Community and Giving

Columbia, SC – Amelia Guerry, an enthusiastic intern at the Gills Creek Watershed Association, recently had the opportunity to take part in a remarkable flight experience in collaboration with Cola Wealth Advisors. Cola Wealth, a dedicated financial advisory firm, has dedicated over four decades to providing charity flights and remains committed to continuing this meaningful endeavor. The collaboration between Cola Wealth and Gills Creek Watershed for this charity flight showcased both organizations' shared commitment to community service.

Lexington, SC — Cola Wealth Advisors, a renowned financial advisory firm in Lexington, South Carolina, proudly extends its support to the ROTC students of Spring Valley High School by offering them an extraordinary opportunity to embark on an exhilarating flying adventure. The firm recently celebrated the exceptional achievements and aspirations of two outstanding students, Asher Infante and Lillian Andrews, by taking them on a memorable flight.

We are incredibly proud and honored to have had the opportunity to support the Troop Appreciation Foundation (TAF) with our recent donation!

Cola Wealth Advisors recently donated six flights to a charity fundraiser hosted by the local Porsche Club for Camp Kemo, a camp for children with cancer. The event, called Speed & Beauty Concours d'Elegance, brought together car enthusiasts from around the community for a day of fun and fundraising to support this important organization.

Columbia, SC - Cola Wealth Advisors recently donated six flights to a charity fundraiser hosted by the local Porsche Club for Camp Kemo, a camp for children with cancer. The event, called Speed & Beauty Concours d'Elegance, brought together car enthusiasts from around the community for a day of fun and fundraising to support this important organization.

A heartwarming encounter unfolded recently when long-term clients James Richardson and his wife welcomed a visit from their dedicated financial advisors. Mr. Richardson, a retired U.S. Air Force mechanic, and Anne, his beloved wife of 56 years, have exemplified strength and resilience throughout their lives.

At Cola Wealth Advisors, we take pride in our commitment to giving back to the community, and we recognize the extraordinary efforts of clients like Tom Melzoni. Tom, based in Sumter, SC, is dedicated to making a difference by raising funds for churches across the country through his charity work. His selfless contributions have touched the lives of many, and we are honored to support him in his endeavors.

At Cola Wealth Advisors, our commitment to community and giving goes beyond providing financial services. We believe in building meaningful relationships with our clients and going the extra mile to show our support. Recently, we had the pleasure of working with Clifford (Hobo) and Karen Hendrix, two individuals who share a remarkable story of love and resilience.

Columbia, SC - Cola Wealth Advisors has donated a once-in-a-lifetime experience to support the Gills Creek Watershed Association. The company has generously offered a ride in their iconic 1941 Stearman bi-plane for auction at the Wine for Water event held at The Hall at Senate's End on Friday, April 28th.

The Lexington County Gamecock Club recently hosted their annual Golf tournament at the prestigious Country Club of Lexington, attracting a sold-out crowd for the 22nd consecutive year. The tournament is one of their flagship events and draws participants from across the region.

Sherlyn Sanchez, a 10th-grade student at Spring Valley High School, has been named the ROTC Cadet of the Month for April 2023. Sherlyn dreams of becoming an F-35 pilot and has already gained some flying experience through simulators and a flight in a C-172.

At Cola Wealth Advisors, we continue to take time out of our weekends to pay individual visits to clients and show appreciation for them.

Cola Wealth Advisor's annual Awards Banquet, held at the charming Springdale Hall Country Club in Camden, was as ever a stately and jovial affair where the hardworking employees enjoyed an evening of drinks, fine food and showing and receiving appreciation for efforts and achievements of the past year.

Recently, our team visited long-time clients Cleveland and Audrey Branham at their home in West Columbia, an area they both were born and raised in.

We recently visited long-time clients Michael and Vicky Montgomery at their home on beautiful Lake Murray. Prior to the Covid Pandemic in 2020, we had the opportunity to show appreciation to our clients at the Annual Christmas Party hosted at the State Museum.

We’re thrilled to showcase the fresh paint job on our PT-17 Stearman Aircraft!

After honoring Cola Wealth Advisors for Veteran’s Day in November of 2022, Major Gregory Perry of the US Air Force and now Aerospace Science instructor for Spring Valley High’s ROTC reached out with an inspiring incentive.

Cola Wealth Advisors recently sponsored the South Carolina softball team’s first annual Swinging to Support Gamecocks golf outing on November 4. The event took place at The Spur at Northwoods Golf Club.

At Cola Wealth Advisors, we know that our clients are the heart of our business, and we are constantly looking for ways to show our appreciation. As part of our commitment to providing exceptional service and building lasting relationships, we recently gifted our clients with giant Hershey Kisses in celebration of Valentine's Day.

On December 27th, 2022 at about 4:00 am, members of the Cola Wealth team arrived at their office in Lexington, SC, only to be met with several inches of water spilling over their shoes as they opened the door. Rushing to the source, they found water gushing from the ceiling of the right front offices, where a pipe had frozen and burst due to intensely cold weather.

The Greenwood County Airport was buzzing with activity Saturday, July 17, with the roaring hum of two World War II-era airplanes, piloted by representatives from Cola Wealth Advisors. In addition to the usual gathering of clients and prospective clients, Cola Wealth Advisors extended an invitation to the youths from Connie Maxwell Children's Ministries to take a ride in the vintage aircraft. "The project came about because Connie Maxwell does good work for children in difficult situations," Wilcox said.

As a firm with multiple retired members of the US Air Force, Cola Wealth harbors a deep appreciation for the lives and efforts of our nation's veterans. So, when Dr. John B. Clark Jr. approached a fellow retired Air Force member and asked for help in honoring his late father John Blue Clark, a pilot and instructor for the Army Air Corps, we happily agreed.

Lexington financial firm Cola Wealth Advisors is among several local businesses that have stepped up to ensure youth sports continue to thrive in the Midlands, despite a year of challenges due to COVID-19.

Cola Wealth Advisors is adding a 1942 Fairchild PT-26 airplane to its fleet. This piece of aviation history will operate alongside the Steerman biplane already in use by the firm. The aircraft will be maintained, preserved, and operated just as it was nearly 80 years ago.

Cola Wealth Advisors recently brought joy to Sun City, a retirement community hit hard by the coronavirus.

Our firm presented an improv air show above Sun City Retirement Community. The effort was part of our mission to improve the well-being of our clients and the overall well-being of the Lexington, S.C., area.

When an appreciated asset is donated, a charity receives an item (real estate, stock, etc.) that was purchased years prior at a lower basis. The charity gets the full value of the asset, and the donor gets a corresponding tax write-off.

On a bright Saturday morning, several Cola Wealth clients and prospective clients had the opportunity to see Columbia from 2,500 feet as they rode in a vintage airplane.

The 1941 Boeing PT-17 Stearman is owned by Cola Wealth, a firm that advises clients in Columbia, Lexington, Aiken, and Greenwood, South Carolina, and Johnson City, Tennessee.

The team at Cola Wealth Advisors stands in solidarity with Team Zoomie as it fights back against Parkinson's disease.

Team Zoomie will participate in Tough Mudder Atlanta 2019 on November 9th to raise money for the Parkinson's Foundation of Georgia. Their crowdfunding initiative has already raised more than $1,500, and they hope to provide at least $5,000 to tackle this progressive nervous system disorder.

The team at Cola Wealth Advisors are no strangers to investing. They manage almost $2 billion in assets for their clients, but their commitment to giving back extends well beyond the trading floor.

Fred Saverance, a lifelong South Carolina resident, received an unexpected visit in his hospital room over the weekend. Team members from Cola Wealth Advisors stopped in to see an old friend recovering from a recent stroke. Fred is an accomplished pilot out of McEntire airbase where he flew 102's, A7's, and C131's. After years of service, Fred transitioned to the role of a designated examiner with the FAA where he performed check rides for more than 10 years. Fred was the examiner responsible for certifying Cola Wealth Advisors' most popular plane in their fleet – the Stearman biplane. With little interaction through the years, this is where the pair's story seemingly ended. That is until August 17, 2019, when Cola Wealth Advisors presented their former examiner with a model of the very plane they shared so many years ago, on behalf of all the pilots Mr. Saverance has had an effect on. With a renewed spirit, Mr. Saverance has made strides on the road to recovery.

It's not often you see an antique airplane gliding through the Atlanta skies. Nearly every weekend, these vintage planes gracefully circle the southeastern skies at various client events hosted by Cola Wealth Advisors. These events not only serve as a way to connect with clients but also provide a chance to teach and mentor.