The McLaughlin Group

Merrill Private Wealth Management
800 S. Gay Street
Suite 2200
Knoxville TN 37929
(865) 521.8805
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Mission Statement
We support successful families and business owners, addressing key decisions in their financial lives. We understand wealth and its complexities, collaborating with discretion and care to nurture multiple generations as families and business owners clarify their financial identities.
Welcome

Managing your wealth begins with a deep understanding of your full financial picture. Based on what matters most to you, we can help create a strategy as flexible as today's changing market conditions, and we can provide access to the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience and lending solutions of Bank of America. We will work to help you pursue your goals through personalized wealth management strategies.

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Recognition
Dugan McLaughlin
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
Barron's "America's Top 1200 Financial Advisors State-by-State", 2014-2019, 2022-2023
(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2019
(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)
Show more recognition
The McLaughlin Group
Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2025
(Published on January 9, 2025. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2024.)
Our Approach
Our Philosophy

We believe your unique goals should be at the center of all of your financial decisions and form the foundation of your financial strategy. Because significant wealth requires customized goals-based financial strategies, we believe in building lasting relationships with a limited number of clients, taking the time to understand your most important priorities for today, tomorrow and your long-term future. Our philosophy celebrates collaboration. Working with a team of specialists, we draw on the resources and insights of a global financial institution to create strategies that reflect your aspirations for yourself and current and future generations of your family. Finally, we believe that while significant wealth brings complex challenges, our experience, passion and perspectives can help you simplify your life.

Meet Our Team
Dugan McLaughlin
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
865.521.8805
Michael Mickey Johnson,

CEPA®, CFP®

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor
865.521.8813
Reid Mclaughlin
Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor
865.521.8801
Kimberly Jill Whitted
Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Associate
865.521.8815
Bryan J Kagarise,

AWMA™

Vice President, Private Wealth Investment Management Specialist
865.521.8846
Phebe Peake Starkey
Private Wealth Client Associate (FP)
865.521.8864
Frank Orrico
Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
865.521.8838
Michael Duckworth
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
412.338.5264
Jennifer Haggerty,

CEPA®

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
412.338.5266
Jonathan Adams,

CEPA®, CRPC™

Vice President, Senior Resident Director - Private Wealth Advisor
412.338.5274
Christopher Lattimore,

CFP®

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor
412.338.5267
Brad Chiesa,

CEPA®

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor
412.338.5276
Helen Sims Duerr,

CFP®

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor
412.338.5271
Audrey Tuckerman
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
614.225.3010
Jennifer N Wanchisn
Jennifer N Wanchisn,

ChSNC®, CFP®

Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Relationship Manager
412.338.5272
Ashley  Ek
Ashley Ek,

CFP®, CPWA®

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Relationship Manager
412.338.5279
Kristen Merrill Davis
Kristen Merrill Davis,

CIMA®

Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Investment Manager
412.338.5263
Justin  Lloyd
Justin Lloyd,

CFP®, CIMA®

Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Investment Manager
412.338.5269
Tracy C. Solan
Tracy C. Solan,

CRPC™

Officer, Private Wealth Management Specialist
412.338.5262
Jacquelyn  Connell
Jacquelyn Connell
Private Wealth Management Specialist
412.338.5284
Carlos A Youssef
Carlos A Youssef,

CFP®

Officer, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
412.338.5265
Jay Dillon Palamides
Jay Dillon Palamides
Officer, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
412.338.5268
Emily R. Jordheim
Emily R. Jordheim
Officer, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
412.338.5261
Matthew  Klein
Matthew Klein,

CRPC™

Registered Private Wealth Client Associate
412.338.5277
Robert J. Kania
Robert J. Kania
Private Wealth Client Associate (FP)
Additional Resources
The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Private Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.
Jana Hunter
Alternative Investments Regional Specialist
Bank of America, N.A.
Michael Duffy
Private Wealth Strategies Advisor
Merrill Lynch Logo
Valerie Galinskaya
Head of Merrill Center for Family Wealth
About Private Wealth

Looking at your wealth from every angle

Navigating complex wealth requires more than making investing decisions. It takes a trusted confidante who can help you step back and see the big picture. Your Merrill Private Wealth advisor is that steadfast guide — advocating for you, your family, and the people and causes you care about. Working together, we can help with strategies designed to grow, sustain and transfer your wealth to amplify the impact at every step of life's journey with insight, simplicity, perspective and solutions. Find out what it's like to work with us.

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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and the CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™, AWMA™, and the AWMA™ logo certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™, CRPC™, and the CRPC™ logo are certification marks or registered certification marks of The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in the United States.
ChSNC® and Chartered Special Needs Consultant® are the property of The American College, which reserves the sole rights to its use, and is used by permission.
Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CPWA® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor®. Use of CPWA®, and/or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for wealth advisors.
Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CIMA® and Certified Investment Management Analyst®. Use of CIMA®, and/or Certified Investment Management Analyst® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute’s initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for investment management professionals.