Brenan Volpe - Co-Owner | Financial Planner

After a successful career in sales management, Brenan fulfilled his lifelong goal of becoming a financial advisor in 2015. After 7 great years with his previous company, he decided to open his own independent financial services firm in 2022, to better serve his clients and community. Citadel Financial Planning is based in Fuquay-Varina NC where he and his family live.

Education and Certifications

Brenan earned his degree in Business Management, with an emphasis in Finance and Banking, from Utah Valley University. In 2018, he earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. He currently holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, as well as life insurance and annuity licenses

Family and Background

He has 4 children, Tali(14), Kasen(10), Ray(2), and Wade (6 months) with his wife Shannon of 16 years. They live in Fuquay Varina and love the community there. Brenan loves outdoor sports such as boating, skiing, rock climbing, and hiking, in addition to reading fantasy/sci-fi books, and traveling with his family. He and his wife also help manage rental properties/short-term rentals that they own with extended family.

Professional Focus

Brenan has always had a passion for finance and has been investing since the age of 15. He knows how complex and overwhelming people’s finances can feel. He is passionate about helping to lower financial stress and anxiety for his clients through organization and long-term financial planning. As a Certified Financial Planner® professional, Brenan works with his clients to develop customized investment and financial plans that fits their goals, risk tolerance, and personalities.

Carson Matthews - Co-Owner | Financial Planner

After a successful career in government contracting working as a Cost/Budget Analyst on multi-million-dollar contracts, Carson transitioned to a career in financial planning where he could have a more direct impact on improving the lives of others.

Carson decided to join Citadel Financial Planning, an independent financial services firm based in Fuquay-Varina NC., where he would have the opportunity to help build a client-focused, technology-driven financial advising firm.

Education and Certifications

Carson received his bachelor’s degree from NC State University and went on to obtain his MBA from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. In 2020, he completed the North Carolina State University Online CFP Certification Education Program – a CFP Board-registered educational program. He currently holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, as well as life insurance, and annuity licenses

Family and Background

Carson lives in Raleigh, NC and has spent most his life in Wake County, NC. He is married to his wife Jodi of 11 years, and they have a young boy and girl, Collins and Cooper. Carson and Jodi love to spend time in the mountains during their frequent trips to Asheville, NC during the fall and winter. During the spring and summer, they enjoy spending weekends with family at Hyco Lake near Roxboro, NC.

Professional Focus

Carson has always had a passion for finance and loves working with people as they navigate their financial journeys. He knows how complex and overwhelming people’s finances can feel. He is passionate about educating clients and helping them uncover their financial strengths and understand their financial blind spots so that they feel confident and empowered as they work to accomplish their goals. At Citadel Financial Planning, Carson is an integral part of helping develop customized investment and financial plans that fit the client’s goals, risk tolerance, personalities, and values.

Kalene Gillespie - Executive Assistant

Kalene grew up in the Pacific Northwest and earned her degree in Editing and Publishing at BYU in Utah. She specialized in copy and substantive editing, so she is very detail oriented and good about clear communication.

Her main job is keeping the office in order and our clients happy. Look to Kalene when there's a client event as she's got all the details. You can also rely on Kalene for account setups, money transfers, scheduling appointments and making sure you, as our client, have a superb experience.

Dylan Santeramo - Financial Planner

Dylan has lived in both New York and North Carolina. He received his degree at UNC Chapel Hill in Biology and Genetics. He brings an analytical, data-driven mind to Citadel Financial.

Inside of work he is interested in technical analysis, market patterns, portfolio construction, and the evolving role of algorithmic trading and AI in investment decision-making.

Outside of work, you’ll find him exploring clean foods, fashion, languages and foreign travel, 3D printing, or anything related to submarines and life underwater.

Ben VanTroost - Client Relationship Manager

Ben grew up in Rochester, New York. He remained in his home state to receive his bachelor’s in Accounting from Niagara University. Ben is a very goal oriented person, and enjoys helping others pursue their goals. Football is a large part of his life, as he played it in college and continues to keep his hand in by helping to coach the local high school team. In his other free time he loves to cook, work on home improvement projects. He loves learning and is always seeking out new experiences.

Jordan Wilson - Client Relationship Manager

Jordan was born and raised in North Carolina, an hour outside of Charlotte. His 3 great passions are the Outdoors, Faith, and Finance. He attended NC State where he received a bachelor's degree Wildlife Conservation and a minor in Business Administration. He loves outdoor activities such as fishing, camping and kayaking. His first job was with a Christian ministry and he has completed 4 service mission trips around the world.  After working with the Christian ministry he worked for Fidelity Investments on the advanced trading team before joining the ranks at CitadelFP.