Paul Elam, WMS, AIF^®

Principal

Paul Elam specializes in investing using the institutional/endowment model and works with nonprofit institutions and high-net-worth individuals.

Paul has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary and Wealth Management Specialist designations. He is a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Raleigh and serves on the Raleigh Charter High School Foundation Board. His hobbies include golf and woodworking. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children and live in Raleigh.

Chris Harrell, CFA, AIF^®

^Principal

With over 39 years of experience, Chris has worked in the areas of equity research, portfolio analysis and institutional consulting. He assists clients in all aspects of financial planning and investment management.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina in 1982, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science, then began his career as a trader and analyst with a regional investment firm. Chris later joined Morgan Keegan in 1994 and then Raymond James and Associates in 2012. He served on the building committee for the Wake County Boys and Girls Club Teen Center opened in 2014, is a past member of the Alexander YMCA Advisory Board and past Chairman of the Staff Parish Committee at Hayes Barton UMC in Raleigh. A member of the CFA Institute, Chris earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1998 and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation in 2010. Outside of work, he enjoys music, golf, tennis and the beach. Chris and his wife, Beth, live in Raleigh, NC.

William Hesmer, CFP^®, AIF^®

^Principal

As a retired professional athlete, William is a driven, detail-oriented team player who firmly believes in providing proactive, customized and unbiased advice for his clients. To help alleviate his clients’ financial concerns and navigate them toward financial independence, William taps his lifelong experience of problem solving under pressure.

During a nearly decade-long Major League Soccer career as a goalkeeper, William took a keen interest in the stock market and personal financial planning. After two years of business school classes and interning at a registered investment advisory firm – all while playing Major League Soccer – William joined Raymond James in 2013, specializing in building customized financial plans and investment portfolios for each client rather than selling financial products or offering off-the-shelf strategies.

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, professional, William engages in difficult conversations in order to help drive positive results for his clients. He brings energy, enthusiasm and long-term commitment to every client relationship. William previously served as a wealth management associate with Budros, Ruhlin & Roe.

Originally from Wilson, North Carolina, William has a bachelor’s degree in history from Wake Forest University, where he was an NCAA All-American in men’s soccer as well as an academic All-American. He was also recognized as the Wake Forest University and Atlantic Coast Conference Student Athlete of the Year (2003-2004). In 2008, he was a Major League Soccer Cup Champion and a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team, and in 2010, he was named the Wilson Daily Times Athlete of the Decade. In 2014, William was inducted into the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame.  In 2020, William was voted into the Wake Forest University Sports Hall of Fame.

William has been and remains involved with a number of organizations and charitable endeavors, including the Major League Soccer Players Association Executive Board, the Columbus Crew Foundation Board, the Wake Forest University Young Alumni Development Board, the Wilson Youth Soccer Association Board, the Brittany Soccer Showcase Board, the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advisory Committee and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Sports Council Steering Committee.

William lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife, Tacey, their three children, Hunter, Anderson and William III and lab Maggie Mae. When he is away from work, he enjoys golfing, fishing and going to the beach.

Brian Carroll, CFP^®, CEPA^®

^{Financial Planner}

A Certified Financial Planner™ professional, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, and Certified College Financial Consultant®, Brian is a driven, detail-oriented team player who firmly believes in proactive, customized, and unbiased advice for his clients. To help alleviate his clients’ financial worry and navigate them towards financial freedom, Brian taps his lifelong experience of problem solving under pressure.

During a fifteen-year Major League Soccer career as a midfielder, Brian took a keen interest in the stock market and personal financial planning. After two years of business school classes and interning at a private equity firm – all while playing Major League Soccer – Brian joined Raymond James in 2017, specializing in building customized financial plans and investment portfolios for each client rather than selling financial products or offering off-the-shelf solutions.

Originally from Springfield, Virginia, Brian studied political science at Wake Forest University. While playing professional soccer, he earned a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics from George Mason University, attended the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business Financial Planner Program, and graduated from the University of North Carolina Keenan-Flagler Business School Business Essentials Program.

At Wake Forest, Brian captained the nationally ranked Division I-A Men’s soccer team where he was a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist. During his 15-year professional career, while representing DC United, Columbus Crew S.C., and the Philadelphia Union, he earned two Major League Soccer Cup Championships and four consecutive Supporter’s Shields. In addition, he represented the United States Men’s National Soccer team eight times during his international soccer career. He also served as a Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) player representative to inform and educate fellow players of their duties and rights as MLSPA members.

 Brian lives in Carmel, Indiana, with his wife, Kathryn, and their three children, Aiden, Grace, and Noah. When he is away from the office, Brian enjoys golfing, volunteering, and reading.

Sterling Stilley

Client Service Associate

Sterling graduated from North Carolina State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Poole College of Management. While at N.C. State, Sterling earned the Dean’s List and was a member of the Business Ethic’s Society and the American Marketing Association. She is active in the community and has enjoyed volunteering for the Alzheimer’s Association and the Walk for Hope. Sterling is a Raleigh Native and graduated from Broughton High school. She is a member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church. Sterling became interested in the stock market when she was given a framed Disney Stock as a child from her father and has followed it along as she and the stock grew.  Sterling enjoys building customer relationships and learning about the financial industry. Her hobbies include playing tennis, going to Atlantic Beach, and cheering on the Wolfpack with her husband John and son JB.

Julie Lyons

Operations Manager

Julie is a highly efficient manager with more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. She supervises the Oak Harbor Wealth Partners team on marketing initiatives and business development while planning and updating company policies and procedures, billing and customer service activities. As an operations manager, Julie brings a wealth of experience to the team.  Before joining Oak Harbor, she served as a Senior Registered Client Service Associate with Raymond James & Co., Wheat First Securities and Interstate Johnson Lane.  A lifelong North Carolina resident, Julie holds a bachelor’s degree from NC State University and resides in Raleigh with her husband Marc, and daughters, Mary Mac and Elizabeth.  In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Kinston Whitener

Wealth Management Associate

Kinston comes to us as a recent graduate from NC State University with a bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He interned with us for a year before joining full-time, in January 2023, as a Wealth Management Associate.

At NCSU, Kinston was active in the Raleigh community volunteering at Habitat for Humanity of Wake County helping to construct houses and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina packing up produce and sorting food donations to be distributed to various organizations.

Kinston is originally from Advance, NC, where he was an active member of Hillsdale United Methodist Church and an athlete playing football, wrestling and running track. In his free time, Kinston enjoys playing golf, fishing, watching sports, traveling, and trying new foods.

Virginia Taylor

Client Service Associate

Virginia is a magna cum laude honors graduate of The University of Alabama with a bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration, earning the Dean’s and President’s List designations.  While there, she was active in her community and especially enjoyed her time volunteering with the Be the Match organization.  

She is excited to start her career in financial services.  She is passionate about building deep, personal relationships with clients and providing exceptional customer service with her excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. 

Originally from Raleigh, Virginia is a graduate of Broughton High School and member of Christ Church Episcopal.  In her free time, she enjoys traveling, spending time at the beach, cooking and especially cheering on the Crimson Tide!