Each of our team members has a unique story that sparked their interest in finance, whether it was buying their first stock at age 11 or starting an investment club at age 12. We enjoy working together as a team, leveraging more than a century and a half of combined experience, to take care of our clients during even the most volatile market environments. Even more, we consider our clients family. We love what we do, and we enjoy being able to help our clients daily.
Michael, one of the team’s founders, works with a select group of high-net-worth individuals and institutions to develop and implement investment plans tailored to their specific objectives and risk tolerances. He believes that each client deserves a financial advisor who delivers highly personalized, well-researched guidance and outstanding personal service while adhering to unbending standards of integrity. With more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Michael focuses on providing comprehensive wealth management services with an emphasis on seeking portfolio growth and risk mitigation of capital.
Michael began his investment industry career in 1992 and joined Stifel in 2020. He earned a B.A. in Economics from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses, as well as life, health, and variable insurance licenses (including annuities).
Outside the office, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, Meredith, and his two boys, Austin and Remy. Michael is an avid saltwater fly fisherman and enjoys playing pickle ball and golf.
Ricky, one of the team’s co-founders, has been in the investment industry since 1983 and joined Stifel in 2020. As a portfolio manager in Stifel’s Solutions Program, Ricky specializes in managing his clients’ assets on a discretionary basis, with an emphasis on equities, portfolio hedging strategies, and overall asset allocation. He has been managing discretionary portfolios since 1986 and has been managing client portfolios for other financial advisors since 1993. In his over 40-year tenure, Ricky has gained extensive experience with options, technical/fundamental analysis, and equity selection.
Ricky earned a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds Series 7, 15, 63, and 65 securities licenses, as well as life, health, and variable insurance licenses (including annuities).
Outside the office, Ricky enjoys spending time and taking trips with his wife of 30 years, Diane. Ricky likes to cook, preparing everything from paella to Thanksgiving dinner.
Asset allocation does not ensure a profit or protect against loss.
The Solutions program requires a minimum investment, which varies by strategy. Ask your Financial Advisor for a Disclosure Brochure, which further outlines the fees, services, exclusions, and disclosures associated with this program. Since all investment decisions in a Solutions account are made by the Financial Advisor without having to receive prior client approval, it is important that Solutions clients have detailed knowledge of the Financial Advisor’s individual investment philosophy and decision-making process before entrusting him or her with their portfolio. You should consider all terms and conditions before deciding whether the Solutions Program and any particular strategy are appropriate for your needs.
Frank specializes in constructing customized strategies designed to suit each individual client’s needs. He does this through a consultative process, where he gains a detailed understanding of each client’s goals. He then uses this information to build a comprehensive wealth management strategy.
Frank has over 45 years of experience working with high-net-worth families. During his extensive tenure as a financial advisor, 22 years were spent as a Branch Manager and Divisional Manager. Frank is passionate about what he does and feels fortunate to be able to continue to work with such wonderful clients and colleagues. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds Series 7, 9 & 10, 63, and 65 securities licenses, as well as life, health, and variable insurance licenses (including annuities). Frank also earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.
Outside the office, Frank likes to spend time with his wife, Carole, and their four children and seven grandchildren. He also enjoys golfing and is a keen world traveler. Having traveled to four continents in the past few years, Frank and Carole hope to visit the other three soon.
Vanessa focuses on building client and prospect relationships, working closely with clients to develop customized investment plans suited to their financial goals. Working in a collaborative environment, Vanessa strives to consider individual and family needs through an in-depth discovery process in an effort to provide an optimal path for each client. She utilizes fact-finding tools designed to account for financial strengths and weaknesses, culminating in a calculated approach to investment planning and wealth management.
Vanessa began her investment industry career in 2008 and joined Stifel in 2020. She graduated from Meredith College with a B.S. in Business Administration, Finance and holds Series 7, 9 & 10, and 66 securities licenses, as well as life, health, and variable insurance licenses (including annuities). Vanessa also earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification from the College for Financial Planning.
In her free time, Vanessa enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, Michael. They especially enjoy tackling various yard and home remodeling projects together.
Skye joined Stifel in July of 2023, beginning her financial services career with The Founders Group. During her time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she volunteered both in her community and as a Teaching Assistant in the Economics department at UNC. Skye graduated with highest distinction in 2023, with a passion for finance and serving others. Skye holds Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses.
In her free time, Skye enjoys running, playing soccer and spending time with her loved ones. You will often find her grabbing dinner on Franklin Street with friends, or strolling through her hometown of Hillsborough, NC with her family.
Daniella joined Stifel in January 2025 as a Client Service Associate, bringing nearly two decades of experience in the financial services industry. She began her career at Citi Private Bank in 2004, where she served affluent clients with tailored investment solutions and led a team of 15 professionals dedicated to delivering exceptional service. Her work focused primarily on prominent Brazilian investors, building long-standing relationships based on trust and excellence. Daniella holds Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses.
After a two-year break to focus on her family, Daniella returned to the financial industry with a new perspective—now serving a portfolio fully dedicated to U.S. investors.
Outside the office, Daniella finds joy in spending time with her family and serving in ministries at her local Brazilian church, IBC. She is also actively involved in the Brazilian community across the Triangle region of North Carolina.
Alex began her financial career at Stifel in January 2025. She graduated from NC State University with a B.A. in Sociology. During her time at State, Alex was an officer of multiple clubs and was responsible for fundraising, community involvement, and teambuilding. Alex brings a passion for fostering collaborative environments and a commitment to exceptional service to the team. She holds Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys reading, playing sports, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
