Our Team

Meet the RGA Investments Wealth Management Team

The best financial advisors create lasting relationships. The guiding principle for our wealth management firm came from our President’s grandfather: “If you take exceptional care of the clients you have, you will never have to worry about finding new ones.” Our team will stand by you as your financial steward, helping you review and adjust your investment portfolio and financial plan as needed.

Rick Gardner
Financial Advisor, President/Founder

Rick has been serving clients as a financial advisor for more than 20 years. His practice serves clients from across the country but is focused primarily in North Carolina.

In addition to having his General Securities License, Rick is a licensed RIA. He holds licenses in life, disability, health and long-term care insurance.

Rick’s formative years were spent in Greensboro, N.C. He attended Page High School and it was there that he met his future wife, Jen, in 9th grade English. He attended Wake Forest University (WFU) on a football scholarship and he was a three-year starter at defensive end during his time there. Rick was a member of the 1992 Independence Bowl Championship Team and was named to the All-ACC Academic Team. He graduated from WFU’s Calloway School of Business with a degree in Business and Finance. He and his wife have three children: Avery, Jackson and Wyatt.

Committed to giving back to the community, Rick holds leadership position with several Triangle organizations, including serving as chairman of the board of directors for Children’s Flight of Hope, co-chair of the North Carolina Football Club’s Ambassador program, and a member of the North Carolina Symphony Society Board. He is also involved with JDRF and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. Rick remains active in the WFU community as a board member of the Deacon Club and co-chair of the Athletics Advisory Council.

Noel Flanary
Client Care & Practice Manager

Noel grew up in the Shenandoah Valley, which is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Parkway in Virginia. She attended Blue Ridge Community College and majored in accounting. After starting her career in accounting, Noel moved to North Carolina and has called Raleigh home since 1999.

Noel received her Variable Securities License in 2002, her RFC designation in 2013, and has more than 15 years in the wealth management industry with customer care and as a practice manager. Prior to joining RGA Investments in 2006, Noel worked in investment services with Fidelity Bank and Merrill Lynch.

Kari Owen
Customer Service Specialist

Kari joined RGA Investments in 2014 to assist with client services. A native to the Raleigh area, Kari previously owned her own business in the service industry. Kari graduated from Miller-Motte College in 2006. She married her husband, Robby, in 2009 and they have one daughter together.  Kari’s hobbies include yoga, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

Jen Gardner
Director of Community Development

A native of Atlanta, Jen grew up in Greensboro, N.C., and received her BA in psychology and sociology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

As RGA’s Director of Community Development, Jen is responsible for managing and developing RGA’s relationships with nonprofits throughout the Triangle. From funding educational programs to lending a hand in support of charitable and faith-based organizations, RGA Investments is proud to join our friends and neighbors in building stronger and more vital communities. 

Jen’s previous experience includes serving as a Quality Developmental Disabilities Professional (QDDP), working with children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities. She and her husband, Rick, have three children: Avery, Jackson and Wyatt.

Contact our team for your free portfolio review Contact Us