WILLIAM GRASTY

Managing Director

Charlotte, NC

Education

MBA, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management

B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Dr. Zeuss

“Successful investing is only common sense. Each system for investing will eventually become obsolete.”
Sir John Templeton

William Grasty has over 25 years of financial industry experience. In his role at Bison Wealth, a multi-billion dollar independent, boutique family office and private wealth management firm, he leads the firm’s Charlotte practice providing complex financial investment and wealth strategies to select ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions, which includes advising clients on strategic asset allocation decisions and bespoke investment plans. More specifically, portfolio construction, risk management, ongoing evaluation, due diligence, as well as access to unique private capital investments. William also works closely with a team of internal and external multidisciplinary experts to provide the breadth of resources to meet the exclusive needs of his clients.

William brings a unique background to Bison Wealth, having worked in a variety of sub-sectors of the financial services industry, encompassing asset management, investment banking, capital markets, private wealth and corporate lending. William’s broad capabilities align well for his clients, who come from diverse backgrounds and situations, including corporate executives, successful entrepreneurs, private investors, family trusts, closely held business owners, and philanthropists.

William was previously with Bison Wealth’s predecessor, Lakeview Capital Partners, leading the firm’s global business development efforts for private client and institutional investors and advising high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices.

Prior to joining Lakeview Capital Partners, Bison Wealth, LLC’s predecessor, William was Director of Institutional Marketing for Kingfisher Capital driving the firm’s expansion across the high net worth and institutional wealth management channels, while serving in a variety of senior leadership roles; raising capital for the firm’s institutional investment strategies, including both alternative and long-only investments, providing investment planning and asset allocation research and advice to clients, and enhancing product innovation and development.

William also held various management roles in marketing, strategy and business development at Hewlett Packard, focusing specifically on wireless solutions and emerging technologies. He also spent time with Hewlett Packard’s venture investment arm, E-Services. Solutions, to build out the ecosystem of HP’s new Internet strategy, the intersection of infrastructure, services and appliances.

Additionally, William worked for First Union’s Investment Banking Group in High Yield Debt Capital Markets (a predecessor to Wachovia Securities and Wells Fargo Securities). Prior to joining First Union Capital Markets, he served as a credit analyst identifying and structuring various financing solutions across a variety of industries for middle market and corporate clients. He started his career in commercial banking, completing the Corporate Management Training Program at First Union National Bank.

William received an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management, graduating with a dual concentration in Finance and E-Commerce, and a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He attended boarding school at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia.

William resides in Charlotte with his wife, Liz, and their three children. He enjoys scuba diving, fly-fishing, golf and international travel. His cultural curiosity combined with living and studying abroad has been a life-changing experience, not only from a global investment perspective, but also with respect to building broader and more meaningful relationships with clients.

Additionally, he supports several charitable organizations through sponsorship and donations of time and resources.