Benjamin Asseff

For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside people as a Financial Advisor, helping them navigate life’s big moments and build a secure future. I’m passionate about creating lasting, trust-filled relationships—especially with those who’ve worked hard to grow their wealth and want a partner to protect it. My journey in finance has been shaped by a love for problem-solving and a deep commitment to seeing my clients thrive, both financially and personally. My career has taken me across industries and continents—from banking and management consulting to wealth management and mortgage banking, splitting time between the US and Japan. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Finance and Japanese, which sparked an incredible chapter in Tokyo, where I spent nearly eight years with global financial firms. Eventually, I landed in Charlotte, NC, bringing with me a blend of experiences that still inform how I serve my clients today. As a Certified Financial Planner™, Tax Planning Certified Professional®, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, I’ve gathered extensive tools and perspectives that help me adapt to whatever challenges come our way. I’ve guided families and individuals through every twist and turn of the economic cycle—including the chaos of the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis. What drives me is a belief that your financial plan should be as unique as you are. I don’t lean on one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, I take an active, hands-on approach to managing portfolios, staying nimble so we can safeguard what you’ve built and seize opportunities as they arise. I’ve always admired the wisdom of investors like Warren Buffett, who remind us to stay prepared for the unexpected. That’s why I focus on dynamic, personalized strategies to cut through the noise of today’s markets. My goal? To help you feel confident and empowered about your finances, so you can focus on living the life you’ve dreamed of. I’d love to sit down with you, hear your story, and explore how we can work together to make your goals a reality. Let’s build something meaningful, step by step.

My Financial Background: I am a CFA® Charterholder and CFP® Professional. For over a decade I served in various roles at Morgan Stanley and BNP Paribas in the New York metro area before relocating to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2021 where I was most recently a Vice President at Bank of America. Why I founded PB Wealth: I started PB Wealth to make a real impact in people’s lives, specifically focusing on professionals and families who may have some time before they retire, but they are in their peak decision-making years and need someone that truly invests in and empowers them. Starting my own RIA has given me the flexibility and independence I need to serve clients in their best interest, without compromise. My Mission: I believe a financial advisor should meet you where you are, whether you’re just starting out or whether you’re in your peak earning years, it should not matter. My mission is to help you build a life that is truly meaningful to you and that starts with getting to know who you are and what matters most to you.

What are the roles in your life that are most important to you? The top three for me are Christian, spouse and parent. The other roles that I’m spending more time in are beach hanger outer (technical term), drummer, basketball coach, concert/live theatre goer, bourbon taster and national park attender. The top three roles require intentionality to do them well. All the other roles require planning. These are all things that I’m not waiting for retirement to do. I’m doing them now and I’m spending more time in them with each year that goes by. At Silvis Financial, we want to help you focus on the most important roles in your life along with the other roles in your life that you love to do. We want to come along side you as your guide to help you navigate the financial decisions that need to be made now to help you create the work optional lifestyle that you’ve been envisioning. As for me, I’m from St. Louis, MO. Die hard St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. I majored in Economics at Vanderbilt University and played basketball there as well. I had a taste of professional basketball overseas before I settled into my career in financial services back in the late 90’s. Now it’s all about doing life with my wife and two kids. The roles listed above give a pretty good description of what I like to do when I’m not engaged in the business. Check out our website to learn more about our planning process or to set up a free consultation. I look forward to connecting with you soon!

I believe financial planning should feel personal, practical, and empowering, not overwhelming. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning, I combine deep academic knowledge with years of real-world advisory experience to help individuals and families make smart, confident financial decisions. On top of that, I value my relationship with my clients. Over the years, I’ve guided professionals, and families through life’s most important financial milestones, planning for retirement, funding education, managing investments, or navigating complex transitions. My approach is grounded in research, but always tailored to your unique goals and values. I take the time to listen, simplify the complex, and create strategies that bring both clarity and peace of mind. Beyond my advisory work, I serve as a professor of finance and associate dean at Winthrop University. Teaching and research keep me sharp, ensuring that the guidance I provide my clients is rooted not just in practice, but also in the latest financial insights. When I’m not working with clients or teaching, you can usually find me on the tennis court, traveling with my family, or enjoying time outdoors.

Think of me as Your Financial Mom - the planner that works with regular families. Throughout my career, it seemed that financial advisors were always looking to sell their products or manage money to retirees, business owners, or those with lots of money - no one wanted to plan and budget for everyone else. Our clients look like just like regular people: Mom and Dad who get up in the morning, get the kids off to school, work all day either at home or an office, come home, get dinner on the table, pay the bills, and have a little money in their retirement account  You will get the tools and advice needed to plan your retirement, create your budget, and save for your goals. Our local and national resources can help you put together your will or review your insurance. Each client receives an easy-to-read financial plan outlining your current situation, alternatives to reach your goals, and an action plan to get you there.

Jim Charles, CFP®, CFA, CDFA® is the co-founder of Sanctuary Financial Planning, a flat-fee, fee-only firm specializing in retirement and major life transitions. He brings more than three decades experience in comprehensive financial planning, tax-efficient retirement income design, and evidence-based investment management. Jim is also the co-author of the best-selling book From Work to What’s Next – Designing a Life You Don’t Want to Retire From, a project rooted in his own “failed retirement.” After stepping away from work, Jim discovered firsthand that financial readiness and life readiness are two very different things. That experience inspired him to re-emerge with purpose and ultimately create Sanctuary — a firm dedicated to helping others design transitions that feel meaningful, not disorienting. At Sanctuary, clients receive ongoing financial planning, proactive tax strategy, and integrated wealth management — all for a single, transparent, flat fee. Our work focuses on: • Retirement income planning using dynamic, research-based withdrawal strategies • Tax-efficient portfolio management and multi-year tax planning • Social Security, Medicare, and transition decision support • Coordinated, ongoing financial planning across all areas of life and money Sanctuary’s model eliminates AUM fees, product sales, and asset minimums. Clients receive objective advice, continuous planning, and disciplined investment management designed to support a confident, purpose-filled transition into and through retirement — not just a financial plan, but a roadmap for what comes next.