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The McLaughlin Group

Merrill Private Wealth Management

800 S. Gay Street

Suite 2200

Knoxville TN 37929

(865) 521.8805

Learn more about an advisor's background on

WelcomeRecognitionOur ApproachMeet Our TeamInsightsAbout Private Wealth

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.

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.)

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

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.)

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.)

Michael Duckworth

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor

Barron's "America's Top 1200 Financial Advisors State-by-State", 2011-2024

(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2019, 2021-2024

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Barron's "America's Top 1200 Financial Advisors State-by-State", 2011-2024

(Published annually in March. Rankings based on data as of September 30 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2019, 2021-2024

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Jennifer Haggerty

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2024

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Women Wealth Advisors Ranking", 2022-2024

(Published annually Feb – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 – September 30 of prior year.)

Show More Recognitions

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2024

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Women Wealth Advisors Ranking", 2022-2024

(Published annually Feb – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 – September 30 of prior year.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors", 2018-2024

(Published annually Jan – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.)

Working Mother's "Top Wealth Adviser Moms", 2018, 2021

(Published annually Sept – Oct. Rankings based on data as of Mar 31 of current year.)

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024

(Published on May 10, 2024. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2023.)

Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State”, 2025

(Published on February 11, 2025. Rankings based on data as of Sept 30, 2024.)

Christopher Lattimore

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor

Forbes "America's Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors", 2018

(Published on July 25, 2018. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2018.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors", 2019

(Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.)

Show More Recognitions

Forbes "America's Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors", 2018

(Published on July 25, 2018. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2018.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors", 2019

(Published on September 4, 2019. Rankings based on data as of March 31, 2019.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2024

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Helen Sims Duerr

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024

(Published on May 10, 2024. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2023.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2024

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Show More Recognitions

Barron’s “Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams”, 2024

(Published on May 10, 2024. Rankings based on data as of December 31, 2023.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams", 2023-2024

(Published annually in January. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of prior year.)

Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State”, 2024

(Published on February 8, 2024. Rankings based on data as of Sept 30, 2023.)

Forbes "Best-in-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors", 2019, 2022-2023

(Published annually Aug – Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.)

Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State”, 2023

(Published on February 2, 2023. Rankings based on data as of Sept 30, 2022.)

Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State”, 2025

(Published on February 11, 2025. Rankings based on data as of Sept 30, 2024.)

Audrey Tuckerman

Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor

Forbes "America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State", 2022-2024

(Published annually Feb – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 – September 30 of prior year.)

Barron's "America's Top 1200 Financial Advisors State-by-State", 2020

(Published on March 13, 2020. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2019.)

Forbes "America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State", 2022-2024

(Published annually Feb – April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 – September 30 of prior year.)

Barron's "America's Top 1200 Financial Advisors State-by-State", 2020

(Published on March 13, 2020. Rankings based on data as of September 30, 2019.)

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.)

Click here to learn more about advisor recognitions

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,

ChSNC®, CFP®

Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Relationship Manager

412.338.5272

Ashley Ek,

CFP®, CPWA®

Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Relationship Manager

412.338.5279

Kristen Merrill Davis,

CIMA®

Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Investment Manager

412.338.5263

Justin Lloyd,

CFP®, CIMA®

Vice President, Private Wealth Senior Investment Manager

412.338.5269

Tracy C. Solan,

CRPC™

Officer, Private Wealth Management Specialist

412.338.5262

Jacquelyn Connell

Private Wealth Management Specialist

412.338.5284

Carlos A Youssef,

CFP®

Officer, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate

412.338.5265

Jay Dillon Palamides

Officer, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate

412.338.5268

Emily R. Jordheim

Officer, Registered Private Wealth Client Associate

412.338.5261

Matthew Klein,

CRPC™

Registered Private Wealth Client Associate

412.338.5277

Robert J. Kania

Private Wealth Client Associate (FP)

412.338.5278

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

Valerie Galinskaya

Head of Merrill Center for Family Wealth

Insights

Market Briefs: Breaking insights on the economy and policy changes

Considerations for potentially reducing your tax bill this year or moving forward

Insights on how families can navigate communication amidst wealth

Strategic approaches to real estate gifting

The value of developing family policies

Market Decode: Small caps, big potential

About Private Wealth

We meet complexity head on
Growing and navigating wealth isn't a straight line. There are complexities and opportunities at every turn. That's why your Merrill team serves as mission control for your wealth, offering the highest level of execution and world-class intellectual capital to help keep you moving forward through every pivotal moment. Find out what it's like to work with us.