Our History

The Schweppe Group was founded by Martha Rankin Schweppe (September 11, 1956 – May 25, 2016). Our investment and planning philosophy is based on the experience and practice Martha developed over her 37 year career as an investment planner.

Martha began her investment planning career in 1979 with Bache Halsey Stuart Shields, Inc., a predecessor firm of Prudential Securities - which later became Wachovia Securities and is now Wells Fargo Advisors. She was the Managing Director – Investments of The Schweppe Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.

Martha attained her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification in 1983. She held the Certified Investment Management Analyst(SM) designation (CIMA®), administered by Investment Management Consultants Association(SM) and taught in conjunction with The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. In 2013, Martha earned the Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor (ADPA®) designation from The College for Financial Planning.

Over the years, Martha’s employer and industry peers recognized her client service and achievements. She was a Wells Fargo Advisors Platinum Council Advisor. The Platinum Council distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors as measured by one or more of the following: completion of educational components, business production from the previous year, and professionalism. Additional consideration may have included best practices and team structure. She was selected to Prudential Securities’ Financial Advisor Advisory Council – a small group formed to enhance communication between financial advisors and senior management, and served as a member of Wells Fargo Advisors’ Financial Advisor Advisory Board. In 2014, Martha was honored with Wells Fargo Advisors’ highest honor, the Spirit Award, bestowed as a result of her lifetime achievements. The Wells Fargo Advisors Spirit Award was established to recognize a select group of Platinum Council Advisors for their lifetime achievements – both personal and professional – and for epitomizing and reflecting Wells Fargo Advisors’ values. The Wells Fargo Advisors Platinum Council distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within the Firm as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on either of the past two years and professionalism. Additional criteria, including length of service, may also be used to determine recipients. 

The Charlotte Business Journal gave Martha its Women in Business Achievement Award in 2000, and in 2008 the magazine recognized her as one of the Top 25 Wealth Advisors in Charlotte. The National Association of Board Certified Advisory Practices (NABCAP) also named The Schweppe Group one of the Top Area Wealth Managers in 2012. A native of Concord, North Carolina, Martha was a cum laude graduate of Duke University.

Based on a host of quantitative and qualitative criteria, including assets managed, revenue, experience levels, acceptable compliance records and U4 forms, discussions with management and more. NABCAP's 2012 Premier Advisor evaluation and ranking program is an independent third-party assessment based on 20 categories of practice management; including experience, education, cost and investment planning. Participants are objectively compared and evaluated numerically. A minimum score must be attained for a practice to be considered for the final list. Winners are listed in alphabetical order. There is no cost for advisors to participate. The rating is not representative of any one client's experience and is not indicative of past or future investment performance.