Our Team

Bill has more than 30 years of experience in the financial service industry, starting his career in 1987 with a predecessor of Wells Fargo Advisors. Throughout this time, Bill has focused his work on managing wealth for high-net-worth investors. From 2004 to 2021, Bill has been a member of the firm's Premier Advisor program. More recently, Bill earned the title of Private Wealth Financial Advisor within Wells Fargo Advisors, which recognizes select Financial Advisors with a history of serving the unique needs of high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners.

A team approach, a desire to look at the big picture and a willingness to work with other trusted advisors is the cornerstone to Whichard & Woolard Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors' success in helping clients achieve their goals.
 
Bill holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is active in the Edenton community where he lives with his wife, Maureen. Bill raised three children in Edenton who are all now in colleges across North Carolina.

<sup>CA Insurance License Number: 0M71951. Resident State: NC.

The Premier Advisor distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisorsas measured by completion of educational components, business production based on either of the past two years, and professionalism. Additional criteria, including length of service, may also be used to determine recipients.</sup>

With over 25 years of financial advisory experience, John concentrates on designing custom, wealth management strategies for successful individuals, families and business owners with special emphasis on strategic portfolio construction for each case. He particularly enjoys next generation planning, including business succession planning strategies. John can also provide access to lending and insurance services through Wells Fargo affiliates.

He and his co-founder are proud to have been recognized as Wells Fargo Advisors Premier Advisors from 2004 to 2021. More recently, John and his co-founder, earned the Private Wealth Financial Advisor title within Wells Fargo Advisors, which recognizes select Financial Advisors with a history of serving the unique needs of high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners.

John has prior experience as a small-business owner, commercial banker, CFO of a manufacturing company and licensed real estate broker. He earned a MBA from East Carolina University with a concentration in Finance and Accounting and a BA in Economics and English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In his free time, John enjoys working on his farm, hunting, boating, golfing and traveling. John is also very dedicated to serving his community, having been a past board member of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International and the Outer Banks Relief Foundation. He also served as trustee of the Virginia Episcopal School and on the St. Andrews Episcopal Church’s vestry.

John and his wife, Suzanne, live on the Outer Banks where they raised three children and several Jack Russell Terriers.

<sup>CA Insurance License Number: 0M76545. Resident State: NC.

The 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 either of the past two years, and professionalism. Additional criteria, including length of service, may also be used to determine recipient.</sup>

The Whichard and Woolard Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors is pleased to announce the newest addition to the team, Melinda Van Buren. She recently relocated from Charlotte, NC accompanied by her 16 year old daughter, two dogs and a bird.

Melinda attended North Carolina State University and graduated with a B.A. in Animal Science in 2003. She began her banking career with the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) and quickly worked her way up the ranks helping members with the full circle of financial needs. As a Senior Financial Services officer with the SECU, her expertise included insurance solutions, VITA tax preparation, personal and mortgage lending and investment advice. She joined Wells Fargo Advisors in Charlotte in 2015 as a Financial Advisor in order to pursue her passion for assisting clients with wealth management. In this role she gained a deeper understanding of higher net-worth investment strategies while leveraging Wells Fargo Investment Institute* research. She quickly became a senior advisor and team lead.

Melinda has a simple formula for financial success: “I help clients succeed financially by getting to know each client’s unique story, learning what motivates the individual and family unit, and helping clients achieve their goals with long term investment strategies.” She enjoys helping clients navigate the complexities of retirement planning by educating them on risk, return, and portfolio construction. Melinda has earned a designation as a Charted Retirement Planning Counselor.

The Whichard & Woolard Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors is passionate about helping its clients meet their goals and financial needs. They take a holistic approach in working with their clients in all aspects of their financial life. Their driving focus has been to help business owners and high net-worth individuals and families realize their short- and long-term goals by identifying and executing meaningful solutions for them. They strive to bring together all of their clients’ trusted advisors so that they can build a consensus of opinion to help ensure that they generate and act upon appropriate recommendations. Through Wells Fargo Advisors, their clients have access to additional resources, specialists, and relationships that are all dedicated to their success. 

<sup>CA Insurance License Number: 4021119. Resident State: NC.

*Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. is a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.</sup>

Geordie joined Whichard & Woolard Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in 2010.

Geordie provides overall administrative and operational client service support to assist the business activities of the Financial Advisors. Her duties include furnishing account information, establishing new accounts, processing requests and payments for clients, and maintaining client relationships.

Before joining our firm, Geordie was a Real Estate Broker with Perry & Company Sotheby's International Realty. She has a background in the visual arts and art history, and enjoys painting, photography and travel.

Geordie graduated from Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia and currently lives in Edenton.

Meredith has been with the Whichard & Woolard Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors since 2015. She is dedicated to providing exceptional customer to service to our clients and support to our team. She has various responsbilities as client associate for Bill Whichard, Private Wealth Financial Advisor. She also manages our website, assists with marketing efforts and provides other administrative duties.

Meredith was raised locally in Edenton, North Carolina. She graduated from University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2014, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. 

Meredith currently resides in Edenton, North Carolina with her boyfriend, Jeremy and beloved dog, Luna.

Kathryn has been with Whichard & Woolard Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors as a Client Associate since 2009. She is committed to enhancing the client experience by providing exceptional service and support in assisting both the clients and team while building strong relationships.

Kathryn attended mary Baldwin University and worked in retail management for over ten years prior to joining Whichard & Woolard Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. She currently lives on the Outer Banks with her husband, Robert, where they raised their two daughters and Boykin Spaniel.