2024 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams: Awarded January 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 3/31/22 - 3/31/23 (Source: Forbes.com).The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.

2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/22 - 6/30/23 (Source: Forbes.com). 2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2023; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/21 - 6/30/22 (Source: Forbes.com). 2022 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2022; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/20 - 6/30/21 (Source: Forbes.com). 2021 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded February 2021; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/19 - 6/30/20 (Source: Forbes.com). 2020 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded January 2020; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/18 - 6/30/19 (Source: Forbes.com). 2019 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded February 2019; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/17 - 6/30/18 (Source: Forbes.com). 2018 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: (Awarded February 2018; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/16 - 6/30/17 (Source: Forbes.com).The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.

2024 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams: Awarded January 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 3/31/22-3/31/23 2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2023; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/21 - 6/30/22. 2022 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2022; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/20 - 6/30/21. 2020 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded January 2020; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/18 - 6/30/19. 2019 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded February 2019; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/17 - 6/30/18. (Source: Forbes.com) The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams and Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.

Katie Phifer is First Vice President-Investment Officer and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and has been recognized as a Platinum Council Advisor(previously known as Premier Advisor) within Wells Fargo Advisors every year from 2019–2021. The Platinum Council (previously known as Premier Advisor) distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on the past year, and professionalism. Additional criteria, best practices and team structure, may also be used to determine recipients.. Katie is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® professional. Katie obtained her Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® certification through the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA).*

Katie joined the Bezilla Kinney Phifer Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in 2007. In 2021, she became a named partner along with Gary Bezilla and Alan Kinney. She is a Beaufort native, and a magna cum laude graduate of the University Of South Carolina Darla Moore School Of Business.
Additionally, she has earned several advanced accreditations to better serve her clients. She holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designation and is a Retirement Income Certified Professional®. Katie has been recognized as a Platinum Council Advisor within Wells Fargo Advisors for the years 2019-2021. The Platinum Council Advisor distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on the past year and professionalism. Additional criteria may also be used to determine recipients. Katie is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst(R) professional. Katie obtained her Certified Divorce Financial Analyst(R) certification through the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts
(CDFA) *
 As a financial advisor with the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional designation, Katie has met the rigorous education, examination experience and ethics requirements of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Katie’s primary role is working with our clients to prioritize their financial goals and implement customized investment and planning strategies. As a Fundamental Choice Portfolio Manager, Katie is qualified to manage client portfolios on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis. In addition to investment solutions, she assists clients in coordinating other planning techniques with their investment plan. This may also include life insurance, disability insurance and long-term care planning. She makes it a priority to educate clients on appropriate strategies to help pursue their stated financial goals and assists them in implementing relevant strategies to help protect those goals from the unexpected.

 Katie is actively involved in the local community and has served on the Board of Directors and as a volunteer with a variety of local organizations. She and her husband, Matt, live in Beaufort with their two children.

*The use of the CDFA® designation does not permit Wells Fargo Advisors or its Financial Advisors to provide legal advice, nor is it meant to imply that the firm or its associates are acting as experts in this field.

The Wells Fargo Advisors Platinum Council Client Associate (previously Premier Client Associate) distinction is held by a select group of Registered Client Associates within Wells Fargo Advisors nominated by their management for their consistent display of professionalism, integrity and core leadership values.