By Javier Molinares
BHCC
MELBOURNE – Andres Yepes, a Certified Financial Planner™️ with a heart for community and a drive for excellence traces his journey from his Colombian roots to building his practice in Melbourne, Florida. Born and raised in Medellin, Colombia, Yepes’s early years were marked by the challenges of violence that plagued his homeland, including the loss of three brothers.
“In 1998, we had experienced a lot of violence, including the deaths of my three brothers in Medellin,” Yepes recounts. “That’s when my parents decided to move to Florida.”
Settling initially in Coral Springs and later in Kendall, Yepes navigated the challenges of adapting to a new country and culture and mastering English through the ESOL program in high school. Despite the hurdles, he graduated from Braddock High School in Miami, setting the stage for his academic and professional journey.
“It was a challenging transition, but I persevered,” Yepes reflects. “Graduating from Braddock was a significant accomplishment for me.”
Yepes’s pursuit of higher education led him to Miami-Dade Community College and later Brevard Community College, where he completed his arts associate degree before transferring to the University of Central Florida (UCF) to earn his bachelor’s degree in finance. During his college years, Yepes discovered his passion for the financial industry. He began as a teller at Harbor Federal Savings Bank and later advanced to JP Morgan Chase Bank managerial roles.
“I realized I wanted to make a more direct impact on individuals’ financial well-being,” Yepes explains. “That’s what initially led me to become a financial advisor.”
In 2016, Yepes joined Raymond James, where he honed his expertise in financial planning and client relationships over three years before becoming an Independent Financial Advisor. Then, in August 2022, he began establishing his Yepes and Associates Financial Services practice. Yepes then decided to deepen his knowledge to serve his clients better and, in 2023, obtained the highly sought-after CFP®️ Certification.
“Opening my practice was a dream come true. I wanted to build something that reflected my values and commitment to client trust to help individuals, families, and small business owners get their affairs in order, and to do this while being guided by my deep convictions and beliefs that honesty and putting the client first is the way to run my business,” said Yepes, reflecting on the inception of his practice and emphasizing his core values and dedication to client-centric service. “My clients have achieved peace of mind and confidence by using my expertise in Portfolio Management, Retirement Planning, Insuring Risks, and Estate Planning.”
Since its inception, Yepes’s firm has thrived despite market challenges, thanks to his commitment to client trust and comprehensive financial planning. Specializing in serving families and small businesses, Yepes offers various services, including budgeting, investment management, retirement planning, risk management, and estate planning.
“Helping clients achieve their financial goals is incredibly rewarding,” Yepes shares. “I strive to provide personalized solutions that address their unique needs and aspirations.”
Beyond his professional endeavors, Yepes and his wife Kerry manage a family of 4 children, ages 10 to 13, with different extracurricular interests. Yepes also invests quality time in his community. Actively involved in coaching youth soccer at Space Coast United, he finds joy in nurturing young talent and fostering a sense of teamwork. He and his family are also active members of the non-denominational Church At Viera, where Yepes occasionally teaches Sunday school for children.
Yepes is an avid pickleballer and uses his skills to teach others how to play the game. The Yepes financially support two children with Compassion International and donate time and money to one of their favorite local organizations, The Children’s Hunger Project.
“Aside from my work, giving back to the community is important to me,” Yepes emphasizes. “I believe in supporting others and positively impacting wherever I can.”
Looking ahead, Yepes envisions further growth for his practice, particularly within the Viera community, where he seeks to strengthen connections with the Spanish-speaking population.
“I want to bridge cultural divides and extend my financial expertise to serve a diverse clientele,” Yepes affirms. “By building trust and fostering meaningful relationships, I believe we can achieve financial success together.”
As Andres Yepes continues to carve his path in the financial services industry, his journey stands as a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of community connections to achieve success.
Yepes office is located at 6767 N. Wickham Rd. Ste 400, Melbourne, FL 32940. For more information, call 321-339-1367.