Michael “Zeke” Kelly

ChFC®, FRC®

Founder & Principal Advisor

When searching for a financial adviser, experience matters.

If you strip away the calculations, cash flow tables, and complex financial jargon, wealth management is simply about service — something I know well.

Since retiring from the US Army, I’ve had the privilege of working with families and business owners from across the country and all over the net worth and income spectrum. My goal and passion is to provide a cost-effective, boutique experience to today’s middle-market Americans who want to be tomorrow’s millionaires.

As a combat Soldier and Commander it was my job to plan, advise, inspire, and execute missions while under extreme duress.

When it comes to your finances and your future, you cannot afford to have a leader who is untested and unfamiliar with adversity.

The Enemies of Wealth might not carry guns but they do inflict severe casualties if you are unprepared. Canopy FinSol is your proven financial combat leader skilled at targeting and neutralizing those threats.

Expand each one below to learn more:

  • A dollar today is worth far less than it is 30 years from now thanks to Enemy #1, INFLATION. Whether it maintains its historical average of 3% or surges to recent catastrophic levels, inflation erodes our earning power and investment returns quicker than any factor. Every investment portfolio needs adequate long-term exposure to stocks and equity assets to have any chance at defeating inflation.

  • One of two certainties in life. How you manage your tax liability throughout life and through key financial events has a huge impact on your retirement objectives. Don't accept the common financial advisor disclaimer, "I'm not a tax professional," as an excuse for lack of advice; tax planning and retirement planning are intertwined. Proper tax diversification across taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free buckets is as equally important as your portfolio composition and investment selection.

  • Just because it isn't on your statement doesn't mean it's not there. Investment products are laden with hidden fees and expense ratios. Sure, there is a cost to successful investing, but it should be transparent and understood. Canopy Financial manages investments on a simple, flat 1% AUM fee and clearly discloses any internal operating cost, if applicable. My ability to mitigate common investment expenses has a direct impact on your annual returns. I also give complimentary second-opinions and fee reviews on current investment strategies to help you make more informed decisions. Read on below to learn more about our Service & Fee Structures.

  • Although broad and subjective in nature, managing emotions can be the difference between financial success and sub-par results. Fear, greed, political bias, risk aversion, and other irrational behaviors can have a crippling effect on your net worth. Clients who work with financial professionals gain an invaluable accountability partner and are more likely to reach their financial goals.

  • There are varying degrees of debt and different schools of thought on its role on your balance sheet, but suffice it to say, every dollar of debt you finance represents a goal you are not funding to its full potential. Analyzing your cash flow and creating a living budget are the secrets to true wealth accumulation. Don't make choices in a vacuum -- establishing a full financial plan that combines coaching, advising, and professional asset management is the best way to create behaviors that turn into successful investment habits.

  • Murphy's Law is a persistent and inevitable enemy. If you are not properly prepared, a simple emergency can spiral into a debt situation that detracts from your financial goals. You need reliable and creative cash management strategies to ensure liquidity is balanced with adequate, conservative growth. Bottom line -- plan for emergencies.

  • This enemy is often disguised as "best intentions," but incompetence, whether intentional or not, impacts every area of your financial plan. From basic cash flow blunders to serious portfolio misallocation, the only way to defeat mismanagement is to work with a fiduciary Investment Advisor Representative (IAR) with experience and knowledge and is not bound to limited, captive products and ideas.

Bio and Background

Zeke is a retired US Army Special Operations officer and served multiple combat deployments while on active duty from 2004 to 2019. He enlisted after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a finance degree and then received a commission in 2010 from the US Army Officer Candidate School.

Upon conclusion of his military service, Zeke continued his mission to serve by helping people understand the complex world of investments, business, and personal finance.

Zeke resides in Sanford, North Carolina with his wife, Jessica of 18 years, and their two kids Liam (15) and Josephine (11). Jessica works as an estate and business planning attorney and is the founding partner of her own legal practice, Brick City Law.

Zeke holds multiple professional designations that emphasize his commitment and obligation to operating as a fiduciary – he is a Chartered Financial Consultant®(ChFC) and a Federal Retirement Consultant® (FRC). His licenses and examinations include the Series Industries Essentials (SIE), Series 7, and Series 66. Zeke also offers insurance solutions through multiple independent agencies and lengthy list of competitive carriers across the country.

As a result of his distinguished military service over the years, Michael “Zeke” Kelly was recognized with numerous medals and distinctions to include four (4) Bronze Star Medals, two (2) Purple Hearts, five (5) Army Commendation Medals, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal.

Canopy Financial Solutions is based on the premise that this is a “people business first.” Whether you’re bringing a million dollars to the table or just the discipline and desire to push your net worth or P&L into the black, we leverage a variety of modern resources and FinTech platforms to deliver you to your unique objectives. We are wealth management. Simplified.