The Pure Wealth Team
The firm currently consists of five lead advisors and seven team members, containing six CFP® Professionals with an average 16-years of planning experience.
Our team at Pure Wealth Strategies has three main goals:
- Continuity – to ensure that clients and team members maintain their relationships despite the possible absence of a single advisor.
- Service – we can offer more robust planning collectively than we could individually.
- Multi-Generational Planning – to provide relatable experience and expertise at each stage of life and planning.
Sean Fitts , CFP®, RICP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®
Principal and Wealth Management Advisor
Sean Fitts , CFP®, RICP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®
Principal and Wealth Management Advisor
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I began my career with Northwestern Mutual in 2008, joining the organization after a 15-year career as a mortgage lender. After five years as a Northwestern Mutual client, I knew I liked how the company did business. As an advisor, I mainly serve professional women who are in financial transition and other clients who are approaching retirement. In financial planning, you may be talking to multiple people: the person who handles your investments, the person who handles your insurance, a mortgage lender – the list goes on. I’m the person who helps my clients wrap their arms around the big picture to see how all of the pieces work together.
I have always naturally gravitated toward big-picture thinking. As a mortgage lender, my clients would often come to me with other financial planning questions. Once I realized I had a knack for this all-inclusive mindset, I decided to become a financial planner. This also allowed me to stay in North Carolina. I’m a Raleigh native and an N.C. State alumnus. I tried to leave the state by joining the U.S. Army when I was younger, but I was stationed in Fayetteville for my entire service. All was not lost, though: I did get to jump out of airplanes as part of the 82nd Airborne Division.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
Key lime pie. It makes me think of the beach.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the Triangle?
Glenwood Grill. Everything they touch is excellent. Get the salmon!
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
I like to play Carcassonne, a strategy game, with my wife, Teresa, and our two kids still at home, Benjamin and Melanie. You get points for building cities, connecting roads, or farming territories. We like it because it forces us to think.
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I began my career with Northwestern Mutual in 1980 and began working with the Pure Wealth Strategies team in 2020. My specialty is helping people who are approaching or in retirement to get the most return on life for their dollars. I mainly serve clients who are empty nesters – or will be soon – and are now focused on how they want to spend the last portion of their own lives. While I work with clients from all different professional backgrounds, I often serve people who share my Biblical worldview and want to be good stewards of their resources. I’ve taught many Biblical-based classes over the years through my church, and I try to incorporate that knowledge into my conversations with my clients.
I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a business degree. My dad was in the Navy for 20 years, so I grew up in various locations up and down the East Coast, but I went to high school in Winston-Salem, my parents’ hometown.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
Cookies and cream, because – just like my dad – I always liked Oreos. I’ll also eat any homemade ice cream.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the Triangle?
Winston’s. They make well-prepared Southern food. Everything on the menu is good, and you get a good bang for your buck there.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
My wife, Donna, and I will watch old home movies and reminisce about when our kids were young. We have three grown children: Katherine, Rebecca, and Hunter. We’ll also plan our next getaway. We love to travel and always have one or two vacations planned. People tell me I’m a great tour guide on vacation – I used to sell European ski trips!
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I began my career with Northwestern Mutual in 2001 in Indiana after I graduated from Butler University. I work primarily with closely held business owners and clients transitioning to retirement. I first began working with closely held business clients in Naples, Florida, where I learned the nuances that come with a client whose life is intertwined with their business. I challenge my clients to think about what is truly important to them financially and what they are willing to change in order to accomplish their financial goals. I approach financial planning with an eye for flexibility, working to accommodate change and understand the subtleties of my clients’ specific financial situations.
I’ve seen the impact that a good challenge can have on my own life. I grew up in Indiana but always wanted to learn how to sail. When a mentor challenged me to live in a place where I could actually do that, I moved to Florida. After my wife Hillary and I had our sons – Asher, Isaac, and Jude – in 2013, we were challenged to consider where and how we wanted to raise them. That led us to move to North Carolina when our boys were three years old.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
Butter pecan. I remember eating it with my mom at our local Dairy Queen, back when they still had hard ice cream. It was 80 cents for two scoops of ice cream, and they would put enormous scoops on a sugar cone.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the Triangle?
For Father’s Day, my boys and my wife always take me to Ted’s Montana Grill. It’s a very manly place to go.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
It depends on whether it’s a warm rainy Saturday or a cold rainy Saturday. In the summer, we’ll go out as a family and play in the rain. There’s not much more fun than playing in a torrential downpour. In cold weather, we’ll build forts with all of the couch cushions. My wife doesn’t like that as much, since we’re destroying her nice family room!
Casey Peterson , CFP®
Principal and Wealth Management Advisor
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I joined Northwestern Mutual in 2015, working primarily with young families, medical professionals, and people in the tech industry. Building relationships with my clients allows me to understand their goals and create a financial plan to help them achieve their objectives. Personal finance has long been an interest of mine, and I love connecting with people and building relationships with them.
After college, I began working in the Town of Morrisville’s Parks and Recreation Department. I enjoyed this job, but I didn’t interact with people often, which I love to do. Making the move into the financial planning world was the perfect fit because it allowed me to meet new people every day. The one-on-one contact I develop with my clients is the best part of my job, because I love to build relationships with people.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
If I’m going to the grocery store, it’s going to be Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Fudge Core. If I’m out, I’ll stop by Cook Out and get a Peanut Butter Fudge milkshake with Reese’s. I’m always in the mood for peanut butter and chocolate.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the Triangle?
The restaurant I frequent the most is Sitti in downtown Raleigh. Get the kebabs – they’re a staple – and order beet hummus to go along with their homemade pita bread. It’s really well done.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
You’ll probably find me with my wife, Cameron, and my son, Ed, building a fort and watching movies. We might also be out supporting a local business in Cary, where we live. We’ve grown fond of Sidebar in downtown Cary. They make the best cocktails in town for sure.
James Bradford Wheeler , CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®
Principal and Wealth Management Advisor
James Bradford Wheeler , CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®
Principal and Wealth Management Advisor
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I began working as a financial planner in 2015. I work primarily with Fortune 1000 companies and employees, closely held businesses, and health care professionals to provide clients with holistic comprehensive financial planning. I often compare my work to a puzzle: I help my clients figure out how to fit all of their financial pieces together, from investments to insurance to estate planning. We’re creating the “picture on the box” that guides them on the best way to combine all the parts.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
Are Cook Out milkshakes considered ice cream? I could eat a mocha and Snickers milkshake every day.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Greensboro?
This is a tie between GIA and M’Coul’s. GIA has the best charcuterie boards and scones and unique mixed drinks. If I’m in the mood for some pub food, M’Coul’s is hard to beat.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
My wife, Sarah, and I will also turn rainy days into movie days with our three children, Jamie, Conrad, and Eden.
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I began my career with Northwestern Mutual in 2013 as an intern while I was a student at N.C. State University and stayed on full-time after graduation. Day to day, I’m getting in the weeds with economic and investment news, staying up to date so I can translate the latest trends into actionable steps for our clients. I dig into the nitty gritty to help our clients make better decisions with their money, both in accumulation and retirement distribution. You’ll also hear from me quarterly in your email inbox with a look at the market.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
I love bourbon pecan because it’s delicious and mixes two of my favorite things. Two Roosters in Raleigh has the best version by far.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the Triangle?
We love going to Poppyseed Market in North Raleigh. They have a unique spin on Southern food and it is one of our favorite places to bring out-of-town friends and family!
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
My wife, Alex, and I love to watch a movie and do a puzzle with our son, Carter, and two dogs, Malbee and Willow.
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I began my career with Northwestern Mutual in 2016. With Pure Wealth, I oversee our brand in the community and the client relationship. My goal is to ensure positive and effective interactions with our team.
I graduated from N.C. State in 2017 with a degree in business focused on human resources. Before joining the Pure Wealth team, I worked in training and development, helping to grow Northwestern’s footprint in Eastern North Carolina.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
Ice cream is my favorite dessert, so that’s easy: I like anything peanut butter, anything chocolate or anything caramel. My ideal order is vanilla ice cream with a whole bunch of stuff on top of it – Oreo’s, Reese’s, hot fudge or caramel.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the Triangle?
My favorites change all the time. I love to eat out. I love Sushi Nine in Raleigh – they have buy one, get one sushi rolls and they’re amazing. I also love Scratch Kitchen, which just opened up in Cary. It’s a modern twist on Southern cooking. They have a great eggs Benedict hamburger.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
My fiancé, Pierce, and I don’t do well just sitting in the house – we go stir crazy! We like to go to a brewery or wine bar. We’ll bring our friends, a deck of cards, and – if we’re going to a brewery, our Australian shepherd/black Lab mix Dixie – and have a few drinks. We’re extremely social people and love to spend time with our friends.
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I began my career with Northwestern Mutual in 2012. In my role, I process all of our clients’ paperwork. I help clients set up their new investment accounts and process client paperwork. If a client has a question, I’m a great person to call: Even if I can’t help, I can get them to the right person. I thrive when I can accomplish a goal efficiently and accurately.
Originally, I’m from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I moved to North Carolina to work for the American Airlines hub in Raleigh. Even though we now live in Apex, I’m still a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
Pistachio is my favorite because I love nuts.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the Triangle?
The Provincial in Apex is excellent and our family’s favorite. They serve farm to table food, and their menu changes all the time – it has whatever they have fresh that day. They have friendly service and killer martinis!
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
I would take a day trip to somewhere like Chicago or Miami with my husband, Steve, who works in the airline business, and our two grown daughters, Madi and Syd. If we’re not going travel, we’ll play cards. We’ve played more games of Shanghai Rummy than we can count!
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I began my career with Northwestern Mutual in 2021. In my role, I work closely with clients in their initial meetings with our team to gather all the details needed so we can tailor a plan to them. My job is to focus on the details by taking raw data and turning it into a plan for the client. I love creating planning solutions and helping the client see the strategic steps they can take to reach their goals.
I graduated from Appalachian State with a degree in business management and supply chain management, then spent several years working as a financial advisor for two other companies.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
Ben & Jerry’s Half-Baked. I am a sucker for brownies and anything chocolate, and if you throw in cookie dough, too, that’s a recipe for disaster.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Greensboro?
Old Town Draught House. About 95 percent of the time I go, I get the chicken Philly and Cajun fries. It’s my absolute favorite dish in Greensboro.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
My fiancé Katlyn and I will probably stay in our PJs with our daughter, Scout, until brunch. We’ll watch some Saturday morning cartoons and play, then grab a quick bite to eat. Around dinner time, we’ll have a movie night upstairs on our big yellow couch. Scout will pick the movie, and since she’s three and a half, it’s typically a movie we’ve seen 13 times already!
How would you describe yourself and your work?
My role is to conduct ongoing investment analysis, due diligence, and operational execution that serves to inform and/or support the investment objectives of our clientele. While I am primarily engaged with portfolio construction, monitoring, and implementation, I am also available as an additional resource to clients for any questions and conversations surrounding Pure Wealth Strategies’ strategic investment approach.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
During the spring and summer months, my family and I have a weekly tradition of going to Broken Spoke Farm in Hillsborough. The Cantaloupe and Vanilla Swirl soft serve there is our family’s unanimous favorite ice cream. Aside from the delicious dessert, you can also grab some farm fresh vegetables at the same time.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the triangle?
Pizzeria Toro in downtown Durham! Adding their Calabrese Chili Peppers in Oil is the key.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
A rainy day is always a restful reprieve on our homestead. This would likely provide sufficient pretext for Saturday game night to become Saturday game day: board games all day with my wife, our competitive boys, and our youngest daughter.
How would you describe yourself and your work?
I began my career with Northwestern Mutual in 1992. In my current role with Pure Wealth Strategies, I’m a planner: I work with our clients when they first meet with our team to determine how we can set up a plan that fits their specific needs. I’m highly organized and a lifelong learner; I love being a resource for our clients and helping them bring their plans to life!
I’ve worked with Northwestern Mutual in North Carolina, Hawaii and Florida, where I’m originally from. I have been in Cary, NC since 2001.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
I’m an equal opportunity ice cream eater, but I just discovered chocolate moose tracks!
What’s your favorite restaurant in the Triangle?
Our overall favorite is PF Chang’s, but we always love to try new places.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy Saturday with your family?
We like to get together with our kids, Tristan and Camryn, for a family game night once or twice a month. We always play Skip Bo, and we’re currently playing a lot of Uno Flip.