Heather R. Nicholas,

Heather Nicholas is a Financial Advisor at The Manning Companies, where she also serves as Managing Director, bringing over 25 years of experience and a genuine passion for helping clients build long-term wealth and navigate their financial futures with clarity and purpose.

She works closely with business owners, leaders, professionals, and their families to develop personalized financial plans built around their unique goals, values, and timelines. On the business side, she partners with employers to design and manage retirement plans that strengthen employee financial wellness and support long-term retention. She has a particular passion for working with pre-retirees, helping them organize their finances, clarify their goals, and build the resources needed for a comfortable and flexible retirement. At the core of her work is a desire to empower clients to make informed decisions and see the meaningful impact that thoughtful planning has on their lives.

Heather's path into financial services began in commercial insurance and employee benefits, where she quickly discovered her real interest was in investments. When an opportunity came up to work alongside an advisor at WM Financial Services, she jumped at it, earned her securities licenses, and started her career as a financial advisor. She went on to spend 12 years as a Regional Marketing Director at OneAmerica, partnering with financial advisors on risk management strategies and long-term care planning, helping protect clients' estates from the financial strain of extended healthcare needs. It was through that work that she first connected with Michael Manning and ultimately joined The Manning Companies team in 2018.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance from San Diego State University, along with the Accredited Investment Fiduciary^® (AIF^®) designation and a Certification in Long-Term Care (CLTC^®) designations.

A lifelong San Diegan, Heather stays active with gym workouts, hot yoga, snowboarding, and beach walks. She loves traveling, spending time with family, and catching live country music whenever she can.