WEALTH DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES - Key Persons
Charles Swindell joins the Wealth Development Strategies, LLC group with more than 45 years with financial services experience. Prior to joining Wealth Development Strategies, Charles worked with large financial service companies where he gained extensive experience in estate liquidity planning, business succession planning, employee benefits, key person planning, retirement funding strategies as well as commercial property and casualty coverage to churches.
Charles, a graduate of Prairie View A&M University, is very active in the Houston community and is proud to have been involved in many organizations, charities, political action committees as well as professional associations. He has served as President of The Houston Chapter-National Business League, and The Houston Area Urban League (Treasurer). Charles is also a member of the Houston Association of Life Underwriters, the Million Dollar Round Table, and the NAACP. He has also served as the broker for the property coverage and employee benefits program for the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority. Charles licenses include Life, Accident, Health/HMO, Property/Casualty, and Series 6.
Charles has a passion for sports and enjoys watching his grandson play for the Chicago Bears. He stays active by playing tennis and golf. Charles has been married to Mora for 18 years. Together they have four children and five grandchildren. He and Mora love traveling internationally with family to Cabo San Lucas, Paris and soon Australia.
Cheryl D. Creuzot, a 37-year industry veteran, is currently President Emerita of Wealth Development Strategies, LLC, since stepping down as President and Chief Executive Officer, a position she has held since 2000. Wealth Development Strategies, one of Houston's oldest comprehensive financial planning firms, offers contemporary, personalized solutions for individuals and business professionals who wish to protect, grow, and efficiently distribute their wealth. The boutique firm consists of professionals who combine extensive financial experience and expertise to create objective personalized client solutions.
She was recently appointed in 2022 to the Valic Company 1 Funds Board, and was appointed to the Board of Bancorp (TBBK) in 2021 where she serves on the Audit and Risk Committees. Ms. Creuzot carries the same spirit of service delivery to her numerous civic and charitable endeavors. Ms. Creuzot serves on the BeyGood Foundation (Finance Committee), the Board of Visitors of the MD Anderson Cancer Center (Executive Committee), as well as the Vice Chair of the Board of The Frenchy's Companies, a 54-year-old family-owned restaurant, franchisor and food processing organization. Ms. Creuzot is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, The Texas State Bar Association, and The Financial Planning Association.
Ms. Creuzot was appointed in 2020 by the Mayor and the Houston City Council and sworn in as a Commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority. She is the first African American woman to serve in the Port's 116-year history. She serves on the Audit, Governance, Dredge Task Force, and the Community Relations Committees.
Job Titles:
- Analyst
- Executive Assistant
- Member of ROC
Kathryn Nicholson is a graduate of the Bauer Honors Program at the University of Houston. She studied Finance and completed the Certified Financial Planning curriculum. She is currently pursuing her CFP® designation. She currently holds her Series 6 and 63 licenses. Kathryn also graduated from the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP) at Harvard Business School in 2017.
Away from the office, Kathryn is a member of ROC for h.e.r., the Young Professionals Organization associated with The Women's Fund. She was recognized as The Women's Fund's Rookie of the Year in 2019. She was formally Vice-Chair of the Bauer College Young Professionals Board, serving for a total of 3 years. She was also Vice Director of National Recruiting for the Harvard Business School Summer Venture in Management Program Alumni Association, helping lead a team of 10 recruiters to share SVMP among undergraduates and encourage application.
Kathryn is a native of the Rio Grande Valley where she spent her childhood playing soccer, performing in local theater, and helping her grandmother's small business. She's married to Will Nicholson, Jr., a First Officer for United Airlines. He's been flying for nearly a decade and has a passion for aviation and philanthropy. They have a two year old Great Pyrenees mix named Abilene who they adore. They love to travel and their goal is to travel to every continent together.
She's an avid reader and coffee enthusiast, on a mission to visit every local coffee shop in Houston, and when she travels. Some of her favorite books include Tuesday's with Morrie, The Last Lecture, and classics such as Pride and Prejudice.
Thane McKenzie, currently with 10+ years of experience in the financial services industry, joined Wealth Development Strategies LLC in October of 2018 as a Managing Associate.
Mr. McKenzie was born and raised in the Caribbean island of Jamaica until moving to New Jersey where he attended Caldwell University. He graduated Cum Laude in 2009 earning a Bachelor of Science in Financial Economics and returned to earn his Master of Science in Accounting in 2011.
Prior to moving to Houston, Mr. McKenzie worked as a Research Investment Analyst at Bleakley Financial Group, a large wealth management firm located in Fairfield, NJ. He currently holds the FINRA Series 7 & 66 security licenses, as well as, the Group 1: Life, Accident, Health and HMO insurance license.
Outside of the office Mr. McKenzie enjoys time with his wife Kimberley and daughter Malia. He also enjoys traveling home to Jamaica, watching and playing both basketball and soccer, watching movies and listening to music.