Get to Know Your Advocates

Operating with a Longstanding Commitment to the Wellbeing of Our Clients

Our clients are driven people who have worked diligently for their success, whether through their profession or their own business. Our role as your advisor is to coordinate the right financial moves to continue building on this success for years—and generations—to come.

At Shades Creek Wealth Advisors, we are not just your advisor but your steadfast advocate. We consider our clients to be like friends and family. This is why our team enjoys working tirelessly to carefully identify and execute custom solutions that safeguard your family, your business and your future.

Hamilton Poynor, CLU®, AEP®

President

Hamilton Poynor, CLU®, AEP®

President

HPoynor@shadescreekwealthadvisors.com

Ham comes from a family that's been in the financial industry since 1934. As a third-generation financial advisor, he’s witnessed his own family members work closely with fellow families over the years to secure their financial health. Serving others is a value Ham has grown up with and is dedicated to living out in his work.

For experienced investors and private business owners, finances can bring about both great rewards but also great complexity. Ham is intimately familiar with the challenges and opportunities that successful individuals and their families face. Together with a team that mirrors his own values, Shades Creek Wealth Advisors guides professionals and entrepreneurs through important issues of growing and preserving wealth—and planning for successful business continuity.

Ham founded Shades Creek Wealth Advisors, an independent wealth management and financial planning firm, to serve as a true financial advocate, point person and partner for his clients. He considers the deep-rooted relationships with his clients to be one of the most rewarding parts of his work. Ham looks forward to many more years of partnering with inspiring individuals to connect their finances with their deepest values and life ambitions.

Previously, Ham served as a partner with Reliance Financial Group and as a Regional Sales Manager with First Protective, a wholly owned subsidiary of Protective Life Corporation. He began his financial services career with New York Life.

Ham and his wife Kim have three sons, Mills, Cain and Crawford. They enjoy football, golf, tennis, fishing, hunting and dirt bike riding. They also love spending time with family and friends on Lake Martin.

Education & Designations

BS in economics, Auburn University
Chartered Life Underwriter
Accredited Estate Planner

Community Involvement

Past president of the Estate Planning Council of Birmingham
Member of the Million Dollar Round Table
Member of Monday Morning Quarterback Club
Member of Sunrise Rotary Birmingham
Board member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Foundation.

View this investment professional on BrokerCheck by FINRA.

Ivan Truss, CFA

Director of Investment Strategy

Ivan Truss, CFA

Director of Investment Strategy

Itruss@shadescreekwealthadvisors.com

To develop an investment strategy that utilizes resources efficiently, it is critical to consider the wide range of available investment products, asset classes and opportunities. Ivan is focused on understanding clients’ desires and developing investment strategies designed to achieve these objectives. He is passionate about providing clients the comfort of knowing there is a plan in place designed specifically for their individual goals and risk tolerance.

Ivan previously worked for Brasfield & Gorrie in the Corporate Strategy & Investments Group where he performed research on both traditional and alternative investment opportunities, including private equity, private debt, real estate, venture capital and traditional asset classes. He began his career with Regions Asset Management.

Ivan enjoys playing golf, traveling to national parks with his family and spending time with his wife, Julia, and their two dogs, Pepper and Gus.

Education & Designations

BS in finance, Samford University
CFA Charterholder

Community Involvement

Member of the Jimmie Hale Mission Young Professionals Board
Member of the CFA Society of Alabama

Maria Velez-Herrera

Client Service Representative

Maria Velez-Herrera

Client Service Representative

mvelezherrera@shadescreekwealthadvisors.com

Maria graduated from Jacksonville State University in 2020 and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Economics. She previously worked with Regions Bank as a Financial Relationship Consultant where she was able to work one on one with individuals, build relationships, and provide solutions. Maria believes that building strong fundamental relationships help create a foundation for trust and value.

Outside of work Maria enjoys working out, attending social events, and spending time with friends and family.

Education & Designations

BA in Economics, Jacksonville State University
Life Insurance Producer

Ann Pereira

Client Development Director

Ann Pereira

Client Development Director

apereira@shadescreekwealthadvisors.com

With over 30 years of diverse experience in the hospitality industry across Canada and the United States, Ann is a seasoned professional. Prior to joining Shades Creek Wealth Advisors, she successfully led CEO and business professional groups in Tampa, fostering connections among high-profile individuals.

Passionate about community service, Ann serves on the boards of Sunrise of Pasco and Leadership Tampa Bay, using her extensive network for impactful change.

Outside of work, she is a devoted mother of three boys, a supportive wife, and enjoys golf, travel, beach outings, and cheering on her sons in soccer.

Education and Designations

Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, Camosun College
Insurance Producer

Tristan King

Intern

Tristan King

Intern

tking@shadescreekwealthadvisors.com

Since 2023, Tristan has been a valuable member of Shades Creek Wealth Advisors. Tristan believes in the importance of uncovering clients' needs by asking the right questions. He emphasizes the uniqueness of each client and their situation, asserting that tailored questions are essential for finding the right solution.

Currently a senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tristan is diligently working towards completing his bachelor's degree in finance, with an anticipated graduation date in May 2024. Complementing his academic pursuits, he is actively pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is currently a Level I candidate. At UAB, Tristan holds the position of President/Chief Investment Officer (CIO) in the university’s student-managed investment fund. In this role, he leverages his financial acumen to lead and guide investment decisions while helping club members learn and grow.

Outside of work, Tristan enjoys playing golf, rocking out to Imagine Dragons, and spending quality time with his wife, Madeline, and their four cats – Boots, Peep, Fi, and Pepper