Steve is a veteran of the financial services industry with over 37 years of experience. He joined Wheat First Securities in 1987 which is now Wells Fargo Advisors. In 1991 he began putting together the team, which is now the Menendez, Yoder & Hunt Retirement Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.

Steve holds degrees from Northwestern University (BME) and the University of Hawaii (MM). He is a Senior PIM^® Portfolio Manager1 who specializes in helping clients plan their retirement and managing their investments to maximize their retirement goals.

 

PIM^® Portfolio Manager

Steve Menendez is a PIM^® Portfolio Manager.¹ As a PIM^® Portfolio Manager, he works to meet clients' specific investment goals through customized portfolio management. He has met stringent criteria based on experience and expertise and acts as a personal portfolio manager.



_{1The PIM^® program is not designed for excessively traded or inactive accounts and is not appropriate for all investors. Please carefully review the Wells Fargo Advisors advisory disclosure document for a full description of our services. The minimum account size for this program is $50,000.}

With over 19 years of experience in the financial services industry, David joined our practice  in 2021.

David earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Philosophy from Lenoir-Rhyne University and a Master of Economics degree from North Carolina State University.

In addition to applicable securities registrations, David is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® practitioner.

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^®

David Yoder has obtained The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® professional certification. To earn his CFP^® credential, he completed hundreds of hours of rigorous courses and examinations offered by various colleges and universities across the country. These courses are then followed by a 10-hour comprehensive examination administered according to the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. The qualification process is a comprehensive array of advice and skill-based approach that distinguishes The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® practitioners from other professional advisors, who typically focus on only one area of a client's financial life.

Chris has over 24 years of experience in the financial services industry building and managing trusted advisory relationships. Chris joined our practice in 2022.

As a Financial Advisor, Chris is dedicated to helping clients create, grow, and preserve their wealth by developing a customized, comprehensive investment plan that meets their financial needs.

Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. In addition to applicable securities registrations, Chris holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor^SM professional designation.

Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor^SM (CRPC^®)

Chris Hunt has earned his CRPC^® designation which focuses on building an in-depth knowledge of clients' needs both before and after retirement. As a Chartered Retirement Plan Counselor^SM, Chris focuses on client centric problem solving as he assists clients planning for the entire retirement planning process, including planning for multiple financial objectives, identifying sources of retirement income, building personal savings, taking advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans, planning for tax efficient investing, projecting and meeting retirement cash flow needs, asset management and estate investment planning.

Lauren works directly with our valued clients, walking them through each step of account opening, executing financial requests and handling every aspect of the estate settling process.  She strives to deliver an elevated client experience by resolving client requests, working through unique situations, and strengthening client relationships with the Team. 

Lauren had over 20 years of experience as a Program Manager in the Energy, Transportation, and Non-Profit sectors in the San Francisco Bay Area.  After moving to North Carolina in 2016, she began her career with Wells Fargo Advisors in July of 2018. 

Lauren earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with Honors from National-Louis University.  In her spare time, she volunteers on her HOA Board and various community non-profit organizations.

Vandi has over 29 years of experience in the financial services industry specializing in branch operations and client service excellence. Vandi works directly with our respected clients by scheduling client appointments, executing financial transactions, prepping account review documents to include 401K plan reviews, and delivering an exceptional client experience.  

Vandi relocated to North Carolina in 2019 and joined our team in 2021.

Vandi earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in General Business from Scottsdale Community College and a Bank Account Management: Customer Service Certification from Rio Salado College in Arizona. In her spare time, she volunteers on her HOA Board and various community non-profit organizations.