Business Details
Your Trusted Financial Advisory Partner in Raleigh
First Oak Wealth Management is an independent wealth management firm dedicated to creating personalized financial strategies that align with clients' life goals. Founded on principles of integrity and transparency, we operate as fiduciaries, ensuring every recommendation prioritizes client interests above all else. Our team of experienced advisors combines deep industry knowledge with a commitment to lifelong learning, leveraging advanced certifications like the Certified Private Wealth Advisor designation to deliver sophisticated solutions. We maintain an SEC-registered investment advisory structure, allowing us to provide objective guidance without conflicts of interest from product sales or third-party incentives. Our fee-only model and custodian flexibility ensure tailored approaches that adapt to evolving client needs across wealth creation, preservation, and distribution phases.Through dynamic scenario testing and continuous portfolio monitoring, we develop robust strategies that withstand market fluctuations while maintaining tax efficiency. Our collaborative approach emphasizes ongoing communication, empowering clients with the knowledge needed to make confident financial decisions. With access to independent research from global investment firms, we maintain objectivity in strategy development while avoiding parent company biases. The firm's culture emphasizes trust-building through decades of collective experience and a focus on long-term client relationships rather than transactional interactions.
Services
Wealth Management
Financial Planning
Investment Planning
Retirement Planning
Charitable Giving
Highlights and features
- We act as fiduciaries, legally obligated to prioritize client interests
- Our SEC-registered status ensures regulatory oversight and transparency
- Fee-only structure eliminates conflicts of interest from product sales
- Personalized approach addresses wealth management across all life stages
- Access to independent research from leading global investment firms
Associations and certifications
- Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA)
- SEC Registered Investment Adviser
Services
Wealth Management
Our wealth management approach creates comprehensive strategies addressing clients' complete financial picture. By integrating investment planning, tax considerations, and estate distribution, we help clients navigate wealth creation, preservation, and transfer phases. With scenario-tested strategies, we ensure preparedness for both expected and unexpected life events.
Investment Planning
We develop customized investment approaches based on individual risk tolerance and financial goals. Using thoroughly vetted investment vehicles and tax-efficient strategies, our plans focus on long-term growth while maintaining appropriate risk levels. Regular portfolio monitoring ensures strategies evolve with changing market conditions and life circumstances.
Retirement Planning
Our retirement planning services analyze income needs, asset preservation, and distribution strategies. We help clients transition from wealth accumulation to sustainable income generation, addressing healthcare costs, long-term care needs, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies to ensure financial security throughout retirement years.
Charitable Giving
We help clients incorporate charitable objectives into comprehensive financial plans. By exploring tax-efficient giving strategies and legacy-building opportunities, we ensure philanthropic goals align with overall wealth management. Our approach maximizes community impact while optimizing tax benefits within retirement and estate plans.
Financial Advisory
As fiduciary advisors, we provide personalized guidance across all financial planning aspects. Our process begins with understanding clients' current situations and future goals, then creating actionable plans that address cash flow, insurance needs, education funding, and major life transitions with ongoing strategy adjustments.
People
Ryan Thomsen
Managing Member, Investment Advisor
CPWA-certified advisor with experience at Fidelity and Edward Jones. Focuses on personalized financial strategies through fiduciary lens. Holds University of Chicago Booth certification in wealth management.
Catherine Hawthorne
Office Administrator
Administrative professional with hospitality industry experience. Manages office operations and client support with focus on service excellence and organizational efficiency.
Questions
What makes First Oak different from other financial advisors?
We operate as fiduciaries with a fee-only structure, ensuring unbiased advice focused solely on client interests without product sales incentives.
Do you work with clients outside North Carolina?
Yes, we serve clients nationwide through remote consultations while maintaining our Raleigh-based office operations.
What investment approach do you use?
We employ personalized, tax-efficient strategies using thoroughly researched investment vehicles and regular portfolio monitoring for long-term growth.
How do you handle client communication?
We maintain open communication through scheduled meetings and are readily available for client inquiries via phone or email.
What services do you specialize in?
We focus on wealth management, including financial planning, investment advisory, retirement strategies, and charitable giving solutions.
How are your fees structured?
We use a transparent one-fee structure with no hidden costs, commissions, or revenue sharing from financial product sales.
