About

Who are My Clients?

Waite Financial clients are affluent individuals and families who desire a holistic approach to their wealth management and legacy planning.

Oftentimes they are in significant transition and require strategic help, for example, with:

the timing of retirement
responsible management of an inheritance aligned with their values
dealing with the complexities around the death of a spouse
complex tax or estate planning issues
sale of closely held business
the timing and exercise of stock options and deferred compensation payouts

Sometimes they are “suddenly wealthy” as a result of a significant liquidity event such as a legal settlement or an increased value in stock position.

Many are women who seek safe environments where they are not pressured into making hasty planning and investing decisions.

These situations may present more challenges and require an understanding of personal values and family dynamics and aspirations in order to create an ongoing process for addressing the opportunities and risks that accompany them.

Patrick Bobbins, CIMA®

Trading and Portfolio Manager

"Carroll Financial understands that it takes more than just navigating the financial markets to have a successful relationship with a client. Sure we can invest in the markets – but we also invest in our relationship with the client." - Patrick Bobbins

Patrick is our Trading and Portfolio Manager. His responsibilities include monitoring and managing investments in client accounts, equity and mutual fund trading, and researching new investment ideas. This is one of the few career fields where helping clients means researching and understanding world events and investment trends. “It is awesome to think that I can help someone achieve a retirement goal by researching credit spreads, emerging market valuations, and behavioral trends in the broad market, just to name a few.” Patrick enjoys talking with our clients about their investment portfolios and understanding what level of risk is necessary to achieve their goal.

Patrick joined Carroll Financial Associates in November of 2006, where he has worked on Larry Carroll’s team as well as in the trading and managed accounts department. He currently holds the Series 7 and 66 securities registrations.

Education and the mentality of being a lifelong learner is important to Patrick. In 2009, he graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor Degree in Finance and minor in Economics. Patrick completed his master’s degree from Wake Forest University, graduating in 2014 with an MBA. He has also completed the CIMA® designation and is working to complete the CFA®, he is currently a Level III Candidate. He has also taken his passion for education back to the classroom where, as an adjunct professor, Patrick teaches a Financial Management class at UNC Charlotte.

A Charlotte native, Patrick and his wife Megan live off of Providence Road in Charlotte, and enjoy spending time with their two dogs, Mia and Griffin.

Cindy Piacentino, CFP®, CCFS™

"My favorite part of work is seeing clients’ goals for their financial future come to life. I believe learning the “why” of their goals is just as important as the “what” and understanding that helps us figure out the best way to get there." -Cindy Piacentino

Cindy works closely with her clients to create financial plans for their goals before and during retirement. She focuses on helping her clients define and realize their goals in all stages of their lives. She is able to assist with all aspects of financial planning including wealth accumulation, retirement income and education planning. Cindy also has experience in portfolio management and trading from her work in our managed accounts department.

Cindy joined Carroll Financial Associates in 2011 and is a financial advisor on Larry and Kris Carroll’s Team. She graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Tech with a major in finance and a minor in International Business. She also earned a Commonwealth Scholar degree from the University Honors program. Cindy has since earned the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP^®) and Certified College Planning Specialist (CCPS™) certifications.

Cindy lives in Charlotte with her husband Adam and their Golden Retriever Dawkins. She and Dawkins are a certified Therapy Dog International^® team and volunteer at various facilities throughout the Charlotte area. Cindy and Adam are active members of St. Gabriel Church and enjoy traveling, hiking and cheering on the VT Hokies.

Gina Fox, Registered Financial Assistant

Gina Fox serves as right hand administrative assistant to Katherine. She handles all of the day today affairs of our business, including speaking directly with our clients and processing administrative details and questions. Most people who meet her note her calm spirit and helpful attitude.

Gina is trusted greatly and has the requisite technical and people skills to assist with the protectorate-building process. Gina’s proactive “out in front of the process” work ethic supports the Waite concept of client focus first. She is a well-organized and intelligent manager of the critical duties necessary for supporting the distinctive value we believe we provide our clients.

She is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in Chemistry. Prior to coming to Waite Financial and since 1997, Gina has worked in the financial services industry and has maintained her Series 7 license since 2001.

Larry W. Carroll, CFP®

President, Chief Wealth Strategist
Carroll Financial Associates

Larry W. Carroll, CFP®

President, Chief Wealth Strategist
Carroll Financial Associates

Larry Carroll established Carroll Financial Associates in 1980 with a simple approach to financial planning: “The best interest of the client is the only interest that matters.” Larry is the President and CEO of the firm which currently manages or supervises over $1.9 billion dollars in advisory and brokerage assets and employs 14 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® practitioners. Over the years Carroll Financial has grown into a large independent financial planning and investment management firm, but that core philosophy has never changed. Our focus is the same today as it was in 1980; we are committed to our clients’ best interests.

Larry’s devotion to his clients has earned him national recognition in the financial planning industry. Some of Larry’s many accomplishments include:

Worth magazine’s listing of “The Nation’s Most Exclusive Wealth Managers” twelve times.
All of Barron’s annual lists of “The Top Financial Advisors”
Past National Chairman of the 24,000 member Financial Planning Association (FPA)

Larry has been quoted in Money, Newsweek, The New York Times, Medical Economics, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, US News and World Report, American Banker and other financial publications. He has also appeared on CNBC Street Signs and the NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw.

Larry provides investment management and retirement income planning for a select group of retirees and pre-retirees throughout the Carolinas. He believes that managing money for retirees is more about controlling risk than about maximizing returns. For most of his clients the primary goal is making sure that they can receive an income from their assets for the rest of their lives.

“I think our clients find comfort in the fact that while they will only retire once, we’ve been through the process many times.”

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About

Patrick Bobbins, CIMA®

Trading and Portfolio Manager

Cindy Piacentino, CFP®, CCFS™

Gina Fox, Registered Financial Assistant

Larry W. Carroll, CFP®

President, Chief Wealth Strategist Carroll Financial Associates

Larry W. Carroll, CFP®

President, Chief Wealth Strategist Carroll Financial Associates

A Gift for you...

President, Chief Wealth Strategist
Carroll Financial Associates

President, Chief Wealth Strategist
Carroll Financial Associates