Sam began his investment industry career in 1999 and joined Stifel in 2022. His passion lies in digging deep to truly understand his clients’ most important needs and priorities, as well as developing comprehensive and creative wealth management strategies to address them. Along with the associates in the home office, he is involved in every aspect of wealth planning for our clients, from education, retirement, tax, estate, and legacy planning strategies to business succession and exit strategies. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor® certifications, as well as the Certified Exit Planning Advisor® designation. Sam was named to AdvisorHub’s Advisors to Watch List in 2026.

Prior to joining Stifel, Sam worked as a Senior Portfolio Manager in the UBS Portfolio Management Program, where he focused on asset allocation, customized portfolio construction, and tax-aware active portfolio management. He spent the first chapter of his career in banking, helping entrepreneurs finance and grow their businesses. Sam was involved in two community bank start-ups before starting up a private banking group in Wilmington for a large Southeastern bank. His private banking experience paved the way for his career in wealth management, which began in 2000.

Outside the office, Sam mentors business students at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) as a member of the Cameron Executive Network. He serves on the board of Seapath Yacht Club, as well as his family’s nonprofit, One Way Out.

Sam was born and raised in Henderson, North Carolina. UNCW brought him to Wilmington, where he met his wife, Christine. After a short stint following graduation, he and Christine moved back to Wilmington in 1989 and have lived in the area since. Sam and Christine have two grown children. Their son, Dylan, is the Director of Data and Machine Learning at Lumos in Wilmington and their daughter, Marley, is a Senior Research Associate at Academy Health in Nashville, Tennessee. Sam and Christine now live near Wrightsville Beach with their two rescue dogs, Tripp and Sunny. In his free time, you can find Sam enjoying the outdoors around Wrightsville Beach, walking the dogs, boating, paddle boarding, biking, running, and playing pickle ball.

AdvisorHub’s Advisors to Watch rankings are based on the 12-month period ending December 31 of the year prior to publication and selected from a pool of nominations as indicated in the methodology. The rankings may not be representative of any one client’s experience and are not indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance. For more information, see Stifel.info/award-disclosures.

Todd brings nearly 30 years of investment industry experience, having launched his career in 1997. Prior to joining Stifel in 2022, he spent nearly 25 years at UBS Financial Services, where he built a reputation for thoughtful guidance and long-term client relationships. Todd holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® certification and specializes in working with large family businesses, complex estates, and corporate and medical professionals.

Known for his ability to understand the unique financial challenges his clients face, Todd takes pride in helping them navigate uncertainty and pursue long-term goals with clarity and confidence. His approach is rooted in trust, transparency, and a genuine passion for solving complex financial puzzles.

Todd grew up in Aberdeen, North Carolina, before moving to Wilmington in 1993 and graduating from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He and his wife, Mary, have been married for more than 27 years and are active members of the Landfall community. They have two sons, Daniel, a graduate of UNC Wilmington, currently lives in Austin, Texas, and works for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and David, attends UNC Chapel Hill and recently studied at the London School of Economics.

Outside the office, Todd embraces the “Salt Life” – boating, golfing, playing pickleball, and spending time with friends. He was the founding force behind Hampstead Kiwanis Park, where he served as president for a decade. Todd’s dedication to community service earned him the North Carolina Outstanding Service Medallion, awarded by Governor Mike Easley.

A few fun facts: Todd was a competitive road cyclist in the 1980s and early 1990s, training up to 500 miles a week and racing across the East Coast. After a career-ending accident in 1991, he shifted gears and discovered a passion for finance. In 1995, he interned at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where he immersed himself in futures, commodities, and the open outcry system, all while enjoying the vibrant energy of Chicago.

Chad joined Stifel in 2026 as a member of the Catlett/Godin Wealth Management Group. Prior to returning to North Carolina, he spent eight years with MidCap Financial in New York City, most recently serving as a Vice President. In that role, Chad focused on portfolio management and comprehensive due diligence for middle-market companies across a variety of industries. He brings this analytical experience to his work with clients, helping develop holistic wealth planning and thoughtful investment strategies.

A native of Salisbury, North Carolina, Chad earned dual degrees in History and Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was also a member of the varsity tennis team.

Outside the office, Chad remains engaged with his alma mater as a member of the UNC Young Alumni Leadership Council. He is also involved with iMentor, a nonprofit organization that supports first-generation college students.

Chad and his wife, Charlotte, met while attending UNC before spending their early careers together in New York. Charlotte works in client development in the advertising industry. The couple recently put down roots in Wilmington's Lucia Point neighborhood and are thrilled to be expecting their first child in August.

Always looking to stay active, Chad enjoys playing golf, tennis, basketball, biking, pickleball, and walking with Charlotte. Fully embracing the coastal lifestyle, he is also excited to spend more time on the water swimming, paddleboarding, and surfing.

Sydney began her financial industry career in 2016 and joined Stifel in 2023. Prior to joining Stifel, she began her career at Northwestern Mutual in 2016 after her internship in college. Sydney joined the office in Los Angeles, where she supported a variety of financial advisors and their clients prior to her return to Wilmington in 2021. She worked for a Wilmington-based logistics company before joining Stifel. Sydney is passionate about helping others and expanding her business acumen, while providing the utmost care and service to clients. 

Sydney earned a B.S. in Management from the University of North Carolina Asheville.

Sydney is a Wilmington native and graduated from John T. Hoggard High School. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being active outdoors, and seeing live music any chance she gets.