Jim joined Exencial Wealth Advisors in 2020 when the firm merged with Willingdon Wealth Management where he was a Partner.  Jim has over 25 years of investment experience in which began in 1996 at Interstate/Johnson Lane.  In 1999, Jim started working for Portfolio Capital Management where he held multiple roles including, Partner, Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager, and Chief Compliance Officer.  In 2016, Portfolio Capital Management merged with Willingdon Wealth Management where he continued his roles as Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager.  Jim is also a veteran of the United States Navy. 

Jim is a graduate of Youngstown State University with a BSBA degree.  He has earned the professional designation of CERTIFIFED FINANCIAL PLANNER®. 

As a Senior Wealth Advisor, Jim enjoys helping clients identify and accomplish their financial goals and objectives.

Jim and his wife, Kristy, are active within their community primarily through their church.  Jim and Kristy have four children and five grandchildren.

Jamie Biddle is a Relationship Manager in the North Carolina office.  She has over 9 years of experience in the financial services industry, working at Fidelity Investments, TD Ameritrade and E*Trade. Most recently, she worked as a Senior Assistant Director of Student Financial Services at Fordham University. Jamie specializes in helping clients achieve their financial goals and she is devoted to providing high quality customer service with strong communication and interpersonal skills. Jamie graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. 

She lives in South Carolina.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.

Karen Boschert is a firm partner and wealth planning professional with over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Exencial Wealth Advisors in 2018, Karen worked for Fidelity Investments for over nine years as a Director, Retirement Planner, and Account Executive. She also worked with TD Ameritrade as a Private Client Investment Consultant. Karen obtained her Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation in 2016 and has extensive experience with holistic financial planning, working with families to identify and implement strategies that meet their unique needs and objectives. The financial planning process involves providing solutions that include investment guidance, retirement income strategies, and general wealth and legacy planning.

Prior to her career in finance, Karen graduated in 2003 from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH with her Bachelor of Arts. Giving back to the community is important to Karen. She has worked for a non-profit organization in Cincinnati, OH as a grant writer and fundraiser, and she also manages a scholarship fund in her family’s name for Elder High School in Cincinnati. Karen enjoys teaching reformer pilates, playing pickleball and reading in her free time.

Jason joined the financial services industry in 1999 serving individual, business, trust, and small endowment clients. During his tenure, he worked at Smith Barney, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Investment Professionals, Inc. Jason received an MBA in Business Finance from UNC-Charlotte Belk College of Business and a BSBA degree from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Jason enjoys helping clients identify and accomplish their financial goals and objectives. This involves pursuing long-term, trusted relationships with clients through building, diversifying, and monitoring client’s investment portfolios as well as conducting ongoing account review to measure progress.
As a family oriented husband and father, Jason and his wife, Erin, are parents to six children. The Brown’s are participating members in their church and have the privilege of serving in various ministries. Family time is often invested on the soccer pitch for family pick-up games and coaching opportunities with a local soccer club.

Gretchen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as Office Manager. She is dedicated to creating an efficient, organized, and positive working environment.

Gretchen's career began as an Office Manager for a surgical practice in Towson, Maryland. After 14 years at that practice, she relocated to North Carolina where she was a Surgical Administrative Assistant to one of the Top Neurosurgeons in the state. She joined Exencial Wealth Advisors in 2022 and has taken on the role of Team Lead for the Office Managers.

Michael joined Exencial Wealth Advisors in 2021 as a Senior Portfolio Manager for Fixed Income and brings over 20 years of experience in the investment management industry.  Previous to joining Exencial, Michael was the Southeast Tax-Exempt Fixed Income Team Lead for Columbia Threadneedle Investments.  Michael was also a Portfolio Manager for 14 years on the Tax-Exempt Fixed Income Team, managing individually tailored portfolios for high-net-worth clients.  Prior to his Portfolio Manager role, Michael was a tax-exempt credit analyst covering various sectors.  Michael began his professional career as a Mutual Fund Accountant at BISYS.

Michael received a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from The Ohio State University.  Michael holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA North Carolina Society.

Michael and his wife, Peggy, have two sons and a daughter.  The family is active in Scouts BSA (formerly Boy Scouts of America) and supports the Paula Takacs Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that raises awareness and funds for sarcoma cancer research and clinical trials.

Spencer has been a member of the Exencial Wealth Advisors Team since 2017. During her tenure with the firm, she has held multiple roles in client relationship management, advisor support, operations and trading. She currently serves as our Trading Team Manager.  

Spencer graduated with academic high honors from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management, concentration in Finance. Prior to her career at Exencial, Spencer worked in financial services, sales and member relations at multiple financial institutions. She also has extensive experience working in client service, project management, and healthcare administration. 

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Spencer is a faithful fan of the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. Currently residing with her husband in Charlotte, North Carolina, she enjoys hiking the nearby mountains, spending quality time with friends, volunteering and working with children. 

Randy joined Exencial in August of 2020 as a Senior Portfolio Manager for the Core and International Strategies.  Randy has an extensive background in global equites with over 20 years’ experience as an analyst and portfolio manager.  Randy also has experience in client service partnering with both institutional and retail relationship managers.

Before Exencial, Randy was a Portfolio Manager and Analyst for 16 years on the Global Small Cap Team for Putnam Investments.  Randy helped implement a structured investment process focusing on intrinsic value.  During his tenure at Putnam Randy also developed and managed an apprentice program to train and develop junior analysts.  Randy most recently comes from Westwood Global in Boston where he was a Senior Research Analyst focusing on an International Large Cap Strategy.

Randy has a Master of Science in Finance from Boston College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.  Randy is a CFA charterholder.

Randy enjoys playing basketball on the weekends and spending time with his wife, Tina and children Marco and Francesca.

Jeff joined Exencial Wealth Advisors as a Senior Portfolio Manager for Fixed Income and became the Director of Portfolio Management in 2022. He brings an extensive fixed income background and over 25 years of experience in the investment management industry.

Previous to joining Exencial, Jeff was a Portfolio Manager for 11 years on the Core Fixed Income Team for Columbia Threadneedle Investments, managing portfolios for high-net-worth and institutional clients. Prior to his fixed income role, Jeff was the Institutional Performance Measurement Manager for a predecessor organization of Columbia Threadneedle, where he was responsible for managing performance reporting and attribution analysis across all investment platforms. Jeff began his career as a Performance Measurement Service Manager at Infovisa, Inc.

Jeff received a B.S. in Business Administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he graduated with high distinction. Jeff holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA North Carolina Society.

Jeff and his wife, April, have two daughters and are active in their community primarily through their church and support of the Ada Jenkins Center, a not-for-profit organization helping those in poverty gain economic independence.

Brennon is a seasoned Senior Trader with over seven years of experience in the financial services industry. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UNC Charlotte’s Belk School of Business and an MBA in Finance from UNC-Wilmington’s Cameron School of Business. Brennon joined Exencial after gaining experience with Wells Fargo and Vanguard in Charlotte, NC. He brings strong attention to detail and a focus on client prosperity to our team. As a child, he thrived on understanding banking and finances, and with a savers mentality his goal is for every client to reach financial security and success.

Brennon’s passion for finance is matched only by his love for exploration. When not in the office, he can be found traveling to new destinations, exploring the oceans scuba diving, and hitting the links as an avid golfer.

Derrick is a wealth planning professional with 10+ years of experience in the financial services industry with a focus in financial planning and risk management for individuals and businesses. Prior to joining Exencial Wealth Advisors in 2020, Derrick worked for a regional retirement provider helping businesses and individuals reach their retirement goals.

Derrick graduated from the Southern Connecticut State University with a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Outside of the office, most of his time is spent raising his five children. 

Gabriel is an experienced trader for Exencial. His professional experience includes consulting, managing, brokerage and client services. Prior to Exencial, Gabriel’s most recent professional position held was a Senior Delivery Consultant at Oliver James, where his primary duties were market development, data analysis and relationship building. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in December 2017, majored in Management, minored in Advanced Entrepreneurship.  He currently lives in Uptown Charlotte, NC.  Gabriel grew up in Ecuador, speaks fluent Spanish and has been learning French. He enjoys outdoor activities - mountain biking, snowboarding, kayaking, riding motorcycles, wakeboarding and surfing. He loves to travel and has been to 35+ countries, only 160 left to go!

Nick joined Exencial in January of 2020 as an Investment Analyst for Core and International Strategies. Focusing on intrinsic valuation, he aids in the research and the decision-making process for equities. Before Exencial, Nick interned as an Equity Analyst at Willingdon Wealth Management operating under the guidance of senior portfolio managers.

Nick has an Environmental Economics degree from Colgate University where he graduated Cum Laude and played varsity lacrosse.

Today, Nick enjoys exercising and spending time with his brother, Matt.

Justin joined Exencial in June of 2022 as an Investment Analyst for the Core and International Strategies. Focusing on intrinsic valuation, he aids in the research and the decision-making process for equities. Before Exencial, he interned as a Financial Systems Analyst at Casella Waste Systems. Justin has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Vermont and is currently pursuing his CFA charter. In his free time, he enjoys running, skiing, and spending time with his family in Maine. 

Malli joined Exencial Wealth Advisors in April 2025 as a Relationship Manager supporting the North Carolina office. She brings a strong background in the financial industry and extensive experience in client service roles. Known for her client-first approach, Malli is dedicated to creating a seamless and supportive experience for both advisors and the individuals and families they serve. Her ability to anticipate client needs and provide thoughtful, responsive communication makes her a valuable member of the team. When she’s not working, Malli enjoys spending time outdoors and staying active.

Kaye is a wealth planning professional with over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before joining Exencial Wealth Advisors in 2017, she worked for TIAA-CREF’s Individual Advisory Services and at Ameriprise Financial as both a Registered Support Assistant and a Financial Advisor. Kaye has extensive experience with holistic financial planning and works with clients to identify and implement strategies that meet their unique needs and objectives. This financial planning process involves providing solutions that include investment guidance, retirement income strategies, and generational wealth and legacy planning.

Prior to her career in finance, Kaye graduated from Ithaca College in 2006 with a degree in Sport Management and a minor in Business Finance. She worked for the Baltimore Ravens immediately following graduation and also completed an internship with the United States Olympic Committee. Kaye is still a passionate sports fan, traveling regularly during the summer months to compete and coach the growing sport of beach volleyball.  She resides in Huntersville, NC with her husband, Verun and their son, Julian.

Pete joined Exencial Wealth Advisors in 2017 as a portfolio manager for the Enhanced Yield strategy. Prior to joining Willingdon, he was a research analyst for Horizon Investments where he focused on global equity research and supported the firm’s trading and performance reporting operations. Prior to Horizon Investments, Pete was a Market Risk analyst for Wells Fargo Securities. He began his career as an analyst for Liquid Credit Products at Bank of America.

Pete holds a BS in Finance and a BS in Economics from DePaul University where he graduated cum laude. He also holds an MBA from Duke University where he graduated in the top 10 percent of his class and was designated a Fuqua scholar. He is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of North Carolina.

Michael has a passion for helping individuals manage and grow their financial well-being. With over twenty-five years of financial industry experience, Michael provides his clients expert guidance, professionalism, responsiveness, and peace of mind. He specializes is in complex financial planning and retirement income strategies. Prior to joining Exencial, Michael was an Equity Trader for Goldman Sachs on the NYSE and a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments. Michael is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) and received his BA from New York University. He resides in Brooklyn, NY with his wife Evelyn.