Rare among advisors, Ray brings clients more than 20 years of experience with most of that time spent as a trust officer. Given this background, he offers a fresh and valued perspective to individuals and families looking to preserve, insulate and pass along wealth in a tax efficient manner.
While Ray was born, raised and lives in Statesville, his circle of clients has grown to include business owners and their families, younger couples accumulating wealth, individuals about to retire and others he’s helped retire comfortably – residing locally and across the U.S.
“My job is about helping ‘good people do good things’ for the people they love,” Ray explains. “Talking with both spouses as often as possible, I want to hear what brings them joy and what worries them. Before I ever mention a dollar or discuss their finances, I need to appreciate their values and visions of the future.”
Ray’s planning-based approach spans five key areas in a client’s financial life:
• Short- and long-term goals (buying a home, funding retirement, a child’s education or a worthy cause).
• Family. Is a client responsible for a spouse, children, or elderly parent? Should a trust be considered?
• Other advisors. Ray looks to align strategies with clients’ CPAs, attorneys and insurance agents.
• Legacy. Do clients have a will, trust, or power of attorney? Do those documents reflect current goals?
• Assets and liabilities. Ray examines both sides of clients’ balance sheet to help consolidate minimize debt, protect from creditors, and enhance cash flow.
Dedicated to being a consistent financial resource and presence in clients’ lives, Ray feels it’s incumbent on him to provide clients with the confidence to make informed decisions, especially when emotions can take hold.
When it comes to investments, Ray utilizes the firm’s Chief Investment Office models – relying on the award-winning research and resources of Merrill and Bank of America. Diversification across asset classes is important to Ray, which is why a typical client portfolio might include stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds – and in some cases, alternative investments*. Ray also provides clients ready access to Bank of America for residential and securities-based lending, as well as business banking services.
In 2000, Ray launched his financial services career at Bank of America and moved to Wells Fargo four years later where he served as a trust officer for 14 years. He also spent three years as Director of Planned and Major Giving at Mars Hill University.
Ray holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor designation sponsored by the ABA Institute of Certified Bankers. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree from Campbell University in Trust & Wealth Management. Ray and his wife, Katherine, have three daughters and enjoy hiking, camping and any activity that brings them together.
A big college basketball fan, Ray is generous with his time – volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont, United Way of Iredell County, Council on Aging (Meals on Wheels). He is also a member of Rotary Club of Statesville.
*Some or all alternative investments may not be in the best interests for certain investors. Certain alternative investments carry significant risk and are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as mutual funds and other traditional investments. For these reasons, access to alternative investments may be limited to investors who are designated as sophisticated, high-net-worth investors.
*The Chief Investment Office (CIO) provides thought leadership on wealth management, investment strategy and global markets; portfolio management solutions; due diligence; and solutions oversight and data analytics. CIO viewpoints are developed for Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., (“Bank of America”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S” or “Merrill”), a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. This information should not be construed as investment advice and is subject to change. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be either a specific offer by Bank of America, Merrill or any affiliate to sell or provide, or a specific invitation for a consumer to apply for, any particular retail financial product or service that may be available.
*Institutional Investor magazine announced BofA Global Research as one of the Top Global Research Firms in 2022 based on surveys held throughout the year. The magazine creates rankings of the top research analysts in a wide variety of specializations, drawn from the choices of portfolio managers and other investment professionals at more than 1,000 firms. BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc (“BofAS”) and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Learn more about the methodology at Institutional Investor. Rankings and recognition from Institutional Investor are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement.
*NMLS ID 2268459
My mission, first and foremost, is to understand you and what matters most to you. To take the time to ask smart questions and listen carefully, then understand in detail, exactly where your finances stand today and where you'd like them to be tomorrow. I then help you design and bring to life a customized financial strategy that can help you and your family pursue personal financial goals while helping to manage strategic investment risk. My approach is about creating comprehensive strategies to that can help turn your goals into reality.
Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life
The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.
Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life
The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.
Helping you create a personalized plan
At Merrill, we go beyond the traditional role of an advisor.
- Your goals, concerns and attitude about investing are the foundation of your plan.
- We actively listen and provide personalized advice — ensuring we understand what matters most to you and your family.
- We're committed to creating a personalized plan that evolves with you to help you live well today while preparing for the future.
Giving you access to our teams and solutions
Your advisor is one part of an experienced team dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. Acting as your single point of contact, your advisor provides personalized strategies and connects you with:
- Bank of America specialists, such as mortgage or trust professionals
- Timely insights from BofA Global Research1 to help you stay informed and navigate ever-changing markets
- A full suite of Merrill investing and Bank of America banking solutions
1BofA Global Research is research produced by BofA Securities, Inc. ("BofAS") and/or one or more of its affiliates. BofAS is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC, and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp.").
