Meet Your Financial Advocates

Manuel Salazar III, EdD, MBA, CPA/PFS, CPWA®, CKA®  

Vice President of Client Stewardship

Phone: 843-574-8256

Manuel provides financial planning, advising, and stewardship services for our clients. He has over three decades of industry experience in the areas of finance, banking, accounting, tax, and higher education. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-CA) and holds the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation as a licensed investment advisor (IA). Manuel holds the advanced financial planning credential of Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®). He is also a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®). His passion is assisting clients with their God-given financial goals while advancing biblical stewardship for Kingdom impact.

Manuel is also an enthusiastic advocate for excellence in Christ-centered education, founding a K-12 Christian Academy in 1999 (NC). He recently retired as an associate dean and long-time professor of a Christ-centered business school (Jessup University) and was honored with the title of Professor Emeritus. Currently, he teaches as an adjunct professor in the Personal Financial Management program at Charleston Southern University. Manuel earned his MBA from Campbell University (NC) and his doctorate from Pensacola Christian College (FL). Manuel served our nation in the 1980’s as a U.S. Army Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he was an artillery sergeant, master parachutist, and jumpmaster instructor.

Outside of the office, Manuel enjoys spending time with his family. He married his wife, Lisa, in 1988 and they have two adult daughters, two adult sons, two daughters-in-law, and 2 grandchildren. He enjoys shooting sporting clays, and outdoor activities on the SC coast and in the NC mountains with his family. Manuel and Lisa serve and worship at First Baptist Church in Georgetown, where Manuel is involved in the teaching ministry. He has been an ordained minister of the gospel since 2000 when he graduated with a master’s degree from Luther Rice Seminary in metro-Atlanta. His life verse is:

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10

Affiliations

• Kingdom Advisors
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Personal Financial Planning (PFP) section member
• 82nd Airborne Division Association
• Trail Life USA (Faith-based Boy Scouting)

 Designations & Registrations

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)
• Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®)
• Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA®)
• Investment Advisor (IA) 

Brian Taylor

Vice President of Operations

Phone: 843-823-5186

Brian Taylor is the most recent addition to the Wildes Financial Team. Originally hailing from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Brian graduated from Auburn University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1996. He served as a helicopter pilot until 2016, when he transitioned into the role of acquisitions officer, ultimately achieving the rank of Colonel. In 2021, he became the V-22 Osprey Joint Program Manager, overseeing the development, acquisitions, fielding, and sustainment of over 400 V-22 aircraft within the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force, while managing annual budgets exceeding $2 billion. This spring, Brian concluded 29 years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps, after which he and his wife, Debbie, relocated to Georgetown, South Carolina. Brian holds a Master's in Operations Research from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and is completing the coursework required to attain certification as a Certified Financial Planner. His experience with the United States Military and Civil Service retirement benefits introduces a new dimension to the skill set at Wildes Financial Strategies.

Kim Allred-Ford

Client Stewardship Advisor

Phone: 843-353-0789

Sophia Lawson

Executive Assistant & Marketing Specialist

Phone: 843-936-0622

As a proud Coastal Carolina University graduate, Sophia brings a strong foundation in marketing and communications to her role at Wildes Financial Strategies. Her academic background and professional experience have equipped her with the tools necessary to make a meaningful impact within the organization. With a passion for excellence and a commitment to client satisfaction, Sophia continually seeks new ways to support her colleagues and the individuals and families Wildes Financial Strategies serve.

Since joining the team, Sophia has played an integral role in enhancing the firm's brand presence, both internally and externally, by spearheading innovative marketing initiatives and refining client communications.

Outside of the office, Sophia enjoys going to the beach, trying new recipes, shopping, and spending time with her friends and family. She also regularly attends Wellspring Church in Myrtle Beach, SC.