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Location
Greenville, SC
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Experience
20+ years
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Credentials
Certified Financial Planner®
I believe financial planning should feel steady, encouraging, and rooted in what matters most to you. For me, it starts with listening. Because money touches nearly every part of life, I love helping people cut through the noise, simplify the complex, and move forward with clarity and peace of mind, especially as they approach retirement.
For over 20 years, I’ve helped people navigate important transitions. From serving as a Managing Director for a High Net Worth planning team to working today with pre-retirees and retirees, I’ve guided clients through complex decisions and helped create clear paths toward their desired lifestyle. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, I provide comprehensive, values-based planning that integrates retirement income strategy, tax considerations, investment alignment, and long-term legacy planning. My goal is simple: make the complex understandable and replace stress with confidence.
Clients often share that they appreciate how I make things easy to understand and reduce the overwhelm that can come with major transitions like retirement. I’d describe my approach as grounded, optimistic, and encouraging. It’s a privilege to serve clients and provide steady guidance when it matters most.
I grew up in San Diego, but my wife and I chose to move to the Southeast to raise our family in a place where we could enjoy four seasons and a slower pace of life. We’ve been married for over 20 years and are raising and homeschooling our kids. We’re active in our church community, and when I have quiet time, you’ll usually find me reading or near the water.
This season of life has reinforced something I believe deeply: retirement planning isn’t just about numbers, it’s about aligning your resources with your values and the life you want to live. You’ve worked hard to build something meaningful. Together, we can take the steps to help you protect it, enjoy it, and move into retirement with confidence and peace.
Team Canopy
Canopy Team
Rooted in collaboration and elevated by achievement, Team Canopy brings a wide-reaching perspective and strong, steady support to every client relationship. As winners of the 2025 Root Olympics, they know how to show up when it counts—but more than that, they represent what it means to grow and thrive together.
At Root, teams are designed to deliver exceptional client care through structure, support, and collaboration. Each includes a team of Lead Advisors, Associates, and Client Service professionals—guided by a Senior Advisor to provide insight and mentorship. Clients get the benefit of a dedicated relationship, backed by a well-rounded team working together toward shared success.
Schedule a call with Sean Nisil
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Once you start working with Root, you’ll have a kickoff meeting where we dive deep into your goals, values, and current financial picture. From there, we begin building a personalized plan through a series of focused meetings—covering income, investments, taxes, estate planning, and more—designed to help you live the life you want, not just the one you can get by on. Planning continues with ongoing support and regular check-ins to keep your strategy aligned as life evolves.
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Your money is typically held at Charles Schwab, an independent custodian—think of it like a secure grocery cart where you own everything inside. The accounts stay in your name, and we act as your advisor with limited authority to manage them on your behalf. We don’t work for Schwab or earn commissions, so every recommendation we make is in your best interest.
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Transferring your investment accounts is simple and secure thanks to the ACAT system, which moves assets “in-kind”—meaning nothing is sold or changed during the transfer. Whether you’re moving an IRA or brokerage account, your investments stay exactly the same; the only difference is where you log in. We don’t make any changes to your portfolio until you approve a personalized plan built around your goals and tax strategy.
Transferring your investment accounts is simple and secure thanks to the ACAT system, which moves assets “in-kind”—meaning nothing is sold or changed during the transfer. Whether you’re moving an IRA or brokerage account, your investments stay exactly the same; the only difference is where you log in. We don’t make any changes to your portfolio until you approve a personalized plan built around your goals and tax strategy.
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We charge a transparent, tiered percentage based on the assets we actively manage—starting at 1% for the first $1 million and decreasing as your assets grow. There are no commissions, hidden fees, or extra charges for tax or estate planning, and billing is done monthly for flexibility. If we’re not delivering value that exceeds the cost, you’re free to walk away—no long-term commitments.
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Our fee reflects the value of having a trusted partner focused on your entire financial life—so you don’t have to become your own advisor. We provide both quantifiable benefits (like tax strategies and withdrawal planning) and priceless peace of mind, helping you make confident, intentional decisions about retirement, lifestyle, and legacy. Ultimately, you’re investing in your time, clarity, and confidence—not just spreadsheets and returns.
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No—James and Ari don’t personally oversee every client, but every plan follows the same high standards they’ve set through our structured team approach. Each client is supported by a dedicated team including a lead advisor, senior advisor, associate advisor, and client service associate—all trained through Root’s internal program to deliver a consistent, personalized experience rooted in our philosophy.
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At Root, we focus on proactive tax planning, not tax preparation. We help clients identify opportunities like Roth conversions, tax gain/loss harvesting, charitable strategies, and optimizing income to manage healthcare costs or subsidies—all in coordination with your broader financial goals. While we don’t file your taxes, we collaborate closely with your CPA to ensure everything is implemented smoothly and strategically.
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We work with people from all walks of life. Most of the people we serve have built portfolios of at least $1 million (excluding current 401(k)s if under age 59.5, real estate, and 529 plans) and are ready to delegate. We ask to manage all assets that are available for direct management so we can deliver advice that’s fully integrated across your financial life.
All advisory relationships are subject to a $10,000 minimum annual fee. If your fees under our standard asset-based schedule fall below that amount, the minimum will be applied. This structure is designed for standard advisory relationships where assets are limited but planning needs fall within our typical scope.
If your situation involves more complexity, such as business ownership, multiple entities, or advanced planning needs, and asset-based billing isn’t available, we may instead recommend working together under a flat-fee planning arrangement that reflects the scope of work involved. In those cases, a separate agreement would outline the services and cost.
If we’re not the right fit, we’ll do our best to answer your questions and connect you with someone who might be.
