03/07/2019
This is what I know about Jim Heafner.
In approximately 2013, I was approached by Jim Heafner, his ad agency at the time, and a sales rep at WBT radio, about the possibility of me representing Jim in endorsement commercials on WBT. I met with Jim a few times, found him and his team credible, and began doing commercials for him.
In 2014, after having worked with Heafner and his agency on my commercials for him for several months, he and I began mutual conversations about me, through my Larson Advertising business, becoming his branding consultant and "agency of record" for media buys in Charlotte. During this same approximate time, I made two substantial investments through Heafner in two instruments offered by Nationwide Insurance and Fidelity Investments.
Over the next several years I conducted client and consumer research for Heafner, rebranded his company, and placed media buys for him on several Charlotte radio and TV stations. Pertaining to the substance of any and all commercials or ads aired or placed on Heafner's behalf, all content was approved directly or generally by Heafner, or his representatives.
I continued as ad agency for Heafner Financial after I was fired by WBT in October 2016, voicing his radio commercials and placing his media buys.
Through late 2017 and into 2018, I began to have disagreements with Heafner about his approach to the management of his business as it related to his overall marketing and advertising efforts. In March of 2018, completely of my own volition and initiation, I resigned entirely as the marketing consultant and advertising agent of record for Heafner Financial. I walked away from a substantial annual consulting fee.
I had no further contact with Jim Heafner or his office.
Today I was informed of the following:
-That on or about Monday, March 4, 2019, Jim Heafner announced (in some manner) on WBT radio, that he was retiring from his business, would not be taking on new clients, but would maintain an operation to service his existing clients.
-That on or about that same day, Heafner shuttered his office in Charlotte leaving his business operation and employees hanging, with no notice whatsoever.
-That Jim Heafner no longer holds a security license, that investigations are in progress, and that Heafner no longer resides in the continental United States.
-That the apparent investigation and situation in question involves investment selling activities that occurred since mid-2018.
-That there are cases of persons who invested during that time who have reported losing their invested funds.
I am making this post in the interest of the kind of total transparency and responsibility which I have always adhered to in the matter of my role as an endorser of clients (any client) on WBT radio or elsewhere, and in transparency and credibility as an advertising consultant/agent.
I never had a personal suspicion of Heafner Financial's operation from the standpoint of its investment management activities. My own two investments remain intact with Fidelity and Nationwide.
This represents the entirety of my knowledge about this situation as of 5pm today.
Moments ago, just before going to post this note, I received the link/story which is posted below.
The Wolper Law Firm is currently investigating claims against James "Jim" Heafner and Heafner Financial Solutions in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Wolper Law Firm has been retained by investors of James "Jim" Heafner and Heafner Financial Solutions, who were sold unregistered promissory notes issue...
