Dawn Starks, CFP®

Dawn Starks is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and financial advisor who has worked with individuals and couples in all stages of life for more than 20 years. She established Starks Financial Group in 1999.​

Dawn earned a bachelor of music degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master of business administration degree from Western Carolina University (WCU). In 2017, she earned the RICP® designation, Retirement Income Certified Professional®.

She is the past board president of OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling of Western North Carolina (formerly Consumer Credit Counseling Services). She also served as the investment advisor for the Biltmore Company for several years and as an adjunct faculty member for both WCU and Mars Hill University. Dawn was instrumental in developing the Certificate in Financial Planning program at WCU. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

Due to her long commitment to giving back to her local community, Dawn was chosen to receive the 2017 Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the WNC Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for National Philanthropy Day.*

Additionally, Dawn was honored in 2018 and 2019 to be selected as one of the top 200 Financial Advisors in the country by “Working Mother” magazine**. She was also selected as one of the “Best in State” advisors for North Carolina for 2018 and 2019***.

Every year since 2011, Dawn has been named a member of the Raymond James Leaders Council****. During this time, she has maintained her position as one of the approximately top 5% of advisors with Raymond James. Dawn has been invited to present to her peers in the financial industry several times at national conferences, and she has taught the required annual CFP® ethics course numerous times.

Dawn hosted a call-in financial radio show, “Money Matters,” for more than five years on News Radio 570 WWNC. In addition, she was the financial editor for that radio station and served as the featured financial professional for TV News 13 WLOS for two years. She remains a highly sought after speaker for community events and seminars.

Dawn lives in Swannanoa with her husband, Greg, daughter, Rowan, and their pets – a cat, Nala; a Golden Retriever, Piper; a Brittany Spaniel, Oliver; and five chickens. In her free time, she loves to spend time outdoors or reading.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

*This ranking is not based in anyway on the individual's abilities in regards to providing investment advice or management. This ranking is not indicative of advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Raymond James is not affiliated with The Association of Fundraising Professionals

**Data provided by SHOOK™ Research, LLC as of July 2017. The Working Mother and SHOOK research ranking is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data. SHOOK Research considered wealth advisers who are mothers with at least one child living at home and under the age of 18 with a minimum 5 years of industry experience. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures derived from telephone and in-person interviews and surveys: service models, investing process, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, etc.; and quantitative criteria, such as assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisers rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research LLC. Neither SHOOK nor Working Mother receives compensation from the advisers or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Raymond James is not affiliated with Working Mother or Shook Research, LLC. This ranking is not indicative of advisor’s future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients’ experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. For more information see www.SHOOKresearch.com.

***The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of 7 years of experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Out of 21,138 advisors nominated by their firms, 2,213 received the award. This ranking is not indicative of advisor’s future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients’ experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC.

****Membership is based on prior fiscal year production. Re-qualification is required annually. The ranking may not be representative of any one client’s experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of advisors future performance. No fee is paid in exchange for this award/rating.