Nicole C. Carson CFP®, MBA
Founder & Wealth Planner
Nicole C. Carson, CFP®, MBA is the Founder of 2nd Story Wealth Planners, LLC. As an Advisor for over twenty years, she has partnered with professionals and business owners to share their own money stories and design a personalized plan to help achieve their goals.
2nd Story Wealth Planners was created to provide an opportunity for everyday people (not just the 1%) to have access to quality and holistic financial planning. Many of us have not had access to partner with Financial Advisors and we are changing that one client at a time. Nicole is on a mission to make financial guidance and education available for all.
Prior to starting 2nd Story Wealth, Nicole spent 10 years at Vanguard as a leader in the Ultra High Net Worth division working directly with advisors, clients, and business owners. In this role, she was responsible for managing client relationships from $5M-$1B in assets. She also worked at Lincoln Financial Group where she was responsible for partnering directly with advisors to grow and support their practices. In the start of her career, Nicole worked for a local credit union as a Registered Representative and Advisor to assist clients in achieving their financial goals.
Nicole earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance from DeSales University, and went on to earn her Masters in Business Administration at Holy Family University, graduating with Honors. She also holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. Some of her memberships include Financial Planning Association (FPA) and Association for African American Financial Advisors.
When she is not spending time with her clients, she is spending quality time with her husband Tarif, daughters Karessa and Kennedy, and sons Chris and Michael.
Tarif Carson, CFP®
Director of Portfolio Strategy & Wealth Planner
Tarif Carson, CFP®, serves as the Director of Portfolio Strategy & Wealth Planner at 2nd Story Wealth Planners, LLC, where he blends nearly 20 years of portfolio management expertise with his passion for cultivating meaningful client relationships. He designs and oversees the investment portfolio models that guide clients toward their financial goals, while also working directly with clients to deliver personalized financial strategies that align with their values, aspirations, and long-term legacies.
Throughout his career, Tarif has partnered with many clients—from high-net-worth individuals managing significant portfolios to underserved communities striving toward financial independence. His professional journey includes roles as a Senior Lead Planner at Facet Wealth, where he helped clients achieve major life goals such as early retirement, homeownership, and world travel, and as a Senior Financial Advisor at Vanguard, managing over $500 million in assets while collaborating with clients and their tax professionals to ensure tax-efficient decisions. Tarif’s approach to planning evolves as life changes, ensuring clients' financial plans remain flexible and forward-looking.
In addition to his technical expertise, Tarif believes strongly in the power of personal growth and financial legacy. His guiding philosophy: "Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny," serves as the foundation for how he advises clients on building lasting legacies for their families.
Outside of his professional role, Tarif is focused on planting the seeds of a meaningful legacy for his family and helping his clients do the same—building not just wealth, but values that endure across generations. His commitment to mentorship extends this philosophy, as he is dedicated to guiding and developing aspiring financial planners. Through mentorship, Tarif ensures that the next generation of financial professionals upholds the same standards of integrity, service, and the pursuit of financial empowerment.
Tarif earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the first HBCU Cheyney University and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. He is also a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), Association for African American Financial Advisors and a VITA Volunteer who helps low and moderate-income tax payers accurately prepare and file their taxes