Michael Schaffer

Hi, I’m Caroline (Murphy) Friedrich CPA, CFP®, a financial planner and founder of Hillvale Wealth Management. Growing up I was always brainstorming business ideas and loved organizing, which led to my first venture, “Caroline’s Closets.” My father, an accounting professor, suggested I become an accountant to organize numbers instead. Today, I organize much more than just closets and numbers – I help people achieve peace of mind through financial planning. A Knoxville native, I earned my accounting degree and master’s in taxation from the University of Tennessee. After graduation, I moved to New York City and spent a decade in public accounting at PwC and EY, reviewing thousands of personal tax returns as a CPA.  I then transitioned into wealth management, working at firms in Chicago and Knoxville, before launching Hillvale Wealth Management. Our Mission Many people leave meetings with financial advisors feeling overwhelmed by investment jargon and economic updates. When I transitioned into wealth management, I noticed a strong emphasis on investments, often at the expense of tax planning and client education. Leveraging my unique expertise in financial planning, investments, and tax strategies, I founded Hillvale Wealth Management to offer personalized recommendations tailored to your goals. My mission is to provide clients with clarity, understanding, and confidence in their financial decisions.