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Our Story

A Firm Built on the Advice We Wished We Could Have Given

Independent, fiduciary, and deeply committed to the people we serve.

Founded 2012

Why We Started Crestline

After a decade at one of the country's largest wire houses, Margaret Holloway saw the same pattern repeat itself: clients who trusted their advisors, not realizing those advisors were steered toward products that benefited the firm more than the client.

She left in 2012 to build something different. Crestline Wealth Advisors was founded on a single principle: your advisor should work for you. Full stop. That means no commissions, no product incentives, no conflicts of interest from outside relationships.

Today, Crestline serves more than 300 client families across North Carolina and beyond. The firm has grown through referrals only — which we think says something about the work we do.

Fee-Only Independent RIA No Commissions NAPFA Member

The Team

Meet Your Advisors

Every client works directly with a credentialed advisor. You'll never be handed off to a junior associate or an automated service.

Margaret Holloway

Founder & Lead Advisor

CFP® CFA

Specializes in pre-retirement income planning, estate coordination, and clients navigating major life transitions. 18 years of experience.

James Carver, CFP®

Senior Financial Advisor

CFP® RICP®

Focuses on retirement income distribution, Social Security maximization, and tax-efficient portfolio management for retirees. 12 years of experience.

Diane Reyes, CFP®

Financial Advisor

CFP® MBA

Specializes in business owner financial planning, exit strategy coordination, and comprehensive planning for dual-income families. 9 years of experience.

How We Work

Our Planning Philosophy

01

Long-Term Relationships

We don't want to be your advisor for a transaction. We want to be your advisor for the long haul — through career changes, market downturns, inheritances, and retirement. Our average client tenure is 11 years.

02

Holistic Planning

Your financial life doesn't live in a single account. We look at everything: investments, insurance, taxes, estate, and cash flow. Then we coordinate those pieces into a plan that actually holds together.

03

Radical Transparency

You receive a written financial plan, clear fee disclosures, and an annual review with documented recommendations. We believe informed clients make better decisions — and we want you informed.

What You Pay

Our Fee Structure

We are a fee-only firm. We earn no commissions, receive no referral payments, and accept no compensation from product providers. Our only revenue comes from fees you pay us directly.

Investment Management

0.75–1.25%

Annual percentage of assets under management, billed quarterly. The rate scales down as assets increase. Includes all financial planning services.

Financial Planning Only

$4,000–$8,000

One-time or annual retainer fee for comprehensive financial plan development, without investment management. Appropriate for those with existing investment arrangements.

Hourly Consulting

$350/hr

For targeted questions or second-opinion consultations. Minimum two-hour engagement. Includes a written summary of recommendations.

All fees are disclosed in writing before engagement. Please review our ADV Part 2 for complete fee schedules and disclosures.

Credentials & Oversight

Registrations & Memberships

Our credentials and affiliations reflect our commitment to the fiduciary standard and professional excellence.

SEC
Registered Investment Adviser
with the State of NC
NAPFA
National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
CFP
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards
FPA
Financial Planning Association Member

Beyond the Office

Community Involvement

Financial Literacy Workshops

We host free quarterly workshops at the Raleigh Public Library on topics like Social Security timing, Medicare enrollment, and estate planning basics. No sales pitch. Just education.

Pro Bono Planning

Through the NAPFA Foundation, we provide complimentary financial planning sessions to families in crisis, veterans, and first responders. Every advisor at Crestline contributes hours annually.

University Mentorship

We mentor finance students at NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill through their personal finance curriculum and host interns who are completing their CFP education requirements.

Start Here

Let's meet and see if we're a good fit.

An initial consultation is always complimentary. We'll listen, ask good questions, and give you an honest sense of what working together could look like.

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