Eric Frasier
Eric has worked in the financial services industry for over eighteen years. He has extensive experience on the institutional side of the business, working for such firms as Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley and AllianceBernstein. Eric has served in a variety of roles at these nationally recognized firms including, National Sales Director, Head of Training and Development and Managing Director. In these roles Eric has had the opportunity to work with spectrum of clients including large Fortune 500 companies, small business owners and high net worth families and individuals.
Eric has served as an industry speaker at numerous events including the Investment Company Institute, Yale, AIG, AXA and the Bank of Bogotá, Columbia. Eric has spoken on topics ranging from the Global Capital Markets to the latest trends in the distribution of retail financial products. Eric is a Registered Investment Advisor and holds his Series 6, 7, 24, 63 and 65 registrations.
Eric lives in Charlotte with his wife and three sons. He is active in the community with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and Turning Point. Eric has coached youth Football and Basketball and is on the board of a youth athletic league.
John Owens
John Owens has been listed twice in Inc. Magazine list of 500 fastest-growing private companies CEO’s in America, has received the Charlotte Chamber Entrepreneur of the Year Award and was recognized by the Charlotte Business Journal as a member of the Forty-under-Forty list, which identifies up and coming business leaders in the community.
John Owens has been widely recognized for its positive corporate culture. In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009 Carolina Parenting Magazine awarded Owens as one of its the top Family-Friendly CEO’s in the Carolinas. In 2008 and 2009 Ameritrust Mortgage, Inc received the Charlotte Business Journals ‘BEST PLACES TO WORK” award. In 2009 and 2010 Owens received “Top Entrepreneur” award from Charlotte’s Business Leader Magazine.
Owens used his personal savings to create Ameritrust Mortgage Company, LLC (a wholesale mortgage company) in 1995. Up until March 2007; that company grew to be one of the largest privately held wholesale bankers in the country. Today the Ameritrust Family of Companies has grown to include the new retail mortgage company (Ameritrust Mortgage Inc) as well as new companies including Ameritrust Insurance Agency and Ameritrust Wealth Management. The company employs 80 talented team members who are committed to our clients, our company and our strongly family-oriented culture.
Michele Connell
Life Insurance Specialist
Michele has worked with life insurance and related products since 1995. With experience including personal sales, home office insurance carrier operations and managing and distributing multiple carriers through a general agent; Michele has well rounded knowledge of the life insurance industry. Specifically, she helped CNA to open up and operate a branch office in Charlotte in 1995 and then in 2002 helped to open the LifeSource Brokerage firm. LifeSource has grown to produce multi millions of premium dollars each year through assisting others in the sale of life, ltc, disability and annuities. Michele has been a sales leader and a member of the President’s Club each year since 2006.
Michele is a graduate of Rutgers University and moved to Charlotte from NJ 16 years ago. She currently resides in Weddington, NC with her husband and four children. Michele values fitness and hopes to pass this value onto children by being very involved with her children’s soccer club, coaching cheerleading and Girls on the Run.
Jerry V Mercer
Financial Associate
Jerry V Mercer was born in Baltimore, MD and attended West Virginia University where he graduated in 1997 with a BS degree in Business Administration concentrated in Finance.
Following graduation he moved back to Maryland where he began his career as a Legal Transfer Associate at Legg Mason, a prominent investment management firm headquartered in Baltimore.
In 1998 Jerry relocated to Charlotte, NC to take a position at Collateral One Mortgage where he worked for 6 years eventually becoming the Regional Vice President managing the Southeastern United States territory; and In 2004 Jerry would move on to establish Valdiz Holdings LLC where he ran operations as the Owner and Managing Principal.
Because of his background, he works closely with executives and business owners alike. Through his personal experiences running various businesses, Jerry adds value to our clients by bringing a more in-depth understanding of financial planning strategies needed to reach personal, professional and business goals in today’s ever-changing economic environment.
Jerry is currently enrolled in Queens University’s Certified Financial Planner program where he is working to obtain his CFP designation. He has over 10 years of loan origination experience.
Jerry enjoys traveling; spending time with family and friends; a nice cigar at his local cigar club; coaching youth basketball; and his 6am pick-up basketball games at Covenant Presbyterian Church. After spending a year in Johnson & Wales University’s “Garnish Your Degree” program, Jerry thoroughly enjoys and appreciates all aspects of the Culinary Arts. Jerry has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity; served as a cook during Johnson & Wales’ feed the homeless Christmas events and he currently sits on the Pride Entrepreneur Education Program(PEEP) committee where they award scholarships to well deserving; under-privileged high school students looking to pursue entrepreneurial focused career paths.