Meet Our Team | Charleston Investment Advisors – Charleston Investment Advisors

Meet Your Team of Financial Experts.

CHARLESTON INVESTMENT ADVISORS

Providing Personalized, Independent Financial Advice and Guidance.

As a fiduciary, Charleston Investment Advisors, LLC offers a comprehensive approach to investing for high-net-worth individuals, their families, and businesses.

Stephanie W. Mackara, JD

PRINCIPAL WEALTH ADVISOR

"When you work with us, take comfort in knowing that instead of working for your money, your money is working for you. We’re proud to be your strategic partner focused on developing and executing your personalized financial plan to design and build the life you’ve always dreamed of having."

Author, business owner, and recipient of the 2018 Women’s Choice Award in finance (July 24, 2018 – WomenCertified Inc), Stephanie Mackara empowers family-oriented and purpose-driven leaders to build generational wealth and holistic abundance. At Charleston Investment Advisors, LLC, Stephanie uses her decades-long career in financial services and investment management to offer guidance and expertise to help individuals, families, and small businesses gain confidence as they work together to create a more secure financial legacy.

In addition to her vast financial services experience, Stephanie’s diverse academic background helps her connect with clients on a deeper level than most to create big-picture wealth strategies as she builds cohesion between family values and long-term financial freedom. Stephanie holds degrees in Psychology from West Chester University and a Juris Doctorate from Widener Law School.

Stephanie’s personal finance experience in raising her son, along with lessons learned from her clients, inspired her to write a book in 2020. Her book, Money Minded Families, helps parents learn how to leverage teachable moments to instill financial literacy and well-being in their children. She combines academic research and storytelling – with a bit of finance and psychology – to inspire parents and caregivers to prioritize teaching children smart financial habits early and often to lead them on a path of financial freedom and independence.

Stephanie serves her community as a board member of Bridges of Hope, a member of the Women’s Island Network, a frequent volunteer in teaching financial literacy in schools, and as a Reading Partners volunteer in her home of Daniel Island, South Carolina. She follows her dreams of traveling, running, and cooking with her husband, Bernie, son, Jacob, and dog Cooper, as well as spending her free time at the baseball and football fields with family and friends.

Erica loves facilitating and driving purposeful results with Charleston Investment Advisors, LLC. In addition to ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly, Erica develops comprehensive financial plans for clients to meet their financial goals based on their unique values, timelines, and histories. Erica is the resident expert in supporting clients with decisions related to college funding, retirement, savings, and overall long-term approaches to financial well-being.

With a B.S. degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Marketing and Management from the University of South Carolina, Erica is passionate about inclusivity and education. She formerly worked with the College Transition Connection (CTC), a non-profit organization founded to assist colleges and universities in creating programs for young adults with intellectual disabilities to attend college. She collaborated on the book LIFE Learning Is For Everyone, highlighting the story of how and why CTC was established in South Carolina.

Erica R. Smith, CFP®

ASSOCIATE FINANCIAL PLANNER

David Feldman

INVESTMENT RESEARCH

David brings nearly 40 years of investment and financial services experience to the Charleston Investment Advisors team. Over the course of his career, he has worked with clients ranging from large pension funds to individual clients with $25,000 portfolios.

David’s diverse educational background and financial firm experience provide a firm foundation from which he adeptly works with clients to plan for and address financial goals. David earned his BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan and his MBA in Finance from New York University, and grew his expertise through his work at large financial firms Chase Manhattan Bank, Dreyfus, and MetLife. David also co-founded two successful smaller financial firms.

David is happily married to Bonnie, his wife of over 30 years. Together, they raised two beautiful, smart, and accomplished daughters, who have gone on to their own careers in law and medicine. David is a dedicated reader and fervent Michigan football fan and enjoys golf, playing guitar, and listening to music. Bonnie and David brought their French Bulldog, Bentley, to his forever home in 2020 and enjoy playing and snuggling with him immensely.

David Feldman is a consultant to Charleston Investment Advisors, LLC and operates his own, unaffiliated firm, Boulder Capital.

Karen brings enthusiasm and passion to the Charleston Investment Advisor team, coupling her expertise in social media and marketing with customer relationships and sales experience.

After studying abroad in New Zealand and graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in Marketing (Go Blue Hens!), Karen launched full steam ahead into the marketing field. She has honed her outreach skills from print to social media to event marketing over the past fifteen years.

Karen lives in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, with her husband, Rob, her two boys, Carter and Beckett, and their mixed breed named Dash. Karen loves traveling to her sons’ sporting events, cheering on local teams, and relaxing at the beach.