About us

Guidance You Can Trust

At Lionhead Financial Planning, we believe you deserve to live the retirement of your dreams. That’s why we’ve dedicated our lives to helping clients design and implement successful financial strategies to reach their goals.

Lionhead Financial Planning

Meet OUr Team

Paul Buckle

Paul Buckle, CPA CFP®

Founder, CEO & Financial Advisor

Paul Buckle, CPA CFP®

With more than a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Paul founded Lionhead Financial Planning to help people work toward their retirement dreams through a well-thought-out financial strategy using a variety of investments and insurance products and services.

Paul previously worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers before transitioning into personal financial planning. He is a Certified Public Accountant and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and he serves the Asheville, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina, region. Paul earned his bachelor of business administration and master of accounting from Florida Atlantic University.

After growing up in South Africa, Paul now lives in Fletcher, North Carolina, with his with his wife, Nikki, daughter, Gianna, and son, Liam. He loves to explore the outdoors through hiking, camping and scuba diving.

paul

Meet Paul
Crystal Pace

Crystal Pace

Director Of Client Service

Crystal Pace

Helping people with some of the most important decisions of their lives is a blessing and life calling for Crystal. She has spent almost a decade assisting individuals and families with their retirement, formerly as an estate planning paralegal, assisting aid to lawyers and more recently as director of client services in the financial industry.

A WNC native, Crystal has a Bachelor of Science from UNC Asheville. After graduating, she worked for the North Carolina Division of Air Quality as its ozone action day coordinator before moving to Bar Harbor, Maine. For several years, she served as a nonprofit consultant and campaign manager, helping nonprofits in Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee improve their business practices.

Crystal is a licensed life and accident & health or sickness insurance producer for the state of North Carolina. She resides in Oakley and enjoys cooking, reading and weight lifting.

Meet Crystal
Paul Kisielewski

Paul Kisielewski

Financial Advisor

Paul Kisielewski

Paul joined Lionhead Financial Planning in 2023 while concurrently working towards his CFP® certification. He holds a BSBA from Appalachian State University and brings a diverse professional background to his role. Prior to joining Lionhead Financial Planning, Paul gained valuable experience at Justrite® Manufacturing, a leading global chemical safety company, and successfully launched a fly-fishing company in Asheville, NC, which remains a personal passion.

Paul's transition to the financial planning industry is driven by his enthusiasm for tax and investment planning and his desire to help people. His warmth and easygoing personality make him a pleasure for our clients to work with.

Outside of his professional life, Paul enjoys spending time with family and friends, fishing, playing tennis, running, and exploring real estate investment opportunities.

Meet Paul

What Makes Us Different

We take pride in setting ourselves apart from conventional advisors.

Specialization in Retirement Planning

Our focus lies in retirement planning, dedicated to optimizing your financial situation both pre- and post-retirement.

Expertise in Tax Planning

Most advisors aren't willing or able to give tax advice. We incorporate careful tax minimization strategies into all aspects of our services.

Comprehensive Knowledge of Social Security

We have in-depth knowledge of how to maximize Social Security benefits, which are likely to be a critical part of the foundation of your retirement

Independence

As an independent firm, we have no affiliations with banks, brokerages, or insurance companies. This independence empowers us to provide unbiased and comprehensive advice, free from any external pressures.

Professional Credentials

In addition to substantial professional experience, Paul Buckle holds industry designations that are crucial for tax-efficient retirement planning and investment management:

Ready to take control of your financial future?

Contact us to schedule a visit and learn how we can help you reach your goals with a customized financial plan. Let us help you navigate the complexities of your financial world, so you can focus on what matters most.