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2500 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC 27518

919-948-4452

The Wealthshield partnerS
cLIENT EXPERIENCE


OUR STORY


Robert Leggett founded WealthShield Partners in 2013 because he wanted to hold the financial guidance provided to his clients to the highest standards of integrity and excellence. While he began his career as an advisor with a corporate financial institution, Robert knew the only way he could genuinely safeguard the principles of his investment practice was to establish his own independent advisory firm. By taking full responsibility for the management of his business and his clients' assets, Robert has endeavored to limit conflicts of interest and adhere to strong ethical standards.


At WealthShield Partners, we believe trust begins with transparency. Our straightforward fee structure is designed to eliminate any hidden costs or surprises, which helps to set clear expectations for our clients. Our independent status not only offers us more freedom to tailor our clients' investment portfolios to their personal circumstances, but it also broadens the scope of investment options we are able to offer to them. This differentiates us from many corporate institutions, which are often limited in the investment products offered to clients and may be incentivized by commissions or sales quotas. We pride ourselves on providing customized strategies that cater to the unique priorities and constraints of each investor we serve.




CLIENT SUPPORT TEAM

Robert Leggett
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Robert Leggett, CFA®, CFP®, JD
Managing Partner
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Serving as a Wealth Manager for over 25 years, Robert Leggett is a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and the Managing Partner of WealthShield Partners, LLC.

Robert firmly believes in the importance of proper asset allocation and risk management strategies. He works closely with his clients to understand their needs and tolerance for risk in order to provide portfolios tailored to their goals and behavioral tendencies.

Robert enjoys staying attuned to changes in market dynamics and global shifts that may influence the investment landscape. He adapts his strategies in response to changes in the domestic and global markets to ensure that his clients' portfolios continue to align with their goals.

Robert served as the First Vice President of UBS in Raleigh, Vice President of Merrill Lynch in Cary, and held the position of President/CEO of Leggett Stores in Danville. His journey began as an attorney at the regional law firm of Mays & Valentine.

Robert graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration (accounting concentration) from Emory University. Additionally, he earned his Juris Doctor from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond.
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Victoria Handley Araj, CFP®
Financial Planner | Chief Operating Officer
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Victoria Handley Araj, CFP® serves as a Financial Planner and the Chief Operating Officer at WealthShield Partners. Victoria is passionate about empowering WealthShield Partners’ clients to understand their financial situations and meet their goals. She uses her experience and expertise to comprehend clients’ needs and guide them towards financial success.

Victoria, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, is a graduate of Georgetown University and the recipient of an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Duke University. In her spare time, she likes to travel, read, attend the theatre, and spend time with her husband and their cats.

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Jessica Alpers
Senior Manager of Operations
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As the Senior Manager of Operations, Jessica's passion lies within operational leadership and client service management. Through her work implementing our firm's compliance policies and procedures, handling client account opening and maintenance, and addressing all back- and middle-office administration, Jessica has always prioritized integrity and client relations.

Jessica's experience in the RIA space and her knowledge of operational systems provide her with the extensive background necessary to support the WealthShield Partners team and our clients.

Jessica graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, where she majored in Finance and Economics and has completed the Director of Operations certification through the women-focused DOO program called the Ops Authority. Jessica lives in Fuquay-Varina, NC, with her husband and their beloved dog, Boone.
Robert Leggett
Michael Helms, CPA, CFP®
Wealth Manager
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With more than 25 years of experience providing financial planning, strategic investment advice, and comprehensive tax management solutions, Michael Helms, CPA, CFP® joined WealthShield Partners as a Wealth Manager in 2017. His hands-on experience and client-first focus play a vital role in the company’s growth, evolution, and client services, helping both the organization and its clients achieve a critical competitive advantage.

Prior to joining WealthShield Partners, Michael served as the Managing Director of Evergreen Financial Services, Inc. There, he worked with independent clients in the greater Greenville, SC area, utilizing comprehensive asset management strategies and wide-ranging tax and financial planning solutions to optimize and safeguard their long-term wealth.

Michael earned his MBA with a focus in Accounting and Finance, as well as his B.S. in Finance, from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, and a member of the AICPA.
Our Services
OUR SERVICES
Investment Management

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

  • Portfolio Construction
  • Risk Management Strategies
  • Investment Research
Financial Planning

FINANCIAL PLANNING

  • Comprehensive Financial Guidance
  • Financial Goal Monitoring
  • Cash Flow Analysis
  • Retirement Planning
Estate Planning

ESTATE PLANNING

  • Business Succession Guidance
  • Legacy Planning
  • Charitable Gifting
Tax Management

TAX MANAGEMENT

  • Strategic Tax Planning
  • Qualified Account Optimization
  • Tax-efficient Investment Strategies
Who We Serve

WHO WE SERVE

High-net-worth Individuals

High-net-worth Individuals

Entrepreneurs & Business Owners

Entrepreneurs & Business Owners

Young Professionals

Young Professionals

 


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Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) are licensed by the CFA® Institute to use the CFA® mark. CFA® certification requirements: Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or have equivalent education or work experience, successful completion of all three exam levels of the CFA® Program, have 48 months of acceptable professional work experience in the investment decision-making process, fulfill society requirements, which vary by society. Unless you are upgrading from affiliate membership, all societies require two sponsor statements as part of each application; these are submitted online by your sponsors.

Certified Financial PlannersTM (CFP®) are licensed by the CFP® Board to use the CFP® mark. CFP® certification requirements include: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, completion of the financial planning education requirements set by the CFP® Board (www.cfp.net), successful completion of the CFP® Certification Exam, comprised of two three-hour sessions, experience requirement: 6,000 hours of professional experience related to the financial planning process, or 4,000 hours of Apprenticeship experience that meets additional requirements, successfully pass the Candidate Fitness Standards and background check, agree annually to be bound by CFP® Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct, and complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years, including two hours on the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.