Haleh Moddasser
CPA
Wealth Advisor, Managing Director
Haleh Moddasser is Wealth Advisor, Managing Director at Hightower Signature Wealth (formerly Stearns Financial Group), where she is widely recognized for her thought leadership at the intersection of tax strategy, investing, and women’s financial empowerment. A Certified Public Accountant by background, Haleh brings a rigorous, tax-aware lens to portfolio construction, helping clients not only grow wealth, but preserve it through proactive, strategic planning. Her work often centers on complex life transitions, with a particular focus on supporting women navigating life transitions including divorce, retirement, and establishing long-term independence.
Haleh is a national voice on issues impacting women and wealth. She is the author of two influential books, Women on Top: Women, Wealth & Social Change and the Amazon best-seller Gray Divorce, Silver Linings: A Woman’s Guide to Divorce After 50, which has become a trusted resource for women facing late-in-life transitions. Through her writing, speaking, and advisory work, Haleh advocates for more personalized, values-driven financial strategies and has been a strong proponent of ESG investing as a meaningful tool for aligning wealth with social impact.
Her knowledge and perspective have earned her widespread recognition and media coverage. Haleh has been featured in publications including Barron’s, Forbes, Reuters, Kiplinger’s, AARP, and InvestmentNews, among many others, and is a frequent contributor to industry publications such as Financial Advisor and AICPA platforms. In 2020, she was named an InvestmentNews Women to Watch honoree and was later recognized as an Executive Leadership Luminary by ThinkAdvisor in 2021, underscoring her leadership and influence within the profession. She is also a sought-after speaker, regularly presenting at national conferences and events on topics ranging from retirement planning to financial empowerment.
Prior to joining the practice in 2011, Haleh began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she worked with high-net-worth individuals, and later held a treasury and finance role at a Fortune 500 company, managing interest rate risk through derivative strategies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has remained actively engaged in her community, including serving on the board of Carolina Meadows, where she was treasurer and chaired the finance committee.
A longtime resident of Durham, North Carolina, Haleh enjoys painting and traveling with her husband, Gabe, and has occasionally exhibited and sold her artwork. When time allows, she also teaches painting classes for aspiring adult artists, bringing the same creativity and passion to her personal pursuits that she brings to her professional work.
