Team
Black Balsam Wealth Advisors is a dedicated group of individuals working collaboratively to ensure the best results for our clients. When you become our client, you entrust in us to help make your vision and dreams a reality. We will honor that trust with the help of our expert staff. Together, we make a strong commitment to customer service.
Billy founded Black Balsam Wealth Advisors in 2022 alongside Austin Pullicin to better accomplish their shared vision of creating an enduring firm. Billy serves as a partner in the firm while actively guiding clients as a Wealth Management Advisor.
Billy began his career in financial services in 1989 with Northwestern Mutual after graduating from Western Carolina University with a business degree in management. He serves clients out of the Asheville, NC office. He is passionate about building relationships with his clients and helping them accomplish their hopes and dreams.
Billy is married to Angie and they have four adult children, Caroline, Riley, Matthew and Olivia. They have one grandchild, Hayden and one very spoiled Goldendoodle. He enjoys travel, working on his property and woodworking. Together with Angie, his best friend, they love finding new places to eat. Unashamedly they are foodies at heart. In his spare time, Billy enjoys serving his community, church, and challenging himself with his cross fit crew. He is President of the Mountain Amateur Athletic Club.
DESIGNATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
- Member of the Land of Sky Estate Planning Council
- Million Dollar Round Table; Top of the Table Membership (MDRT®)
- Regional Committee Chair for Physicians Nationwide
FUN FACTS
- Q: What is one thing you’ve learned that you wish you could tell your younger self?
- A: Take more risks in life. So much of what we fear never comes true.
- Q: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
- A: Chocolate Peanut-Butter
- Q: What is your favorite season and why?
- A: Summer; not even a close second. I love the heat and sunshine. Must be my Florida roots.
Austin Pullicin cofounded Black Balsam Wealth Advisors with Billy Cooper in 2022 to create a lasting firm that can care for clients and their children for generations. Austin serves as a partner in the firm while actively continuing his role as a Financial Advisor.
A native of Western North Carolina, Austin became a financial advisor in 2014 shortly after graduating from Carson Newman University with a major in Finance and Economics. Austin is dedicated to lifelong learning in constant pursuit of better strategies and opportunities for helping clients reach their goals in the simplest and most effective manner.
Austin is married to his wife Kathleen, and they have two children, Leo and Isla. Austin enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, golfing, traveling, and reading. Austin and Kathleen love traveling together and exploring new places. They both come from larger families and spend a lot of time with Austin’s family here in Asheville or Kathleen’s family in Tennessee.
DESIGNATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
- Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®)
- Member of the Land of Sky Estate Planning Council
- Graduate of Leadership Asheville (Class 37)
FUN FACTS
- Q: Describe your ideal day.
- A: Wake up without an alarm. Make a huge breakfast for the family and some strong coffee. Spend the morning running, reading, and doing chores. Spend the afternoon with the family hiking or just being outside together. Have some friends over for dinner and drinks. Play games and have good conversations afterwards to cap it all off.
- Q: What is your favorite season and why?
- A: Fall without question due to the perfect temperatures. Winter is a close second because of snowboarding.
- Q: Who is your most listened to artist?
- A: The Avett Brothers. They are the best songwriters of the 2000s.
Jake joined the Black Balsam team in 2020. His role is Director of Investment Operations and Services, and he specializes in managing clients’ accounts, assisting with account transfers, and portfolio trading. Jake is the go-to person on the team for any investment related transaction. Additionally, he assists with security selection within our portfolios.
Jake is a graduate of The University of Colorado in Boulder where he majored in Economics. Following graduation, Jake moved to Montana for a few years to explore a passion of his – skiing. He enjoyed his time in the mountains, exploring Big Sky and Whitefish, and shortly after relocated to Arizona to begin his career in finance with a local business. This opportunity provided a pivotal start in Jake’s financial career. He obtained his Series 7 and 66 licenses and learned essential knowledge about the industry. Ultimately, Jake decided he was looking for a more personal, relationship building approach to long-term investing and planning. Since joining the team, Jake has acquired his health and life insurance licenses and has enjoyed building lasting relationships with clients. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors through mountain biking, hiking, and camping. Most of all, he loves spending time with his Golden Retriever mix, Copper, who brings joy to all activities!
DESIGNATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- FINRA Series 7 & 66 licenses
- North Carolina Life, Accident and Health license
FUN FACTS
- Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
- A: If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go skiing in the Swiss Alps.
- Q: What is your favorite animal and why?
- A: My favorite animal is a Bengal Tiger. Their strength is astounding, they are beautifully majestic, and they are extremely intelligent.
- Q: What is the first concert you ever attended?
- A: My first concert was AC/DC with my dad at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO in 2008.
Julie has been with the group since 1994 and has served in several roles. She began her career with the Managing Director’s team and has since been committed to customer care and assistance. Julie loves interacting with clients and building relationships that last. She is a critical asset to our team as the Director of Insurance Operations and Services and is licensed in Life & Accident/Health and Long-Term Care. Julie works with clients on anything insurance related and works tirelessly to ensure that each client’s needs are met.
Julie is a lifelong resident of Asheville and loves spending time outdoors with her French Bulldog, Leo, and daughter, Kirsten.
DESIGNATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- North Carolina Life, Accident and Health license
FUN FACTS
- Q: What is your favorite animal and why?
- A: It’s hard to pick just one because I have always been an animal lover. My parents had to endure the many pets my sister and I wanted to keep including cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, and goats. But my best companions have been my French bulldogs. They have the biggest personalities, and my sweet Leo loves to love. I have also discovered a love for hummingbirds over the last several years. I love to listen to their chirping and fussing as they fight over the feeders. They give me such a sense of peace and calm to sit and listen to them.
- Q: What is your favorite place in the world?
- A: My favorite place to be is at the beach – sun and sand always. I enjoy staying as close to the ocean as possible. I love going to sleep and waking up to the sound of waves breaking.
- Q: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
- A: My favorite anything is going to be chocolate, but a good double chocolate ice cream cone is the best.
Blair joined our team in 2022 and serves as our Financial Planning Assistant. She helps gather client data, project financials, and develop a baseline financial model for each client. She also assists with the construction of visuals for clients’ financial plans to help communicate key datapoints.
Prior to relocating to the Asheville area, Blair taught middle school math for five years in Virginia. She loves building relationships and connecting with people and is looking forward to utilizing her passion for helping people in the financial field. Blair is a 2016 graduate of Emory & Henry College where she majored in Education and played soccer. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband, Carter, have an Aussiedoodle named Frasier and love exploring Asheville together.
FUN FACTS
- Q: What is your favorite place in the world?
- A: Almost any warm, tropical beach. I love the Gulf Coast of Florida and beaches of the Caribbean Sea. Sand, salt water, and sunshine are my favorite combination!
- Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
- A: I would love to backpack through many countries of Europe. I love to travel and have never been to Europe, so traveling light and exploring different places daily is a dream of mine!
- Q: What is your favorite animal and why?
- A: My dog, Frasier, easily! He is a sweet, smart, and cuddly Aussiedoodle. My other favorite animal is a hummingbird. I love to watch them visit us during the summertime.
Sandy joined our team in 2009 and has been instrumental in maintaining our marketing department. As the Director of Client Relations and Marketing, Sandy oversees the client experience. She manages our calendar, social media, and new introductions, and organizes community engagement events. Sandy has a passion for helping others and utilizes this daily as our scheduling manager.
Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Sandy spent much of her time volunteering with local ministries serving our community. She and her husband, Stephen, have three sons- Steve, Josh, and Jacob. Sandy loves spending time with her friends and family, especially her grandson, Soul.
FUN FACTS
- Q: What is the bravest thing you've ever done?
- A: Free Falling. When I was in HS Summer Camp, I was supposed to go up this tower and repel down. Instead, when I reached the top I announced “Free Fall” and did just that. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I loved it!!!
- Q: Who is your most listened to artist?
- A: My son Josh.
- Q: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
- A: Xtreme Moose Tracks. I am choco-holic..
