Meet Kathryn
Kathryn is a Wealth Advisor based in Asheville, North Carolina. She joined Mercer Advisors in 2022 through the acquisition of Starks Financial Group, a small, local, woman founded and owned firm that focused on financial planning and education. Kathryn has been dedicated to helping families navigate their finances since 2012. Her early career involved working with nonprofits to educate first-time homebuyers, provide student loan counseling, and offer financial coaching. Kathryn is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. She earned a B.A. degree in exercise and sport science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Kathryn’s specialties
At Mercer Advisors, all of our wealth advisors provide a highly personalized approach, backed by a team of specialists that ensure every part of your financial list is addressed. Additionally, Kathryn has focused experience in these areas:
- Planning for retirement, from high-earning years to long-term income strategies
- Helping single women manage wealth on their own terms, with strategies aligned to their lifestyle and priorities
- For women breadwinners, financial strategies to support their families and long-term goals
- Helping new families shift financial priorities while building a strong foundation for the future; specializing in LGBTQ+
- Aligning portfolios with purpose for clients pursuing values-based investing
Her working style
Kathryn leads with deep listening, building lasting relationships rooted in trust. She draws insight from both what’s spoken and what’s subtly conveyed, offering personalized guidance that recognizes financial decisions are never just about the numbers. Creative and collaborative, she walks alongside her clients, problem‑solving with empathy and clarity as they move together toward their goals.
Kathryn in real life
Favorite thing about where you live?
I love living in the North Carolina mountains with the opportunity to get outside and be active just outside my doorstep. The city of Asheville has even more things I enjoy with my family, including art, music, and a strong sense of community.
What keeps you busy outside of work?
Spending time with my husband and young daughter as we adventure locally and on trips. I also love growing veggies, therapeutic weed-pulling, and curling up with a fun novel.
How do you give back?
Volunteering and community service have been a part of my life since I was young. I recently served on the board of Girls of the Run WNC for several years. I continue to donate time and money to local causes especially those working towards equity in our community.
Kathryn’s snapshots
Meet Kathryn’s Teammates
Jennifer Adams
Sr. Wealth Advisor
What Kathryn Says
Jennifer has been so valuable to me as a mentor. Learning from her working style and expertise has helped inform how I work with my own clients and she is always willing to give me a second opinion on financial planning questions for my clients.
Sarah Cannon
Principal
What Kathryn Says
Sarah not only supports me as a manager but keeps me up to date on the latest Mercer Advisors offerings. Her experience and guidance is so helpful for making sure I have all the tools I need to serve clients to the best of my ability.
Carson Durham
Client Service Specialist
What Kathryn Says
Carson is so personable and cares deeply for our team’s clients. Even if it is his first time talking with someone, he handles their needs and questions with care and intention.
Dave Werle
Wealth Advisor
What Kathryn Says
Dave and I have both worked for the same financial literacy and education non-profit, so our shared background gives us a unique perspective in working with clients to help make sure every dollar is working towards their Economic Freedom™. He is a great teammate who never hesitates to share his knowledge especially when it comes to values based and Sustainable and Responsible Investing.
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