Jennifer began her career in the financial services industry over 20 years ago after graduating from Western Carolina University with a BSBA in Financial Planning. Prior to joining Mercer Advisors in 2022, Jennifer was Vice President of Starks Financial Group in Asheville, NC. Jennifer enjoys working with clients by helping them build, preserve, and transfer their wealth efficiently and according to their values. Jennifer has earned several certifications including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in 2002, Chartered Divorce Financial Analyst in 2014, and Chartered SRI Counselor℠ in 2021. Jennifer serves on the Board of Helpmate, a domestic violence agency and leads their Business Committee, partnering with local businesses to support the agency’s mission. When she has free time, Jennifer enjoys reading, traveling, attending concerts, and spending time with her daughter, Emery, and husband, Nathan.

Dawn established Starks Financial Group in 1999 which merged with Mercer Advisors in 2022. Dawn has been an adjunct faculty member for both Mars Hill University and WCU where she was instrumental in developing the Certificate in Financial Planning program. She has also taught the required annual CFP® ethics course numerous times. Dawn lives in Swannanoa with her daughter, Rowan, and their pets – a cat, Nala, and two Golden Retrievers, Piper and Parker. She has a long commitment to giving back to the community. In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors, traveling internationally, writing, reading, and homeschooling Rowan.

Dave has been working since 2006 to help people understand their finances and create paths to meet their money and life goals. He has a passion for financial literacy as a means to help reduce the uncertainty and stress families often experience around their finances. He especially enjoys helping investors align their investments with their personal values through sustainable, responsible, and impact investing strategies. In addition to his certification as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, Dave was one of the first advisors in North Carolina to earn the credential of Chartered SRI Counselor™ for expertise in sustainable and responsible investing. He was a founding member of the Raymond James Sustainable Investing Advisory Council and led the Investment Committee at his previous firm, Starks Financial Group.

Kathryn began working with families and their finances in 2012. In her early career, Kathryn worked for non-profits to educate first time homebuyers, counsel on student loans and offer financial coaching. Kathryn is intentional about learning her clients’ full financial picture to create detailed financial plans and finding creative solutions is one of the favorite parts of her job. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina. A North Carolina native, Kathryn has lived in Asheville since 2014. In the community, she serves on the board of Girls on the Run of WNC. She and her husband enjoy spending time both being active outdoors and getting cozy with their three cats. Kathryn also enjoys gardening, reading and cheering on the Tar Heel basketball team.

Kristen graduated cum laude in 2021 from Western Carolina University with a BS in Business Administration, with a focus in Financial Planning. She received a first-place finish among 75 other students in the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, 2021 National Financial Planning Competition. Kristen works as a Client Service Specialist where she focuses on client review preparation and documentation. Originally from WNC, Kristen grew up in Leicester and still lives in the area close to her family. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, attending concerts, gardening, and strength training.

Bonnie joined Starks Financial Group in June of 2021, bringing her 10+ years of administrative experience to the front office. Bonnie is skilled in organizing and record keeping, which helps her assist the team with processing client documents and scheduling and maintaining client appointments. As a Client Service Specialist, she enjoys working with the clients and lending a hand with any task, large or small. Bonnie also has experience with CRM databases, which has recently been a new part of her role with Mercer Advisors. Bonnie has lived in Asheville, North Carolina since 2012, after relocating from her hometown in Connecticut. She enjoys her yearly trip to the North Carolina coast, her two kittens, and the occasional night out to see a comedy show.

Scott Kays, CFA, CFP® founded Kays Financial Advisory Corporation in 1985, which was acquired by Mercer Advisors in November 2020. In addition to managing the firm and developing comprehensive financial plans for clients, he also served as KFAC’s Chief Investment Officer. Scott is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. He has appeared numerous times on the Fox Business Network and CNBC, been featured in the Wall Street Journal, and authored two books, Achieving Your Financial Potential (Doubleday, 1999) and Five Key Lessons from Top Money Managers (John Wiley and Sons, 2005). Married since 1985 with six children, his numerous interests outside of work include roasting coffee, professional bodybuilding, and outdoor activities.