MEET THE WEALTH GUARDIANS
Our mission is to execute financial strategies that safeguard retirement savings and give our clients the peace of mind to enjoy the life they’ve created.
The Wealth Guardians is an independent, holistic financial planning firm focused on retirement planning. In both our Clemmons and Charlotte offices, our team is committed to providing financial services and retirement advice that is comprehensive, individualized and based on strategies that focus on downside protection. We have 25+ years of experience in the retirement planning sector and we have the privilege of serving over 450+ clients and their families.
The Wealth Guardians is a fiduciary and we will always act in our clients’ best interests. We are motivated by building relationships, not by selling products.
The Wealth Guardians team is guided by our core company values:
- We emphasize financial education in all our interactions.
- We plan holistically versus act transactionally.
- We are relationship driven and interact with our clients as extended family.
- We strive to demonstrate a high level of competence and excellence every day.
THE WEALTH GUARDIANS STAFF
Doug Ray, MBA, ChFC, RICP®, President
Doug has been a financial professional for more than 35 years and, long before it was mainstream, began focusing his practice on working with those approaching or in retirement. He holds his Series 65 license along with designations as a Chartered Financial Consultant ChFC®, Retirement Income Certified Professional RICP ®, CLTC and has been recognized as a Top of the Table insurance professional for the last 14 years. These designations have strict educational and ethical standards and are considered top industry credentials.
Born in Winston-Salem, Doug graduated from East Carolina University in 1979, then served 8 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy as a combat aviator and instructor. During his instructor tour in Pensacola, he completed his MBA with a concentration in Finance. He and his family returned to North Carolina in 1988 when Doug began his financial career working for Merrill Lynch.
In 1998 Doug opened his practice as an independent financial advisor to offer his clients the best financial products and strategies for their goals without the pressure of corporate financial firms. He has offices in Clemmons and Charlotte with clients throughout North and South Carolina.
In 2007 Doug created The Wealth Guardians radio show dedicated to educating the community on current economic factors that could affect their retirement, including social security optimization, tax efficiencies and long-term health care planning. These days he often shares the microphone with the firm’s associate advisers and together in 2023 they launched a YouTube channel, The Vault.
Doug and his wife Sherrie married in May of 1980 and are blessed with two sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, and five delightful grandchildren. They have completed the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Course and Doug has also served as a facilitator of Crown Financial Ministries; a faith based financial program. In the Winston-Salem community he has given back to the community through the Make a Wish Foundation, the Clemmons Food Pantry and most recently, the Forsyth Humane Society. His hobbies include golf, coin collecting and following his beloved Green Bay Packers, East Carolina Pirates and of course, the Carolina Panthers.Why Doug Got Into the Retirement Planning Business
https://youtu.be/7XvkZhuDjVM
RICP®, Investment Adviser Representative
Brice has been a licensed and practicing RICP® since 2010. After working with T Rowe Price and PNC Investments, Brice moved to Winston Salem in 2017 with his wife, Bele, who works in cardio thoracic medicine at Wake Baptist.
Brice has focused his career on holistic financial planning, specifically around the retirement stage of finances. He has a solid understanding of portfolio allocation and tax mitigation strategies that allows him to create retirement roadmaps for his clients that meet their growth expectations and spending needs while lowering portfolio costs, risk exposure and tax obligations.
Brice holds his Series 65 license and is certified with The National Social Security Association and has his Certification for Long-Term Care. Brice graduated from The University of Redlands with a degree in Communications. Upon getting his teaching certificate from The University of Colorado at Boulder, he served in The Peace Corps in Honduras for two years. Brice approaches the planning process with his clients as an opportunity to not just tell his clients what their retirement picture could look like but help them understand how all financial components work together, what their options are and what impacts each option has for them in both the short and long term.
Brice has a passion for music and is a self-described audiophile. In his free time, he enjoys taking in concerts near and far. When not increasing the size of his music collection, Brice and Bele take in the beauty of the NC landscape on their electric motorcycles. Brice can also be found trying to lower his score on the local disc golf courses (usually in vain).
MBA, Investment Adviser Representative
Garrett graduated from The Citadel in 2007 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering having attended on a Navy ROTC scholarship. Upon graduation, Garrett accepted his commission as an Ensign and Seabee Combat Warfare Officer in the Navy and was assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, and then Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ONE in Gulfport, Mississippi.
After completing his Naval obligation in 2011, he joined Polypore Inc. as a process engineer, becoming intimately involved in membrane production for use in lithium-ion batteries and later moving into a management position. While working at Polypore and earning his MBA at Wake Forest University in 2016, a relatively new company by the name of Tesla entered discussions to acquire Polypore. Garrett was involved in discussions around the potential acquisition and was eventually recruited by Tesla to join their team as a Production Manager in developing the battery powertrain for the Model 3 in 2017. During his two years at Tesla in the Reno, Nevada Gigafactory he helped to hire and build the Tesla Production team on-site, as well as commission and launch three high-speed battery module production lines.
In 2019 Garrett took a position with Anheuser-Busch in Jacksonville, Florida working as a Production Supervisor in high-volume aluminum can production. After 10 years in manufacturing, Garrett decided to return to North Carolina and pursue a career change in line with his lifelong interest in financial services. He holds his Series 65 license, as well as life and Long-Term Care insurance licenses and is currently working towards his Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.
He and his wife Cindie live in the Greensboro area. Garrett is a proud dad to Lachlan and Anna Claire and in his free time enjoys all types of outdoor activities including hiking, golf, and camping. Garrett loves fantasy football, cooking, and one of his favorite hobbies, brewing craft beers from his own custom recipes.
Client Event Coordinator
Sherrie graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Physical Therapy degree in 1980 and enjoyed a 20+ year career in the field. After her sons graduated, she explored several different career options before coming on board as the Marketing Coordinator for the Wealth Guardians in 2010. She helped the firm grow with radio, print, and digital marketing efforts along with educational and client appreciation events.
2024 brought the realization that it was time once again to make a change and turn the reigns over to a well experienced marketing professional, Nicole Lyles, allowing Sherrie’s role to focus on her passion for client events as well as Human Resource duties for the firm.
When not working, Sherrie is an avid reader, loves to garden, practice yoga, play golf and volunteers in several church activities.
Marketing Manager
Nicole joined The Wealth Guardians as the Marketing Manager in February 2024. She is a native of New Jersey and currently resides in Lewisville with her husband, Chad, and their children. She graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and has over 15 years’ experience in marketing, focused on strategy, analytics and digital marketing.
Nicole has worked for large corporations, such as Capital One and Spectrum, and small non-profit organizations, including the Forsyth Humane Society. She is motivated by creating value and driving results and is always up for learning something new. She manages the company website and social media, creates content and messaging, plans events and manages all the firm’s marketing needs.
Outside of the office Nicole loves to read, spend time at the beach and grow flowers. She and Chad have a blended family with seven kids, so she is the ultimate multi-tasker!
Executive Assistant
Joy has been with us since 2015. She attended Appalachian State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a concentration in Graphic Arts & Imaging Technology.
Joy serves our entire client base. She provides administrative support to the advisors as they serve our clients, assisting clients with tasks such as confirming account levels, setting up withdrawals/distributions and change of beneficiary forms, as well as assisting with workshop and seminar events. Joy also serves as our internal IT guru and is the only one in the office who knows how to operate the TVs.
Joy is a native of Davie County and currently resides in Winston-Salem with her husband, Talon. She has a very close-knit family and enjoys spending time with them.
Receptionist & Administrative Assistant
Lynn has been with The Wealth Guardians since 2020. She is a native of Maryland and came to North Carolina in 2018 when her husband retired and wanted a slower pace of life; however, she wasn’t ready to retire!
Lynn started her career with the National Security Agency in 1980. She took a career break in 1984 to be a stay-at-home mom for several years. When her children were older, she worked as an assistant pre-school teacher for almost 15 years. Lynn spent the next 20 years working for a pavement maintenance company. She quickly advanced in her new role to become the Executive Secretary and Office Manager. In that position, she typed so much, she wore the letters off the keyboard!
We’re lucky to now have Lynn as our Receptionist and Administrative Assistant. She is the smiling face you see when you first arrive and is a dedicated team member. Her duties include answering and directing calls, scheduling appointments and assisting with office needs, workshop and seminar events. Recently Lynn earned her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional certificate.
Lynn and her husband are enjoying life in the Carolinas, but miss being close to their 10 grandchildren. Lynn is an avid crafter and enjoys crocheting and making unique, hand-crafted gifts for her family and friends.
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