Meet Your Crew
Choosing a financial advisor requires balancing two essentials:
the expertise you’re seeking
and the chemistry that makes the relationship work.
That’s why we want you to know us not just as professionals, but as real people — with families, goals, values, and hopes of our own. Just like you, we’re navigating life, planning for our futures, and working toward the things that matter most.
Our qualifications and experience matter — of course they do. But expertise alone isn’t enough. The families we serve want someone who understands what life really feels like: raising children, caring for aging parents, planning for college, thinking about retirement, protecting a marriage, building a legacy. They want advisors who bring wisdom and empathy, not just numbers and charts.
So as you explore this page, we invite you to look behind the credentials and into the people we are — because who we are shapes how we guide you. And if our stories resonate with you, it’s often a sign that the relationship will, too.
Our qualifications and experience matter — of course they do. But expertise alone isn’t enough. The families we serve want someone who understands what life really feels like: raising children, caring for aging parents, planning for college, thinking about retirement, protecting a marriage, building a legacy. They want advisors who bring wisdom and empathy, not just numbers and charts.
So as you explore this page, we invite you to look behind the credentials and into the people we are — because who we are shapes how we guide you. And if our stories resonate with you, it’s often a sign that the relationship will, too.
The name, Schanck, comes from the Dutch word for “cupbearer.” For centuries our family served in roles of trusted proximity, offering counsel and protection to the important families they supported. The family crest reflects that heritage: a lion pouring from a pitcher into a goblet, symbolizing vigilance, service, and even personal sacrifice. That legacy shapes the role we embrace today — guiding our clients with the same spirit of care, attentiveness, and loyalty as they pursue the life they want.
Hillery Schanck, CIMA®
Managing Partner
Senior Financial Advisor
Professionally…
- Hillery began his career as a Financial Advisor in Baltimore with his father, Peter Schanck, in 1989. His father’s extensive experience gave Hillery a huge head start in his career.
- Hillery followed a career-defining opportunity to consult and train financial advisors for several years, which gave him insight and a new perspective of the profession by viewing it through the eyes of the client.
- Hillery reestablished a new practice in 1997 in Virginia Beach with a vision for developing much deeper client relationships.
- In 2000, he strengthened this work by earning the CIMA® (Certified Investment Management Analyst) designation — a credential focused on advanced investment theory, portfolio construction, and risk management — all in service of helping clients make prudent, well‑informed decisions with confidence.
Personally…
- Hillery and his wife, Karen, are empty nesters with two grown children.
- While his children were young, Hillery made a life decision (based on the advice of a client) to take Fridays off. He used that time to make lifelong memories with his family. To this day, Hillery still uses Friday as an “adventure day”.
- Hillery loves music… all kinds. And he especially likes driving to concerts in his VW Bus.
- Hillery and Karen actively participate in their local church and spend two afternoons each month serving meals at People in Need, a ministry to the homeless in Virginia Beach.
Joseph Caldwell
Managing Partner
Senior Financial Advisor
Professionally…
- Joe started his career as a Financial Advisor in Virginia Beach with his uncle, John Caldwell, in 1998.
- From the beginning, Joe’s interests centered more around his clients’ lives than fickle markets. A solid career confirmed that while indexes fluctuate and client goals change, the heart of Joe’s business is reinforcing his relationship with clients.
Personally…
- Joe and his wife, Maggie, have two college age boys and are entering the empty nest stage.
- Joe and Maggie engage with charities that encourage and equip the poor locally in Virginia Beach and thousands of miles away in Managua, Nicaragua.
- Joe and Maggie actively serve their local church and most days prefer spending simple times with friends, family, good food and good books.
Carter R. Schanck, CEPA® CRPC™
Financial Advisor
Professionally…
- Carter began his career as a Financial Advisor in Charotte with Wells Fargo Advisors in 2024.
- He is deeply committed to transparency and believes in demystifying the investment process to help clients make informed, confident decisions.
- Carter has also earned both the CEPA® (Certified Exit Planning Advisor) and CRPC™ (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™) designations, reflecting his focus on helping clients navigate major transitions—from business exits to retirement decisions—with clarity and purpose.
Personally…
- Carter is the son of Hillery Schanck, Managing Partner, Senior Financial Advisor, and a third-generation financial advisor, following in the footsteps of his father Hillery and grandfather Peter. His uncle is also in the industry, making financial advising a true family tradition.
- Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Carter has a lifelong love for the ocean.
Christy Lopez
Administrative Manager
Professionally…
- Christy began her career in Financial Services at the American Funds in Norfolk in 1993.
- In 1996, she transitioned to the brokerage side with Prudential Securities which, through successive mergers and acquisitions, became Wells Fargo Advisors.
- She has earned and holds the following securities registrations: Series 7, Series 66, and Life & Health Agent insurance licenses.
- Christy is one of the most experienced and capable professionals serving in her role within the practice. Her work ethic has set her apart as she is routinely tapped to train new employees.
Personally…
- Christy and her husband, James, are empty nesters with one grown daughter and three grandchildren.
- James is a Navy veteran, and he also pursued and retired from a 36-year career in Financial Services.
- Christy and James love traveling, movies and popcorn, and spending time with family and friends.
CA Insurance License Number: 4105877. Resident State VA.
Now that you’ve met the people behind the work, you’re one step closer to the clarity you’ve been seeking.
If this resonates with you, trust that instinct — it’s pointing you forward.
