Meridian Financial Team
The Meridian Financial team combines expertise in financial planning, asset management, and risk management with a particular focus on serving the unique needs of individuals about to retire or in retirement, business owners, sports professionals, and multi-generational families. Our team works together, integrating each member’s unique gifts to serve our clients with excellence. We deliver timely service and consistent follow through, and we’re available whenever you need guidance or support.
Bob Rauf , CLU®, ChFC®
Private Wealth Advisor
Bob Rauf , CLU®, ChFC®
Private Wealth Advisor
Name: Bob Rauf
Licenses & Certifications: CLU, ChFC
Alma mater/degree(s): UNCC - Economics
Hometown & Current Location: Cary NC
Family: Married to Lisa. They have three kids, Brian, Megan and Sam.
Volunteer Info: V Foundation, Finance Council for Mother Teresa Catholic Church
Favorite Quote: "Confidence convinces, uncertainly undermines."
Favorite Book: On Purpose Business
Favorite Movie: Master of Disguise
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Golf, tennis, and read
Something on your bucket list: Play on the French Open and Australian Open courts so I will have played at all 4 tennis Grand Slam venues.
Name: Jason Garey
Certifications: CFP®, ChFC®
Alma mater/degree(s): University of Maryland B.S, Finance
Hometown/state: St. Amant, Louisiana
Current location: Raleigh, NC
Family: Married to Meghann. We have four kids: Wyatt, Gunnar, Saylor, and West.
Volunteer Info: Board Member of NCFC Youth Soccer Club
Favorite Book: Atlas Shrugged
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Fish
Something on your bucket list: Trip to Alaska to go fishing and hunting.
Fun Fact: Jason played professional soccer for seven years with the Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo and the Carolina Railhawks.
Name: Kelly Parker
Licenses & Certifications: CLU
Alma mater/degree(s): NCSU College of Management - Finance
Hometown/state: Four Oaks, NC
Current location: Sanford, NC
Family/Pet(s): Married to Sterling. They have one daughter, Peyton and a cat named Tucker and an English Springer Spaniel named Maggie.
Volunteer Info: Rotary
Favorite Quote: "The price of greatness is responsibility." -Winston Churchill
Best Piece of Life Advice You’ve Been Given: Stay humble and treat others even better than the way you want to be treated.
Favorite Book: Hard to narrow down…I really enjoy non-fiction, self help books. A few favorites are “Can’t Hurt Me”, “The Go Getter”, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There”, “Shoe Dog”, “Do Life Differently,” to name a few.
Favorite Movie: Tough to call too but if I’m watching with Sterling, her favorite chick flick that I can tolerate is Sweet Home Alabama.
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Hunt, spend time with family at Topsail, and hack at a golf ball.
Something on your bucket list: New Zealand for a few weeks with Sterling to explore, hang out and do some offshore fishing.
Name: Logan Beck
Licenses & Certifications: Series 6, 7 & 63, Life, Disability, Long-term Care
Alma mater/degree(s): B.S in Business from UNCW
Hometown/state: Southern Pines, NC
Current location: Pinehurst, NC
Family/Pet(s): Married to Ashleigh. They have one son named Mac and a dog named Lola.
Volunteer Info: Usher at Church
Favorite Quote: ”Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots, you get good breaks from bad shots -- but you have to play the ball where it lies.” -Bobby Jones
Best Piece of Life Advice You’ve Been Given: Work hard and good things will happen.
Favorite Book: I never really read a book twice, but one of my favorites we had to read in school growing up was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Favorite Movie: Forest Gump
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Golf
Something on your bucket list: Go see the Northern Lights & Play golf in Scotland.
Name: Ashton Gibson
Alma mater/degree(s): West Virginia University/ Multi-Disciplinary Studies (focuses in Sports and Exercise Psychology, Sports Communications, and Advertising) with a minor in communications.
Hometown: Morgantown, WV
Current location: Raleigh, NC
Family/Pet(s): A dog named Blaine
Favorite Quote: "Don't settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had." -Angela Bassett
Best Piece of Life Advice You’ve Been Given: Always do what is right, not what is easy.
Favorite Book: Final Girls by Riley Sager
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Attend NC State football games, Carolina Hurricanes games, going to country concerts, reading, and spending time with my family, friends, and dog.
Something on your bucket list: To see the Northern Lights
Fun Fact: I've lived in 6 different states.
Name: Caitlin Hunnicutt
Licenses & Certifications: NC Life and Health
Alma mater/degree(s): University of Alabama – Bachelors & Masters in Marketing
Hometown/state: Tuscaloosa, AL
Current location: Raleigh, NC
Family/Pet(s): Cats – Cooper & Simba
Volunteer Info: Gigi’s Playhouse - Raleigh
Favorite Quote: "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." -Mother Teresa
Best Piece of Life Advice You’ve Been Given: Only you can look out for you!
Favorite Book: The Hate U Give
Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption, Legally Blonde or Christmas Vacation
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Reading, going to the beach and hanging out with friends
Something on your bucket list: Swimming with dolphins in Bali, see the Northern Lights
Fun Fact: Caitlin spent 8 years working in college athletics marketing at Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State and NC State.
Name: John Keiper
Licenses & Certifications: Series 7 & Series 63
Alma mater/degree:
- William Peace University – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- MBA candidate at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Current location: Raleigh, NC
Family: Engaged to Val. John’s parents live in Cary, NC and sister lives in Greensboro with her husband and two children.
Favorite Quote: “The journey is the reward”
Favorite Book: Harry Potter series
Favorite Movie: The Big Short
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Traveling abroad. Spending time with my girlfriend Valerie, trying new restaurants around downtown Raleigh, playing basketball and soccer with friends.
Something on your bucket list: Sit courtside for a Chicago Bulls playoff/NBA finals game.
Name: Debbie Kenny
Licenses & Certifications: PHR®, Life, Health, Long-Term Care, FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE), Series 6, and Series 63
Current location: Fuquay-Varina, NC
Family: Married to Bob Kenny.
Volunteer Info: Camp Agape (Christian camp for kids) we normally repair trails off and on and join them for their Spring clean day.
Favorite Quote: “It is amazing what you can accomplish when it does not matter who gets credit” –Vince Gill
Best Piece of Life Advice You’ve Been Given: My mom used to tell me if you don’t have anything nice to say about someone don’t say anything at all. – The life advice came by watching my parents live by example.
Favorite Author: Elin Hilderbrand.
Favorite Movie: Too many to mention. I love movies that inspire. Recently I have enjoyed Instant Family and Crazy Rich Asians.
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Pretty much anything outside/active. I love water sports, boating, working out so I can eat what I want, baking cookies, cakes, and pies. I love to spend time with family and friends any chance I get.
Something on your bucket list: I would like to go to Australia someday.
Name: Liz Merritt
Licenses & Certifications: Life/Health and Long-Term Care licenses
Alma mater/degree(s): James Madison University – Bachelors of Science
Hometown/state: Danville, VA
Current location: Raleigh, NC
Family/Pet(s): Married to Jeff. They have two sons, Christopher and Cameron, a cat named Richard Parker (RP), and a granddog named Marley.
Volunteer Info: in non-COVID times – Wee Care Children’s Enrichment Program
Favorite Quote: “Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you most want to strip your gears.” George Carter Jr (my dad)
Best Piece of Life Advice You’ve Been Given: You never know what someone is going through and sometimes the people with the biggest smiles are struggling the most, so be kind. Always.
Favorite Book: anything by Mary Kay Andrews
Favorite Movie: The Blind Side, Raising Arizona, Father of the Bride, Dirty Dancing (not too sophisticated, I know!)
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Spend time with friends & family, go to the beach, brewery hop, go to Hurricanes games.
Something on your bucket list: Travel more internationally, see the Northern Lights, play with baby elephants, learn how to paint.
You might work with Griffith on:
- Insurance related service work
Licenses & Certifications: P&C License
Alma mater/degree(s): NCSU Agricultural Business Management with a concentration in Biological Sciences
Hometown/state: Charlotte. NC
Current location: Raleigh, NC
Family/Pet(s): Husband (Brandon) 2 Dogs (Fergus and Sam) and 2 parrots (Carsen and Nacho)
Favorite Quote: It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life. -Jean Luc Picard
Best Piece of Life Advice You’ve Been Given: Everyone is going to make mistakes. What matters is if you learn from it. -Bob Murphy (My grandfather)
Favorite Book: The Book Thief
Favorite Movie: Princess Bride
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Playing board games with friends and family
Something on your bucket list: Visit Ireland
Fun Fact: I did competitive ballroom dancing in College and helped run NCSU’s ballroom dance club.
Becca Nobles , CLF®, MBA
Associate Private Wealth Advisor
Name: Becca Nobles
Licenses & Certifications:
- Life and Accident & Health Insurance License
- Long Term Care Insurance License
- FINRA SIE, Series 7, Series 63 Licensed
- Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF)
- Northwestern Mutual Certified Business Coach
Alma mater/degree(s):
- Master of Business Administration – Louisiana State University Shreveport (MBA)
- Bachelor of Business Administration-Management – University of Wisconsin River Falls
Hometown/state: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Current location: Apex, NC
Family/Pet(s): Married to Brian. They have one son named Eli and a cat named Rio.
Favorite Quote: “The hard days are the best, because that is where champions are made.” -Gabby Douglas
Best Piece of Life Advice You’ve Been Given: “Take everyone’s opinions about what you should do with your life, in your relationships, and what has worked for them with a grain of salt…because it might not work for you.” -Dad
Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Travel, baking, dancing
Bucket list item: Travel to Australia, Germany, Singapore, and more…. Becca and her husband love traveling!
Name: Emily Paolone
Licenses & Certifications: FINRA Series 7, 24, & 63
Alma mater/degree(s): University of Wisconsin – Parkside, BA Economics
Hometown/state: Racine, Wisconsin
Current location: Racine, Wisconsin
Family/Pet(s): Husband Joe and dogs George and Brandy
Favorite Quote: “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” Theodore Roosevelt
Favorite Book: No Reservations by Anthony Bourdain
Favorite Movie: The Big Lebowski
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Traveling, gardening and indoor plants, cooking and baking
Something on your bucket list: Train trip to Alaska, visit all US National Parks
Name: Brian Rauf
Licenses & Certifications: NC Life & Health, Series 7, Series 63
Alma mater: University of South Carolina – Bachelor’s in Broadcast Journalism
Hometown: Cary, NC
Current location: Knightdale, NC
Family/Pet(s): Married to Kamie. Together they have a daughter named Blakely, a son named Bennett, and a dog named Coco.
Volunteer Info: None recently, but have previously with The V Foundation.
Favorite Quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Best Piece of Life Advice You’ve Been Given: Everything in life is simply a matter of how badly you want to do it. If you want to badly enough, you’ll find a way.
Favorite Book: When March Went Mad (Story of the 1979 NCAA Championship Game)
Favorite Movie: The Hangover
Favorite thing to do outside of the office: Watch/write about basketball
Something on your bucket list: Attend the Final Four. I was supposed to in 2020 before the NCAA Tournament was cancelled.
Name: Katie Schrull
Licenses & Certifications: SIE, Series 7 & 66, Life, Health
Alma Mater / Degree(s): Peace College / Business Administration
Hometown / State: Sanford, NC
Current Location: Southern Pines, NC
Family / Pet(s): Very close to my family. My parents and grandparents live in Sanford, NC. One younger sister that lives with her husband in Charlotte, NC. I have one dog (so far) named Shepherd. He's a little Chihuaua that I adopted a few years ago.
Volunteer Info: Do not currently volunteer, but would like to get involved in helping the homeless and pet shelters.
Favorite Quote: "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." - Babe Ruth
Best Piece of Life Advice You've Been Given: "You can do anything you set your mind to if you believe in yourself." - My Dad
Favorite Book: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt
Favorite Movie: Sweet Home Alabama
Favorite Thing to Do Outside of the Office: Being with family, friends, and my boyfriend, Wilson. Being at the beach and boating, traveling to new places, and trying new restaurants. Listening to live music, getting outdoors, and exercising.
Something On Your Bucket List: Going to Europe, but visiting Germany most importantly.
Fun Fact: My grandparents own a hamburger and ice cream restaurant in Sanford, NC. One of the ice cream flavors is named after me - Katie's Chocolate Malt.
