West Division Biographies
Jim Whatley, Jr., CLU
Financial Advisor, RJFS
jim.whatley@raymondjames.com
Jim Whatley is a Financial Advisor with the Wilson Bank Investment Center. Jim serves the entire Mount Juliet area, which includes the Gladeville, Providence, Highway 109, and Highway 70 offices, as well as the main Mount Juliet office. He specializes in helping individuals and families accumulate and preserve wealth in their personal and business lives.
A native of Pensacola, Florida, Jim attended the University of North Alabama where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing, business administration, and music. Prior to joining Raymond James Financial Services in 1999, he was an estate planning specialist at First American Bank for four years and an advisor with Prudential Securities for the previous eight years working in the Nashville and Wilson County area.
Ann Guarneri
Financial Assitant, RJFS
ann.guarneri@raymondjames.com
Ann Guarneri is a Financial Assistant with the Wilson Bank Investment Center. Her primary focus is supporting customers with all of their service needs. This includes coordinating Jim and Heidi’s calendar, organizing daily work flow, and general administration of the office.
Ann graduated in 1990 from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Ann held various positions in the Investment Division at First American Bank from 1990 to 1997. She received her Series 7 license in 1994 and served as Financial Advisor at Wilson Bank and Trust prior to Jim’s arrival in 1999. At that time, Ann made the decision to leave the workforce to raise her family in Old Hickory, TN. She did, however, remain a client during that time and re-joined the staff in 2008 in her current role.
Ann has been an active member of St. Stephen Catholic Community since 1983. She is a volunteer at the Wilson County Animal Shelter and serves wherever she can in the community.
Central Division Biographies
Larry Squires, CFP®
Branch Manager, RJFS
larry.squires@raymondjames.com
Larry Squires, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional, has more than twenty years experience in the financial services industry. Having worked for Wilson Bank and Trust since 1989, he started the Investment Services division in 1993.
Larry is dedicated to using the financial planning process to serve the financial needs of individuals, families and business. This includes identifying goals and formulating plans for the various stages of life, advising clients on managing their affairs to realize those goals, and monitoring the plans to make adjustments as life changes occur. Larry has helped many of his clients develop plans in the areas of investment planning, retirement planning, education funding and estate planning. He has also helped business owners find retirement plan solutions for themselves and their employees.
Larry is a graduate of Tennessee Technological University. He is a past-president of the Exchange Club of Lebanon, and has served on the advisory boards of several non-profit organizations. He regularly speaks to organizations on investment and financial planning topics.
Mike Flanagan, CFP®
Certified Public Accountant*
mike.flanagan@raymondjames.com
Mike Flanagan's career history includes more than 37 years of providing professional accounting services. He moved his public accounting practice to Lebanon, Tennessee in 1979 and developed a substantial accounting and tax practice there prior to merging with KraftCPAs in 1997. At that time, Mike became the member in charge of KraftCPAs Lebanon office. He retired from KraftCPAs and became a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services located at Wilson Bank & Trust in 2003.
Mike has considerable experience in tax research and planning and has handled many IRS audits and inquiries. In addition to tax, accounting and audit experience, Mike has assisted a number of small business owners and individuals with significant net worth in developing comprehensive financial and estate plans. He has worked with several religious and educational organizations in establishing major planned charitable giving programs.
Mike graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in accounting and was licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy as a Certified Public Accountant in 1976. He received his designation as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) professional from the International Board of Standards and Practices for Certified Financial Planners in 1991 after passing an exam covering five segments of personal financial planning: insurance/risk management, investment, tax, retirement and estates. Mike received his Series 7, Series 66, life and health licenses in 2003. He continues to receive at least 40 hours of continuing professional education in accounting, financial planning and taxation each year.
Mike has been active in the following civic and professional organizations;
- Co-founder & past president, Exchange Club of Lebanon,
- Past vice chairman, board of directors, Friendship Christian School,
- Past treasurer, board of directors, Hearthside at Castle Heights Retirement Center,
- Past board member, Humana McFarland Hospital,
- Past member, Wilson Bank & Trust Advisory Board (two terms),
- Past member, Wilson County Vision 2000 Committee,
- Past board member, International Association of Financial Planners for Middle Tennessee,
- Member, Personal Financial Planning committee, Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants,
- Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants,
- Board member, Financial Planning Association of Middle Tennessee,
- Member, Estate Planning Council of Nashville and
- Member, noon Rotary Club of Lebanon, Tennessee
- President, board of directors, Rotary Club of Lebanon Foundation, Inc.
Mike is regularly invited to speak to various business, church and civic groups. His talks cover matters related to winning institutional investment strategies, tax-wise charitable giving, how to grow businesses while improving the quality of life, and comprehensive planning for income, estate and gift taxes.
* CPA service is not a services of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
David Walden, CFP®
Financial Advisor, RJFS
david.walden@raymondjames.com
David Walden is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional with Raymond James Financial Services Inc, and Wilson Bank & Trust. David has been with Wilson Bank Investment Services since February 2000. Prior to his service with Raymond James, he attended Western Kentucky University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in finance and an emphasis in personal financial planning.
David works with his clients to develop long-term goals and then put together strategies to help meet those goals. David uses many different tools and resources to explain different financial concepts to help the customer understand what the risks and rewards of the different options available in investments and other financial planning topics.
His focuses include:
- Retirement Planning
- Asset Management
- Education Funding
- Asset Allocation
- Retirement Plans for Businesses (including 401k)
Investment Solutions include:
- Mutual Funds
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Annuities
- Managed Accounts
- Insurance
David is also very involved in the community. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Middle Tennessee, Junior Achievement, Big Brothers, Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Chamber of Commerce Sports Council, and Board of Directors with the Chamber of Commerce.
David's goals:
I truly believe in the value of an advisor and the value of objective advice. I enjoy the education process of informing people of their alternatives and helping them decide which one is best for their situation. Investing and financial planning has some of the most conflicting information in the news today and I believe that a true advisor has never become more valuable. I sincerely want to see my customers succeed and I want to develop a relationship that will span much more than just a retirement account but will extend in giving them the confidence and understanding of where they are and where they want to go.
Karen Martin
Registered Operations Manager, RJFS
karen.martin@raymondjames.com
Karen Martin is one of the Operations Managers for Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. She services all the branches of the Investment Services within Wilson Bank and Trust. She has a Series 7 and a Series 24 license. She came to Wilson Bank and Trust in 1998 and prior to that, Karen managed another banking institution’s IRA department and was on a traveling team that helped purchased banks ease into new bank situations. All together, she has 28 years of financial experience.
Her main focus is to assist the clients with their needs and the other members of the investment team. Karen is active in Fairview Church where she has served on the Women’s Ministry team, participated with Marriage and Women’s enrichment retreats. She is also involved with various other activities in the community.
Beth Williams
Administrative Assistant
beth.williams@raymondjames.com
Heather Harville
Registered Financial Assistant, RJFS
heather.harville@raymondjames.com
Heather Harville is a registered financial assistant with Raymond James Financial Services located at Wilson Bank & Trust. Her primary focus is assisting Larry, Mike, and David, handling client communications and services, mass mailings, case analysis, web updates, and preparing informational seminars.
Heather graduated in 2000 from Cumberland University with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting. She immediately pursued a Masters in Business Administration at Cumberland University and graduated in 2002. Heather is currently active in The Bert Coble Singers. She has also started an environmentally-friendly group at Wilson Bank & Trust which focuses on improving the community and environment. She is involved with fundraising for Relay for Life and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
Heather has been employed with Wilson Bank & Trust since 2003. Prior to joining the investment team she was a customer service representative at the Baddour Parkway office. She has been with the investment team for 3 years and holds her Series 7 and Series 63 licenses.
East Division Biographies
Stephen Russell
Financial Advisor, RJFS
stephen.russell@raymondjames.com
Stephen graduated from Union University in Jackson, TN with a degree in Finance and Economics. Stephen holds several securities licenses including series 7, series 63, series 65, and life insurance license. Stephen's goal as an advisor is to fully educated clients on investments so they are comfortable with the risk and rewards of investing. He is committed to making himself available to his clients. Since the group is located in the bank, clients find that it is convenient for them to come in and have a face to face visit. His direct line at the bank is 615-735-9109 in Carthage and 615-597-1978 in Smithville.
Stephen has been active in the following civic and professional organizations:
- Past president of the Smith County Chamber of Commerce
- Past president and current member of the Carthage Rotary Club
- Past Board member of the Smith County Heritage Museum
- Smith County Leadership Class of 2002
- Member of Carthage First Baptist Church
- Finance Committee of New Salem Association
- Assistant baseball coach at Smith County High School
Investment Services Offered:
- Stocks
- Mutual Funds
- Bonds
- Annuities
- Insurance
- Managed Accounts
- IRA's
- Research
Evelyn Lawson
Registered Financial Assistant, RJFS
evelyn.lawson@raymondjames.com
Evelyn is a lifetime resident of Smith County where she graduated from Gordonsville High School. She is married to Tommy and they have 2 children Jeffrey S Lawson and Candice Lawson . Evelyn is a very active member of Mt Calvary Pentecostal Church and Smith County Relay for Life and has also filed income tax returns since 1989.
Evelyn has worked in the Financial Service Industry since 1999. She has her series 7 and 63 license. She is responsible for assisting Stephen Russell with client services, including processing any necessary paperwork , follow-up on transfers, assisting with account inquires, setting up new account, assisting customers with statement questions and place trades as instructed.
Southern Region Biographies
Dr. John Lee
Financial Advisor, RJFS
john.lee@raymondjames.com
Dr. John Lee is a Financial Advisor with Raymond James Financial Services located at Wilson Bank and Trust in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is a registered securities representative (series 7 and 63 license) and holds a life and health insurance (Tenn.) license. A Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Lee is Past-President and a current board member of the Middle Tennessee Chapter, Financial Planning Association (FPA) and a Past-President of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the International Association for Financial Planning (IAFP).
Dr. Lee is excited to have the opportunity to put his broad experience in finance and investments to work helping clients achieve their financial goals. Raymond Trust equips its advisors with a diverse menu of solutions, planning tools, and products to address client needs. Dr. Lee’s approach is to add value through the process of financial plan development, with appropriate implementation strategies, designed to meet specific client objectives while maintaining an acceptable balance between risk and return. History yields many lessons that are sometimes forgotten when we are subjected to the emotions of greed or fear. Maintaining a consistent, focused investment approach and managing calculated risk wins out over time. A real financial planner is not a product sales person, but rather coach and facilitator. This requires up-to-date knowledge of financial products as well as understanding the economic and financial landscape. It also requires a practice approach that builds relationships based on trust, confidentiality, and responsiveness. Dr. Lee is committed to earning your business by providing real solutions while operating in an ethical and professional manner.
Dr. Lee, Professor Emeritus, retired from Middle Tennessee State University after seventeen years as Department Chair and Professor of Economics and Finance. He joined MTSU as the first Chairholder of the Weatherford Chair of Finance, from 1984 until 1991, and served as Department Chair from 1991 through June 2008. Prior to MTSU, he was on the faculty at Tennessee Tech. He received the Ayers Fellowship to attend the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and has taught at the Graduate School of Banking of the South (LSU) and the Tennessee School of Banking (Vanderbilt). Lee holds the Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Georgia, the M.S. (Finance) from the University of Tennessee, and the B.S. (Economics) from Tennessee Tech.
Dr. Lee has been published in several academic and applied journals and has made over 150 presentations to various academic and professional associations. He is a two-time recipient of the student-elected Professor of the Year Award in the Jones College of Business. Dr. Lee is a past president of the Academy of Economics and Finance and was elected in 2008 as a Fellow of the Academy. He is the recipient of the Distinguished President Award from Civitan International. Lee is a member of four honorary fraternities – Beta Gamma Sigma (past president of TTU and MTSU chapters), Omicron Delta Epsilon, Sigma Iota Epsilon, and Tau Sigma, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi professional and Phi Delta Theta social fraternities.