OUR TEAM
Meet the RGA Investments Wealth Management Team
When Rick Gardner founded RGA Investments in 1996, he embraced his grandfather's words of wisdom and worked to establish positive relationships with each one of his clients. RGA Investments is still thriving more than 20 years later, in part because we've always applied Rick's grandfather's advice as the firm's guiding principle. As your financial steward, our team will help you adjust your investment portfolios and financial plans throughout your life.
- Registered Investment Adviser
- General Securities
- Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Health Insurance
- Long-term Care Insurance
Registered Investment Adviser Rick Gardner founded RGA Investments in 1996 to help clients achieve financial security and independencethrough personalized wealth management and investment services. His Raleigh-based wealth management firm serves clients in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and throughout North Carolina and the United States.
A longtime North Carolinian, Rick spent his formative years in Greensboro, NC, where he met his future wife, Jen, in 9th grade English at Page High School.
Rick earned a football scholarship to Wake Forest University (WFU) and was a three-year starter at defensive end. He was also part of the 1992 Independence Bowl Championship Team and was named to the All-ACC Academic Team.
After Rick graduated from WFU's Calloway School of Business with degrees in Business and Finance, he relocated to Raleigh and established wealth management firm RGA Investments. Over the last 20 years, Rick's expansive financial knowledge and his relationship-based approach to financial advising have earned him a loyal client base and national accolades, including a recurring place on the annual list of Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisers.
Rick is committed to giving back to the community and holds leadership positions with several local organizations:
- Board member on the Board of Directors for Children's Flight of Hope
- Past Development Chair for the NC Symphony Society Board
- Past Board President for the Wake Forest Athletic Advisory Board
- 2023 JDRF Gala Honoree
Rick and his wife, Jen Gardner, live in the Raleigh area with their three children.
Noel grew up in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and attended Blue Ridge Community College, where she majored in accounting. Noel moved to North Carolina after starting her career in accounting, and she has called Raleigh home since 1999.
In addition to Noel's over 20 years of experience as a client care representative and practice manager in the wealth management industry, Noel earned her Variable Securities License in 2002 and her Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) designation in 2013. Prior to joining RGA Investments in 2006, Noel worked in investment services with Fidelity Bank and Merrill Lynch.
Kari is a native to the Raleigh area, where she previously owned her own business in the service industry. She and her husband, Robby, live in the Raleigh area with their daughter. Kari's hobbies include yoga, hiking, and spending time outdoors enjoying nature. Kari joined RGA Investments in 2014 to assist with client services.
Kristin is a native of North Carolina. She joined RGA in the fall of 2023 to help assist with client needs. She and her husband have one son and twin daughters. Kristin has extensive work experience in customer service and client care.
Jen is an Atlanta native, although she grew up in Greensboro, NC and has been a North Carolinian for most of her life. She attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned her BA with a double major in psychology and sociology.
As director of community development, Jen establishes and maintains RGA's relationships with nonprofits throughout the Triangle. RGA Investments is proud to support charitable and faith-based organizations through financialcontributions and volunteer work; Jen coordinates all of our charitable giving and volunteer resources so we can work with our friends and neighbors to support and strengthen our communities.
Before joining RGA Investments, Jen worked with children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities as a Quality Developmental Disabilities Professional (QDDP). She lives in the Raleigh area with her husband, Rick, and their three children.