Your entire financial life

The O’Brien Group offers a highly personalized approach that helps you simplify the challenges that come with protecting, growing and transitioning wealth. As a team with deep experience successfully navigating the complexities of business, finance and family, we provide compassionate advice and empowering financial strategies. The O’Brien Group operates from the UBS Private Wealth Management office in Charlotte, one of ten such offices in the United States designed to specifically address the needs of ultra high net worth investors.

We work with a select number of affluent families, investment bankers, business owners, and entrepreneurs. They count on us for access to a broad range of insights, expertise and services. They require a highly experienced team of Private Wealth Management professionals to help coordinate and manage all aspects of their financial world.

A collaborative team to guide you

When it comes to what matters to you, it’s more important than ever to have a partner you can trust to guide you forward. Our comprehensive advice, along with our team's complementary background uniquely positions us to provide tailored solutions. Our goal is to help make life simpler for you and your family. 

  • John O'Brien

    John J. O'Brien

    Managing Director–Wealth Management

    Private Wealth Advisor

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    • AL
    • AZ
    • CA
    • CO
    • CT
    • DC
    • FL
    • GA
    • IL
    • KY
    • LA
    • MA
    • MD
    • MI
    • NC
    • NJ
    • NM
    • NY
    • OH
    • PA
    • SC
    • TN
    • TX
    • VA
    • WA

    With more than 30 years of financial services experience, John founded The O'Brien Group in 2011. He brings his clients comprehensive investment knowledge and experience, as well as access to the extensive resources and global reach of UBS.  

    Before joining UBS, John served in wealth management as a Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo and a Partner at JC Bradford & Co. He graduated from Duke University with a B.A. degree in economics. John and his wife, Debbie, have four sons and live in Charlotte and in Kiawah.  He enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family. 

      Eligibility is based on quantitative factors and is not necessarily related to the quality of the investment advice. For more information on third party rating methodologies, please visit ubs.com/us/en/designation-disclosures

      • Duke University
      • Private Wealth Advisor
      6100 Fairview Road
      Suite 900
      Charlotte, NC 28210
    • William O'Brien

      William F. O'Brien, CFP

      Senior Vice President–Wealth Management

      Private Wealth Advisor

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      • AL
      • AZ
      • CA
      • CO
      • CT
      • DC
      • FL
      • GA
      • IL
      • KY
      • MA
      • MD
      • MI
      • NC
      • NJ
      • NM
      • NY
      • OH
      • PA
      • SC
      • TN
      • TX
      • VA
      • WA

      Will joined UBS in 2015. Prior to UBS, he worked in wealth management at The Vanguard Group and WestEnd Advisors. Will earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation through the Wake Forest University School of Business.

      Will graduated from Wofford College with a B.A. degree in finance and a minor in economics. Will lives in Charlotte with his wife, Rachel, and their two sons.

        Eligibility is based on quantitative factors and is not necessarily related to the quality of the investment advice. For more information on third party rating methodologies, please visit ubs.com/us/en/designation-disclosures

        • Wofford College
        • Wake Forest University School of Business
        • Private Wealth Advisor
        • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
        6100 Fairview Road
        Suite 900
        Charlotte, NC 28210
      • Katherine Headshot

        Katherine English

        Senior Wealth Strategy Associate

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        • AL
        • CA
        • CO
        • CT
        • DC
        • FL
        • GA
        • IL
        • KY
        • LA
        • MA
        • MD
        • MI
        • NC
        • NJ
        • NM
        • NY
        • OH
        • PA
        • SC
        • TN
        • TX
        • VA

        Katherine is a Senior Wealth Strategy Associate with UBS Private Wealth Management. Prior to joining UBS in 2022, Katherine worked as a Private Wealth Client Associate at Merrill Lynch.

        Katherine graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in Political Science. Katherine is Series 7, Series 63, and Series 66 licensed.

          Eligibility is based on quantitative factors and is not necessarily related to the quality of the investment advice. For more information on third party rating methodologies, please visit ubs.com/us/en/designation-disclosures

              6100 Fairview Road
              Suite 900
              Charlotte, NC 28210
            • Tom BW Headshot

              Thomas W. Fischer

              Senior Wealth Strategy Associate

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              • AK
              • AR
              • AZ
              • CA
              • CO
              • CT
              • DC
              • DE
              • FL
              • GA
              • HI
              • IA
              • ID
              • IL
              • IN
              • KS
              • KY
              • LA
              • MA
              • MD
              • ME
              • MI
              • MN
              • MO
              • MS
              • MT
              • NC
              • ND
              • NE
              • NH
              • NJ
              • NM
              • NV
              • NY
              • OH
              • OK
              • OR
              • PA
              • PR
              • RI
              • SC
              • SD
              • TN
              • TX
              • UT
              • VA
              • VI
              • VT
              • WA
              • WI
              • WV
              • WY

              Tom is a Senior Wealth Strategy Associate with UBS Private Wealth Management. Prior to joining UBS in 2022, Tom worked for Wells Fargo as a Registered Client Associate in the Wealth Brokerage Department.

              Tom graduated from Clemson University in 2018 with a B.S. in Economics and a minor in Political Science. Tom holds Series 7, Series 65, and Series 63 certifications.

                Eligibility is based on quantitative factors and is not necessarily related to the quality of the investment advice. For more information on third party rating methodologies, please visit ubs.com/us/en/designation-disclosures

                    6100 Fairview Road
                    Charlotte, NC 28210
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                    Sullivan Higson

                    Wealth Strategy Associate

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                    • AZ
                    • CA
                    • CO
                    • DC
                    • FL
                    • GA
                    • IL
                    • KY
                    • MA
                    • MD
                    • MI
                    • NC
                    • NJ
                    • NY
                    • OH
                    • PA
                    • SC
                    • TN
                    • TX
                    • VA

                    Sullivan is a Wealth Strategy Associate at UBS Private Wealth Management. She is a 2022 graduate of Wofford College with a B.S. in Finance and Business with two years of internship experience in the wealth management field.

                    Sullivan holds her Series 7 and 66 licenses.

                    Registered States:
                    CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA

                      Eligibility is based on quantitative factors and is not necessarily related to the quality of the investment advice. For more information on third party rating methodologies, please visit ubs.com/us/en/designation-disclosures

                          6100 Fairview Road
                          Suite 900
                          Charlotte, NC 28210

                        Backed by the strength of UBS

                        A global leader in wealth management

                        $5+ trillion

                        In invested assets globally 
                        As of 11/07/2023

                        #1

                        Family office services

                        Euromoney Private Banking and Wealth Management Survey, 2022

                        Global leader

                        UBS is a world-leading wealth manager

                        The depth and breadth of UBS

                        In helping address all aspects of your wealth, we draw freely on in-house expertise and knowledge. This includes outreach and collaboration with specialists and experts within UBS, including the Advanced Planning Group and the vast resources of UBS Investment Bank.

                        Private Wealth Management

                        You. Connected
                        Exceptional service is the key to a successful relationship. As Private Wealth Advisors, we open the door to a distinctive level of sophisticated advice and services. Our collaborative team works closely together, shares knowledge and maintains accountability for all our clients. Dedicated to serving the firm’s most successful clients, PWM is an elite, boutique division within UBS, one of the world’s largest wealth management firms.

                        Customized investment management

                        Comprehensive planning

                        A focus on personalized access and service

                        Working with diverse clients with specific needs, our team sees it as our top responsibility to understand each aspect of your unique and often complicated financial life.

                        A focus on personalized access and service

                        Business owners and entrepreneurs

                        Business owners and entrepreneurs

                        Senior executives

                        Senior executives

                        Family Office Solutions

                        Family Office Solutions

                        Grow. Expand. Exit.
                        From business transition planning to post-liquidity wealth management, we have the experience to help you with your plans for your business. We connect you to an extensive network of professionals and the right investment relationships to provide innovative yet practical solutions.

                        Manage corporate compensation
                        As a highly successful executive, wealth management advice becomes an even greater priority for your personal finances. Our Private Wealth Management team can simplify the complexity, identify an appropriate strategy, and ultimately help you enhance and preserve your corporate success, today and for many years to come.

                        Customized advice with a multigenerational approach exclusively for centimillionaire and billionaire clients who require bespoke and holistic advisory solutions. Their original thought leadership provides keen insight borne from countless conversations with prominent families.

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                        UBS Wealth Way

                        Wealth from your point of view

                        An approach that works for your entire financial life
                        Our framework is designed to help you turn your possibilities into a plan. It starts with questions and a conversation to uncover everything that's important to you—beyond your money and wealth. Then, we organize your financial life in a way that gives you confidence you’ll have what you need—when you need it.

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