Capitol Financial Solutions, a full-service financial planning firm with nearly $1.3 billion in total client assets, has added Chapel Hill-based Earl Chesson – a 45-year industry veteran – as an advisor to its firm for sophisticated life insurance planning in the business, personal and philanthropic markets.

“We are thrilled to welcome Earl to our team of advisors,” said Robert Turner, CLU, ChFC, president of Capitol Financial Solutions. “His caliber of institutional knowledge and expertise will be an asset to everyone associated with Capitol Financial – from advisors who can learn from him to clients whose success can grow because of him.”

Founder and Principal of Chesson Partners, Chesson has devoted his over 45-year career to working with his clients to develop customized strategies for advanced wealth transfer, business and philanthropic planning. Chesson Partners is a division of the renowned Hill, Chesson and Woody in Durham, N.C. In 1974, Chesson became a founding partner of the firm, which flourished over the decades, specializing in student health insurance, employee benefits, and wealth and philanthropy strategies, which Chesson still leads today. Over the years, Chesson’s clients – which include beloved University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s former basketball coach Dean Smith and former Dean of Duke Fuqua School of Business Doug Breeden – have celebrated his “creative financial strategies” and “sophisticated planning” garnering exceptional results for their families and institutions.

“I’ve been fortunate to have successful clients who have become lifetime friends and mentors, and these relationships are extremely important to me,” said Earl Chesson, CLU, ChFC, CAP, founder and principal of Hill, Chesson and Woody. “When searching for the right home for the continuation of my practice, I’ve been energized by the high level of financial planning expertise, youth and broad array of financial services available at Capitol Financial Solutions, and I’m confident that this is a place that will offer my clients continued financial opportunities and stability.”

Chesson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He’s a father of four, grandfather of six and has been married to his wife, Margaret, for 45 years.

Chesson is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) and one of the youngest people to qualify for the MDRT’s Top of the Table. He is an active member of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) and The International Forum. Chesson has served on the President’s Council of three major life insurance companies and has earned the designations of Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy from The American College. Chesson is also co-author of the book Family Wealth Counseling-Getting to the Heart of the Matter.

His passion for philanthropy is not just professional, it is personal too. Active in his community, Chesson has held board and leadership positions at his bank, Rotary Club, YMCA and school. He is also on the Board of Visitors for The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Center. Earl and Margaret enjoy supporting and giving back to the community through their family charitable foundation which they endowed in 2014.