Director of Financial Planning Melissa Ballard, CFP®, became one of PYA Waltman Capital’s owners last year. She joined the firm out of college during the 2008 financial crisis. They weren’t hiring, but President Bill Waltman took a chance on her, in part, once she shared her why. “I wanted to help people make wise decisions with their money,” Melissa explains. “Growing up, I witnessed the negative impact financial strain had on some friends’ families. My draw to the financial industry was more about relationships and helping people live with more fulfillment and peace in their financial life … to not be stressed, so families could stay together and be happy.” A mission that would also draw Melissa to volunteer with Harmony Family Center.
Q. How is PYAW’s approach unique?
Values-based financial planning is much more than numbers on the page. We think when it comes to making decisions, we’re logical, but we’re not. Acknowledging that is important to our process – to know our clients and help them through the emotional and behavioral piece of it. We ask thoughtful questions to understand their why. (What keeps them up at night? What are they excited about, afraid of? What was modeled for them as children? Good habits, bad habits?) It’s amazing what you learn when people feel heard and valued. Even with a logical decision, if it’s emotionally charged, if there’s some past trauma or difficulty, that can impact their decision. Many layers can affect our clients’ ability to decide. I explain to our young team members you can craft financial advice that by the book looks great, but if we have done our job and know them well, and we know this is not going to be easy for them to implement, we must adjust our approach to help them take that step forward. That is where real change, real growth, and real peace can happen.
Our clients come to trust us, understanding we have their best interests at heart, that we know what they are trying to accomplish. Many times, clients will share things they’ve not shared with family or friends. That’s a very privileged, trusted position we don’t take lightly.
Q. Who are drawn to your services?
We provide a high-touch, concierge level of service. We’re a great fit for clients going through life transitions–women who have lost their spouse, or are going through divorce and not sure where to turn or who to trust. Financial guidance during transitions because of the financial impact is critical and typically turns into long-term relationships.
Another emotional transition impacting finances is retirement. They’ve been pouring themselves into work and saving, but suddenly there’s a shift to just pulling funds. Or, perhaps they’ve sold a business and are not sure what’s next. Or, they’ve managed their money for forty years, but feel the stakes are higher now, plus they want time for grandkids and travel.
Young professionals, focused on beginning careers and just starting to accumulate, seek us out. It’s the first time they’ve made real money and want to make smart financial decisions, but don’t have time to do it themselves. Many of our clients are capable of researching and making decisions, but just don’t want to. They do want a trusted, watchful eye over it. It’s worth it to them to delegate to an expert.
Q. As a new PYAW owner, what is a favorite part of your journey?
I’ve had the privilege over 16 years to grow under Bill Waltman’s leadership and learn what it looks like to take excellent care of the families we serve as clients and model servant-leadership for our team. I’m so grateful the existing owners felt I’ve provided value and wanted to give me a voice at the table, to speak into the process of caring for our clients and team. What we’ve found worked well was to hire recent graduates, many of them transplants, from a financial planning program to mentor and train. We’re proud to bring bright, young talent to our city, individuals of high character who match our firm’s core values – excellence, trust, gratitude, and growth. We approach client work as a team with multiple professionals, so I can step back for a bit with this new baby [due this month] which gives our young professionals the opportunity to step up and grow. A friend of mine says it’s impossible to find a true balance for working moms. It’s a rhythm. Be mindful, intentional, and present where you are, and get comfortable with the rhythm, keeping it all in perspective. It’s a blessing to support our culture, care for our people, and nurture their professional and personal growth while helping our clients live with greater financial peace. Visit pyawaltman.com
PYA Waltman Capital, LLC (“PYAW”) is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about PYAW’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request. PYA-25-17
Melissa Ballard, CFP® PYA Waltman Capital Director of Financial Planning
Harmony Family Center Board Member
The same passion for happier, more peaceful families drew Melissa to volunteer with Harmony Family Center, where she became board chair in 2023, serving until Spring 2025. “Understanding behavioral finance, the brain, how someone makes decisions … drew me to Harmony, whose innovative therapies help heal childhood trauma. I first got involved volunteering with my mom in their equine therapy program at Montvale. There’s a component of severe childhood trauma that relates to arrested brain development, impacting maturity later in life as well. One of many Harmony programs, therapeutic camps give these foster and adopted children the opportunity to have fun, positive, healing camp experiences discovering the joy of grooming and riding a horse. For example, the rocking motion of riding a horse for a child who wasn’t rocked or nurtured is a healing therapy for the brain. Harmony’s mission, So All May Live Their Best Lives, emerged from asking the better question, not What’s wrong with you? but What happened to you? If they can understand their story and underlying issues, and identify where brain development was halted, they have tools and therapies that can impact lives at all ages.” Harmonyfamilycenter.org
“Understanding behavioral finance, the brain, how someone makes decisions … drew me to volunteering with Harmony Family Center, whose innovative therapies help heal childhood trauma.”