood.
I take a Wealth Management approach with clients, getting to know their specific life, financial planning and investment challenges. After the initial strategy is in place, I communicate with clients on a regular basis to help make sure that changing circumstances haven't created a need to adjust the strategy. I excel at helping clients cope with the emotional aspects of investing, helping to keep their financial goals front and center even during times of tough market volatility and negative news in the media. I am a big believer in helping clients get the most out of life with the financial resources they have!
I recently completed the 12 course Ed Slott and Company's IRA Success Program through the American College of Financial Services®, giving me an advanced understanding of IRA Planning and its intricate nuances as it applies to preparing for Retirement.
I have taught the Investments course for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ program at both Queens University in Charlotte and at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and have enjoyed teaching the Dave Ramsey, biblically based financial planning courses over the years.
I have an M.B.A. with a Marketing concentration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA (my hometown), and double majored at Virginia Tech in Management Information Systems and Marketing.
I am 30 years happily married to my wife Robyn, and have one daughter, Taylor, currently living in Charleston, SC. I have enjoyed CrossFit and working out for many years and enjoy Virginia Tech football (Go Hokies!), live music of just about any kind, craft beer and any travel destination that features palm trees and temps above 80 degrees!
Professional Designations
- Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®
- Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA)
- Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA)
- Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP)
- Retirement Management Advisor (RMA)
- Tax Planning Certified Professional (TPCP)
Primary Location
1515 Mockingbird Lane, Suite 880, Charlotte, NC 28209
Video
Meeting Options
- Video Conference
- In-Person
- Phone
Compensation Methods
- Percentage of Assets Managed
What to expect in the first meeting
Click the Book Intro Call button above to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting. During our first conversation, we'll get to know you — your goals, your values, and where you are on your financial journey. From there, we'll walk you through our proprietary Healthy Plan process and discuss which of our service solutions best fits your unique needs. We look forward to speaking with you.Offers Investment Management
Yes
About YellowWood Wealth Solutions
At YellowWood Wealth Solutions, we believe everyone deserves a chance to strive for the financial freedom wealth can provide. Having access to financial advice and investment solutions can be crucial to your success. We engage with our clients in multiple ways because wealth management isn’t a one size fits all solution.Why Work With Us
Working with a financial advisor should be fun and fulfilling. After all, isn’t that what you want your life to be? We are a privately held, independent financial advisory firm built on financial planning and a team-based approach to working with clients. Our proprietary process, The Healthy Plan, is designed to build custom solutions for each unique relationship so your money can serve you best.
Approach
Our philosophy is to help clients focus on their goals and what will give them the greatest return on life.
Independent Fiduciary
Working with an independent fiduciary legally binds us to place your best interest first.
Expertise
Dedicated to providing sound financial planning services through ongoing learning and development.
Technology
We partner with leading technology developers to provide you sound advice and modernized tools.
Our Philosophy
We strive to help our clients align their financial resources with their values so they can live a full and meaningful life now and in the future. Healthy Plan, Wealthy Life™.
The Healthy Plan Path
We believe that with better guidance, you can live a better life. The Healthy Plan Path is a proprietary process we designed from years of experience working with clients to achieve their financial vision. Our customized solution to your unique goals creates a personalized roadmap to make the important financial decisions in your life. And because life can be crazy at times, we’ll put all of this in an organized binder for you, so your roadmap is always at your fingertips.
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Investment advisory services offered through YellowWood Wealth Solutions, LLC, a DBA of tru Independence Asset Management, LLC, a registered investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Education
Virginia Commonwealth University, MBA, Marketing | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, BS, Management Information Systems and Marketing
Hobbies and Interests
- Family
- Football
- Music
- Traveling
- Working Out
SEC Lookup
View DisclosureWho We Serve
- Baby Boomers
- Business Owners
- Corporate Executives
- Dual Income Family
- Families
- Gen X
- Intergenerational Families
- Living in Retirement
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5 Stars
Warm, personal, professional service. YellowWood encapsulates what it means to have a sound and caring financial advocate on your side. We are very fortunate that our advisors know us and understand our needs and goals. The team provides us with objective information and recommendations, which gives us the agency to make informed decisions about our future. We would feel much less confident planning our financial outlook without YellowWood's partnership.
5 Stars
This group is fantastic to work with. We trust our financial future with them 100%.
5 Stars
   
5 Stars
Tori Waldman and the professionals and staff at YellowWood Wealth Solutions are aces. Their expertise is off the charts. Equally as important is the way they genuinely care about their clients. They treat their clients as if each one is the most important person to their firm. They also interact with their clients in the same manner as they would want to be treated and interacted with if they were sitting on the other side of the desk. I cannot say enough good things about all of them.
5 Stars
Yellowwood has helped me reach my goal of a successful retirement. The owners and staff are all top notch, knowledgeable and supportive.
5 Stars
I have been working with YellowWood for several years through various stages of life and life events. These are great people with significant financial knowledge, excellent communication practices, and enthusiasm for their business to grow AND for their clients' wealth / goals to be realized. I highly recommend this firm.
5 Stars
I’ve been working with YellowWood for several years and watched the firm grow ( as well as my investments:) They have managed to retain a personal connection while providing excellent service. My questions are answered, I get regularly reports/updates and enjoy a good working relationship with my personal liaison. Highly recommend.
5 Stars
In all the years we have been with YellowWood, we have never had the need to question any decisions they have made on our behalf. This company operates with the utmost degree of integrity. Trust in management and staff standouts out up front.Thank you YW!
5 Stars
We've been working with Les and the Yellowwood team for ~20 years and would recommend highly!
5 Stars
The people at YellowWood are what makes the difference. They are experts at managing portfolios to meet their clients expectations. I have been with them since they opened their doors and couldn't be happier with the service they provide.
5 Stars
I have been working with Les Watson since before YellowWood Wealth Solutions and have had an excellent experience with my portfolio, discussing financial forecasts, trends and more. They have been very attentive, professional and a joy to work with. I would highly recommend them.
5 Stars
YellowWood is a wonderful financial services company. They help with planning as I age, providing money for my grandchildren and investments to add to my retirement as I age.
5 Stars
YellowWood Wealth Solutions is excellent. They have been my financial advisors since 2011. They are knowledgeable, organized, patient, and keep me well-informed. I highly recommend them.
5 Stars
The friendliest people to deal with especially Tori! They are super responsive to inquiries and concerns and have a vast amount of practical information for your financial planning goals.
5 Stars
I have had the pleasure of working with Yellowwood Wealth since 2022 as a recommendation from a close friend, and I can confidently say they are an outstanding financial advisory firm. From the very first meeting, their team demonstrated a deep understanding of my financial goals and provided tailored strategies that truly resonated with my needs.Their professionalism and expertise are evident in every interaction, and they consistently go above and beyond to ensure I feel informed and supported. The personalized attention I received made a significant difference in my financial planning journey.What impressed me the most was their commitment to transparency and education; they took the time to explain complex concepts in a way that was easy to understand. I now feel empowered to make informed decisions about my financial future and couldn't be more grateful. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking a trustworthy and dedicated financial advisor!
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