Jim Tracy
Founding Partner CEO
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Jim Tracy is a founding partner and CEO of Xcelerate Growth Partners. His background and previous successes in wealth management uniquely qualify him to help deliver on the primary goal of this business….. growth! Xcelerate was built to fill known gaps in the industry with other partners and expert alliances working to drive growth.
Prior to starting Xcelerate, Jim Tracy was a Managing Director and a Senior Advisor to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. He has a 38-year history with the firm and has been instrumental in leading, building, and driving results in many key initiatives.
Jim started his career as a Financial Advisor and achieved success at many levels of field leadership as a Branch Manager and then as a Regional Director. His background has helped him gain a unique perspective and deep understanding of both individual and institutional client needs, and the significant importance of the advisor/client relationship.
In 2005, Morgan Stanley appointed Jim as Head of the industry leading Consulting Group Managed Account business and the Institutional Consulting business, now known as Graystone Consulting. Under Jim’s leadership, the Consulting Group has become the leading advisory program in the industry with over $2 trillion in assets. In addition, his team has created substantial innovation and enhancements that paved the way for significant practice management improvements and efficiencies.
Jim has been recognized many times by his peers across the industry. In 2018 he received the Pioneer Award from the Managed Money Institute (MMI) and also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors. Jim has authored many articles, presentations, and keynote speeches on industry trends and innovation in the financial services industry. His forward thinking about the future financial advisor has helped prepare many advisors to be on the leading edge of change.
Jim and his wife, Joey, live in Powell, Ohio. They have 3 children, Lauren, JJ and Jamison.
Jim has also developed a strong reputation for giving back, mentoring others, driving leadership in diversity and inclusion initiatives, and as a culture carrier for Morgan Stanley. One of Jim’s proudest moments in his career was being selected as one of the first male members of MAKERS in recognition of his advocacy, support, and development of professional women in wealth management.
Mary Deatherage
Founding Partner President
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Mary M. Deatherage is a co-founder of Xcelerate Growth Partners LLC, a digital and live training platform serving wealth advisors, their management teams, investment providers and potential investors. The firm focuses on issues like teaming, succession planning, wealth management best practices, investment management, and financial planning topics.
Until July 2023, Mary led The Deatherage Group at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, a financial advisory Team with offices in Coral Gables, FL and New York, New York. The Team provided comprehensive wealth planning, asset allocation, investment management including social impact investing, tax, trust and estate strategies, philanthropy management and family wealth education along with lifestyle advisory services. Her clientele consists of high-net-worth individuals and families as well as large foundations and pension plans.
Mary started her financial career as a CPA and audit manager at Coopers & Lybrand in New York City and Detroit. She subsequently became a financial advisor and has been with Morgan Stanley since 1986.
Mary has received numerous industry honors and distinctions. For seventeen consecutive years, Barron’s has named her one of their “Top 1,200 Advisors” in the US. In 2022, Barron’s named Mary #19 in its survey of “Top Women Financial Advisors in America”, and she was recognized as one of 2021’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors”. She is a Barron’s “Hall of Fame Advisor.” Also in 2022, Forbes Magazine named her #15 on their “Top Women Wealth Advisors” list and #4 on their “America’s Best-in- State Private Wealth Advisors: New Jersey” list. In 2022, Forbes ranked Mary #154 on their “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” list. Mary was named a “MAKER: Women Who Make America” as a representative of Morgan Stanley in 2014.
Tara Forrest
COO
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Tara Forrest has over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, with roles in Product Management, Advisory businesses, Business Development, Risk and Branch Operations. She spent most of her career at Morgan Stanley and also worked at Wells Fargo as well as Barings Asset Management.
She has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from California State University Fullerton and an MBA from Bryant University in Rhode Island. In addition, she has obtained several FINRA licenses over the course of her career.
Tara is originally from Massachusetts and currently resides in North Carolina. In her free time she is found enjoying time hiking or on her boat on Lake Hickory with her canine companion.
Robert B. Seaberg, Ph. D.
Visiting Faculty
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Spanning a career of forty years in financial services, “Dr. Bob,” as he is known in the industry, began as a financial advisor and then moved into strategic marketing directorships.
He has spent nearly two decades with Citi Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley as a Managing Director in charge of Wealth Advisory Solutions. He pioneered the use of regional wealth planning centers, helped develop an industry-leading HNW and UHNW training and designation program for select advisors (Family Wealth Advisor) and established the Philanthropy program.
Jane Hanson
Communications Coach
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Emmy Award-winning television journalist and communications coach Jane Hanson has dedicated over 30 years to helping people master the art of communication. Her distinguished career began as a reporter and anchor for NBC New York, and today she continues her impact as a media, presentation and executive presence coach and Forbes contributor, where she focuses on business, leadership, and transition.
Jane continues to serve as a sought-after speaker, interviewer, panel moderator, and podcaster, sharing her expertise on topics ranging from healthcare and science to pop culture, finance, and religion.
Krista Sheets
Team Learning Specialist
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As President of both Competitive Edge, Inc., and Paragon Resources, Inc., Krista leads with a unique methodology, involving ongoing research and curation of the most impactful, scientifically-backed assessments available.
She has worked with Fortune 500 clients, Wall Street firms, and hundreds of teams in all stages of development to build results-driven solutions.
Melissa Furman
Inter-Generational Specialist
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Dr. Melissa Furman has a rich academic background in business, counseling, and psychology and her true passion lies within workforce, leadership, and professional development.
This passion led her to launch Career Potential, a speaking, consulting, training, and coaching organization. Melissa combines her credentials, 20 years of leadership experience, and witty personality for a unique style that drives genuine connections with her audiences and clients.
