Personal Profile
Susan McGrath, CFP®
Susan’s financial planning career followed a very unconventional path, beginning with a BS in biology from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, then a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. The Middletown, Ohio native then worked with the water quality group at the Research Triangle near Durham, North Carolina. There, she wrote technical guidance documents as a consultant for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She and her team were also instrumental in formulating the online National Listing of Fish Advisories, which serves as the country’s guidelines for contaminant levels in fish.In 1994, Susan and her husband moved to Asheville following his job transfer with the Wildlife Resources Commission. She became an adjunct professor in the University of North Carolina at Asheville’s environmental studies department, teaching various classes, including solid waste management.
She and Harold met in an informal setting, and, because of her background in environmental studies, he asked her to assist in sorting through environmentally conscious mutual funds, in which some clients expressed interest. She enjoyed the financial planning part of Harold’s business, and after several months of testing out the world of finances and investments, Susan joined him in 1998.
She noted that many clients, and people in general, were focused on trying to make enough money to achieve their goals — which caused them much stress. What she wanted to do was to work with clients to achieve their life’s goals with the financial resources they had available.
She received her financial planner certification in 2000, and became a full partner in 2002. In 2008, when Harold Holcombe decided to start the journey toward retirement, Susan became the owner, carrying on the company philosophy of superior, individualized customer service — from investment counseling to research and advice in all aspects of a client’s financial decisions.
Susan and her husband live in Leicester with their two children.