Family-owned financial adviser firm has roots in education

After earning a Ph.D. in engineering science and mechanics from North Carolina State University, Sigmon worked for RTI International and as an adjunct assistant professor at Duke and NC State Universities, but he wanted more.

"I felt unfulfilled by what I was doing, so I decided to go into business for myself," said Sigmon.

At the time, his target demographic was educators, a group that needed investment advice.

"At the time there were multiple custodians your retirement could be with, each with their own pros and cons," said Daniel Sigmon, Vice President of Financial Planning at Collegiate Capital and Tony Sigmon’s son. "However University HR departments cannot provide suggestions or advice as it pertains to investments, leaving many employees lost on what to do."

Today a smaller percentage of clients work in education than when the company opened its doors.

"Over time, as the company grew, our client base began to stretch beyond just university faculty and staff," Daniel said. "Some of this was due to faculty clients taking jobs in the private sector, and some of it was due to referrals from existing clients. We also work with small businesses and corporations, as well. Additionally, while the firm was founded here in Raleigh, we’re fortunate that our clients stick with us regardless of where their careers may take them."

Despite the change in its client demographic, Collegiate Capital’s foundation in education holds strong. Its investment adviser representatives are passionate about ensuring their clients feel knowledgeable and empowered about their financial decisions.

"A lot of what we do at our firm is very service-oriented with our clients," said Dr. Sigmon. "We're very hands-on in our day-to-day interactions. We make sure they know what we're doing and why we're doing it. There's definitely an education component to it so that our clients understand what’s going on with their investments."

For example, some people may not know that they have control over their retirement accounts. With the help of an investment adviser, they can make changes to the retirement plans they have through previous or current employers.

"Our firm's experience with employer-sponsored retirement plans makes us somewhat unique in that we have the expertise to manage and provide guidance on a client's entire portfolio — assets held in and out of employer-sponsored plans," said Erin Capps, Collegiate Capital’s Chief Operating Officer and Tony Sigmon’s daughter.

Another unique aspect of Collegiate Capital is that it is a family business that includes Dr. Sigmon and his children and son-in-law Cory Capps, the Vice President of Investment Management.

"I feel that the family owned approach is helpful in providing additional peace of mind to our clients and business continuity," said Daniel Sigmon. "If a client trusts Tony, they're likely to trust me if my input is needed. I believe the fact that we're family owned is also important to emphasizing the collaborative approach we take to managing client assets. We communicate with one another to promote similar strategies across all clients."

No matter who needs help, Collegiate Capital offers financial planning, portfolio management, family legacy planning, and tax efficiency consulting.

"The firm markets to individuals, high net worth investors, charitable organizations and also provides guidance on company retirement plans," said Erin Capps.