Top financial advisors working with technology professionals in North Carolina

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016 and previously at AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for the nonprofit Alpha Light Fund Inc., focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, leveraging LPL-sponsored programs and endorsed TAMPs to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.

Arjun Aggarwal is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009 and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutions, including tailored financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process using firm-approved tools and economic modeling techniques.

Robert Pike is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Sheets Smith Wealth Management in Winston Salem, NC, and has been with Stratford Advisors, Inc. since 2004. Sheets Smith Wealth Management serves individuals, families, trusts, foundations, endowments, and retirement plans, providing customized investment management and financial planning. The firm employs a long-term, buy-and-hold strategy for equities combined with tactical fixed-income adjustments, serving clients including senior corporate executives and heirs.

Mitchell Hodgkiss is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Pi Kappa Alpha KK Alumni Association. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide tailored, non-discretionary recommendations delivered through a centralized consulting team.

Andrew Driscoll is a financial advisor at Lake Effect Wealth LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with six years of industry experience. He previously worked at Grandview Analytics from 2015 to 2019 before founding Lake Effect Wealth, where he has been the sole advisor since 2019. Lake Effect Wealth serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as corporations and businesses, offering discretionary portfolio management alongside project-based and comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs a passive investment strategy based on Modern Portfolio Theory, incorporating low-turnover, tax-aware portfolio construction, and distinguishes itself by providing business planning and employee benefits optimization services uncommon among independent solo advisers.

Wanqiu Wu is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Citigroup in 2022, Wanqiu worked at Citibank N.A. from 2017 to 2022 and at Bloomingdales from 2015 to 2017. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and brokerage services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and maintains unique market roles, including swap dealer and futures commission merchant activities.

Arron Thompson is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2019. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Alliance Rx Walgreens Prime and served in the US Army. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies and access to separately managed accounts. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Zack Gutches is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at True Riches Financial Planning in Denver, CO. His prior roles include positions at Brighton Jones and Deloitte & Touche LLP. In addition to his advisory work, he provides consulting on financial well-being and company benefits through LearnLux and offers tax preparation services to his firm’s clients. True Riches Financial Planning is an independent, fee-only firm serving individuals and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management. The firm provides tailored financial plans and portfolios that incorporate both passive and active strategies, including socially responsible options, and offers tax preparation as an affiliated accounting service.

Dave's experience in investment management and financial planning uniquely position him to serve as his client's independent trusted advisor - a personal chief financial officer that can discreetly navigate the tides affecting your financial life. ​ Professional highlights include portfolio management on Union Bank municipal investment team which earned recognition as the best in the industry by Barron's in 2008 and 2009; lead investment management responsibility at a $300M financial planning firm; and working with amazing entrepreneurs, executives, and families. ​ David's education includes a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation, and a U.C. Berkeley bachelor's degree where he conducted a study on evidenced based investment management with Haas Professor of Investments David Distad. ​ David launched PFM to continue building upon his vision of complete personal financial management: discreet and unwavering focus on how expert financial management can help a client achieve her goals. From setting and achieving goals, to preparing you for all of life's contingencies and investing for your future - David helps his client's understand what they should be doing, and then helps them get it done.

Sawyer Sams is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of the Smith Conkin Dixon Wealth Management Group. In this role, he and his team focus on building personalized wealth strategies for over 500 families across more than 40 states. He utilizes a comprehensive planning approach that leverages Merrill's investment and planning resources along with Bank of America's banking and lending capabilities. Prior to joining Merrill, Sawyer worked at a wealth and investment management firm in Charlotte, NC, where he was involved in leading the firm's investment committee, asset allocation strategy, and trading activities. His expertise includes family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds professional designations including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Sawyer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Furman University. He is a member of the CFA Society of East Tennessee and contributes to the Milligan University CFA Research Team. He is also involved in community activities as a member of First Christian Church in Johnson City, TN, where he resides.