Michael Cranford

Michael Cranford

CFP®, CWS®, CAP®
Sr. Private Wealth Advisor, Partner
Charlotte, NC

Michael Cranford is a senior private wealth advisor for the Private Wealth division and partner of Blue Trust and serves his clients out of the office in Charlotte, North Carolina.

As an experienced wealth advisor to individuals, families, and businesses, Michael uses his objective perspective to help clients make wise financial decisions to experience clarity and confidence and leave a lasting legacy. His goal is to help those he serves focus on the things that matter most to them. Michael and his team integrate financial planning, investment management, and trust services into financial plans tailored to his clients’ needs.

Prior to joining Blue Trust in 2008, Michael worked as the director of business retention and expansion for the Union County Partnership for Progress, where he focused on helping both small and large businesses flourish and grow in Union County, NC.

Michael graduated magna cum laude from Wingate University with a BS in finance. Michael is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certificant, holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation, and is a Certified Wealth Strategist® (CWS®).

Active in his community, Michael serves as a board member at multiple organizations, including Greyfriars Classical Academy and Caleb Ministries. He has also served for several years as a trail guide at his local chapter of Trail Life USA. In addition to his volunteer work, Michael is passionate about local agriculture. Along with his wife and three sons, Michael maintains a small farm at their home in Midland, NC where they seek to use agriculture as a means to teach the Lordship of Christ over all the earth.

Michael and his family are members of a local church in Matthews, NC.

“Like a bright and steady beacon in the midst of a raging storm are our consultants, Michael and Josiah. They firmly adhere to Biblical principles and only tried and true godly wisdom pours forth from their mouths. We have experienced personal/emotional, spiritual and financial growth from our association with them. We are so very grateful to the Lord for leading us to them.”

William & Patricia G.Albany, GA

"I am so glad that I found Blue Trust over 20 years ago! As a widow, they have helped me in so many ways, and I depend on them to make the best decisions with my investments. I am blessed to have Michael Cranford as my advisor. He is a man of integrity who puts Jesus and his family first in his life, which helps me to trust his advisement!”

Joan P.Boone, NC

“We have been blessed to be a client of Blue Trust for nearly 25 years. We have come to consider our advisors and staff as family! We also view them as our financial pastors for the wealth of knowledge and wisdom that they have provided us over the years. In 1999 I could have never imagined that we would have been able to have such a Kingdom impact nor that we would have been so blessed through supporting and encouraging relationships to challenge us to grow spiritually. We are thankful for their wisdom in saving, investing, estate planning, tax minimization, long term goal setting and planning. Blue Trust has become a "one stop shop" for us on any financial or life change matter. There is nothing more comforting than to know that someone has already walked the path you are on before you and can readily help you avoid the pitfalls. Thank you Blue Trust team; you continue to be a huge blessing in our lives.”

Fred B.Pinehurst, NC

Resources from Michael

  • Navigating Economic Disruptions: The Importance of Identifying Behavioral Biases

  • Testimonial by Filmmakers, the Kendrick Brothers