Reintroduction
As Harding Wealth continues to grow, we want to take a moment to reintroduce our team, clarify how we support clients, and share a bit more about how our firm is structured. We’re also excited to welcome a new team member whose role will further strengthen the experience we deliver to every client family.
Before I reintroduce our team, a few things I think are important:
1) Harding Wealth is an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). This structure is fundamentally different from large brokerage firms, banks, or insurance-based practices.
As an independent RIA:
We are legally obligated to act as fiduciaries at all times. This is important.
We are not tied to proprietary investment products. We don’t have any and never will. (You wouldn’t want your doctor to prescribe you some medicine they make in their basement, right? You just want them to recommend the best thing for you.)
Our advice is not influenced by commissions, sales quotas, or corporate incentives.
This independence allows us to focus exclusively on what is best for clients—objectively, transparently, and without conflicts that are common elsewhere in the industry.
2) Every person giving wealth advice in our firm must have the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation.
Not all designations are created equal — some of the letters you see behind an advisor’s name can be acquired with just a few days of studying, taking an easy test, and paying an annual fee. The CFP®, on the other hand, requires rigorous studying, passing 7 individual modules (typically over the course of 12-24 months) and a comprehensive test. You can learn more about the requirements here.
Additionally, CFP® professionals are bound by a fiduciary standard and enhanced Code of Ethics.
3) Client assets are held at well-established, third-party custodians including Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Altruist. These firms provide custody, reporting, and account protection, while Harding Wealth serves as the advisor—managing investments and providing guidance.
This structure offers several advantages:
Client assets are held separately from the advisory firm.
Multiple custodial options allow flexibility and customization. We work for you, not for the custodians. So we’re committed to finding the best place for your assets to be held.
Clients benefit from institutional-grade tools and safeguards.
Transparency and oversight are built into the system.
In short, independence plus high-quality custodianship creates a structure designed for clarity, security, and alignment.
4) 100% of our clients are people.
Not 401(k) plans.
Not companies.
Not pension funds.
Just people.
People with children and grandchildren, causes they support, and dreams of travel or a car they’ve always wanted or whatever…. You know, the important stuff.
Firms will often get distracted, wanting to be all things to all kinds of potential clients — we stay true to wanting to work only with real people. It’s way more fun this way.
As of January 2026, we have 170 families and directly manage about $220 million for those families.
Our Team
Adam Harding, CFP®
Founder & Advisor
I founded Harding Wealth 10 years ago with the goal of building an independent firm centered entirely on client interests. A firm where we can be candid, authentic, and accessible without feeling like Wall Street. We’ve done that so far and I’m excited to keep it going for another couple decades.
I work directly with clients on investment strategy, financial planning, tax strategy, and estate planning.
David Young, CFP®
Advisor
Similar to Adam, David is deeply involved in ongoing planning conversations, portfolio strategy, and helping clients navigate financial decisions as life evolves. He has a Masters degree in financial planning and he lives this stuff day in and day out.
Ask him anything — he’ll figure it out.
Alexis Mitchell
Client Experience
Alexis focuses on the broader client experience at Harding Wealth.
What kind of food or drinks do you want ready when you visit our office for a review?
Do you prefer paper account statements or digital?
Would you and your family like to attend an event we’re hosting?
This is the stuff Alexis is great at.
She coordinates client appreciation, firm events, and community outreach initiatives. Her role is centered on strengthening relationships and making sure our clients feel valued, connected, and supported beyond just financial conversations.
Cinnamon Martinez
Client Administration
Cinnamon manages the operational side of our client relationships.
We would love for you to never spend several minutes waiting on hold for a service representative to answer a question about your accounts — Cinnamon is here to help make sure that’s what happens.
She oversees account openings, transfers, and the many service items that accompany investment accounts. Her work ensures that behind-the-scenes processes run smoothly so clients experience fewer friction points and faster execution.
Carson Kunkle, CFP®
Financial Planning
We are excited to welcome Carson to Harding Wealth. Carson is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and will be responsible for financial planning assistance across the entire firm.
His focus is building, maintaining, and refining comprehensive financial plans for all clients—ensuring that planning remains integrated, consistent, and proactive as circumstances change.
You can read expanded bios for each of our team members here: https://www.hardingwealth.com/team
Our Focus Going Forward
As our team grows, our focus remains the same: thoughtful advice, disciplined investment strategy, and long-term partnerships with the families we serve.
We remain committed to keeping our service high and our expertise finely tuned.
That’s all for now.
Onward,
Adam Harding
www.hardingwealth.com
