Signature Wealth Taps Veteran Advisor to Bolster Pawleys Island Team

PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC – December 16, 2025 – Signature Wealth Group, an independent firm affiliated with Raymond James, has fortified its coastal presence with the appointment of Michelle Cumbie as a Senior Wealth Advisor in its Pawleys Island office. The move adds a seasoned professional with two decades of advisory experience to the firm’s roster, signaling a strategic push to deepen its service capabilities in one of South Carolina’s rapidly growing regions.

Cumbie joins a firm that has established a significant footprint across the Southeast. Since its founding in Florence, SC, Signature Wealth Group has expanded its reach and now manages approximately $2.2 billion in client assets for over 3,500 families, earning it a spot among South Carolina's 50 Fastest Growing Companies. The addition of an experienced advisor like Cumbie aligns with the firm’s documented strategy of attracting top-tier talent to enhance its high-touch planning model for high-net-worth clients.

A Strategic Focus on High-Touch Planning

Signature Wealth’s leadership has framed Cumbie’s hiring as a deliberate cultural and strategic fit. Her described approach—a collaborative, goal-based process focused on retirement readiness and long-term wealth strategies—resonates with the firm's core philosophy. This method involves coordinating closely with a client’s entire professional team, including CPAs, estate attorneys, and insurance specialists, to ensure a holistic and aligned financial plan.

"Michelle's client-first discipline and calm, methodical working style are exactly what we look for in an advisor," said Jay Accetturo, EVP, Director of Advisor Relations at Signature Wealth and Operations Manager, RJFS. "She is steady and thoughtful with great attention to detail. Our team is excited to support her as she navigates this new phase of her career."

This client-centric focus is central to the firm's identity, which is built on a culture they describe with the acronym "COOL": Collaborative, Open-Minded, Others-Focused, and Loyal. By integrating advisors who embody these principles, Signature Wealth aims to deliver on its promise of providing concierge-level support that simplifies complex financial lives. Cumbie’s background, which includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University, is seen as a distinct asset, offering a practical understanding of human behavior that can be invaluable when guiding families through significant and often emotional financial decisions.

"Michelle is a great cultural fit for our community of advisors," affirmed Chip Munn, CEO of Signature Wealth Group. "She strengthens what we're building on the coast: high-touch planning that helps families align lifestyle, retirement, and legacy."

Competing in a Growing Coastal Market

Cumbie's arrival in Pawleys Island comes as the coastal South Carolina region experiences notable economic growth, making it an increasingly competitive market for wealth management services. The area is home to a mix of established national firms like Edward Jones and Wells Fargo Advisors, as well as independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) that emphasize a fiduciary duty. Signature Wealth Group operates within this dynamic landscape by leveraging its independent structure while being affiliated with the robust platform of Raymond James Financial Services, a major broker-dealer.

This affiliation provides the firm’s advisors with access to sophisticated investment research, trust and estate planning resources, and a wide array of financial products. For clients, this model aims to combine the personalized attention of a local, independent firm with the institutional-grade resources of a national powerhouse. The hiring of an experienced advisor like Cumbie enhances Signature Wealth's competitive positioning, demonstrating a commitment to staffing its regional offices with professionals capable of handling the complex needs of affluent families and business owners in the area.

The trend of seasoned financial professionals moving to or joining firms in affluent regional hubs like Pawleys Island reflects the decentralization of wealth and the increasing demand for sophisticated, localized financial guidance outside of major metropolitan centers.

Bolstering a Multigenerational Team

At the Pawleys Island office, located at 159 Library Lane, Cumbie joins a multigenerational advisory team that already includes CEO Chip Munn, Senior Wealth Advisor Andy Friedman, and Wealth Advisor Carson Munn. Her addition diversifies the team’s collective experience and reinforces its capacity to serve a wide range of client needs, from accumulation and growth to retirement income and legacy planning.

By integrating another senior advisor, Signature Wealth is better positioned to execute its comprehensive service model, which they term "The Genius of the AND." This philosophy rejects a siloed approach to financial planning, instead aiming to connect a client's personal and business finances, investments and insurance, and present-day lifestyle with their long-term legacy goals. The ultimate objective is to provide clients with the clarity and confidence to pursue what the firm calls a "Signature Life."

With Cumbie on board, the Pawleys Island team is poised to offer an even deeper level of coordinated guidance, helping families and entrepreneurs navigate the intricacies of wealth management with a steady hand and a comprehensive perspective.