Joe has more than 36 years of experience working with individual and institutional clients as a personal wealth manager. In 2000, he earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst℠ (CIMA®) designation through the Investment & Wealth Institute℠ at The Wharton School. He is also proficient in point-and-figure (PNF) analysis through NASDAQ/Dorsey Wright. Joe was recognized by Forbes as a Best-In-State Wealth Advisor in 2019–2022, 2025 and again in 2026, and he has been a Certified Kingdom Advisor® since 2011.

Joe began his career in Atlanta as a Public Finance Officer with NationsBanc Capital Markets Group before joining Grant Thornton as an Asset Specialist. In 1993, he returned to Charleston to work with Interstate/Johnson Lane, which later merged with multiple banking institutions. He eventually founded Nicholson Wealth Management Group, a boutique asset management firm, operating as a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).

He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Charleston.

Deeply committed to community service, Joe has served as President of NAMI Charleston and as Treasurer of two nonprofits—the Alzheimer’s Association of the Lowcountry and Carolina Autism—both of which he helped found. He has also served on the board of the College of Charleston Alumni Association, as Treasurer of Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, and currently serves on the advisory boards of Camp St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center and FreshStart Visions.

Joe is an active member of Kingdom Advisors, a nonprofit organization for Christian financial professionals, and his faith plays an instrumental role in both his personal and professional life. Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Joe and his wife, Nicole, reside on Johns Island and have two children. Their daughter is a graduate of Clemson University, and their son is a graduate of the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business. They are members of St. Michael’s Church in Charleston and enjoy supporting Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University and Cursillo ministries.

Outside of work, Joe has a passion for Model A Fords and is a member of the Lowcountry Ford Model A Club. He can often be seen around town driving either his 1930 Ford Model A Town Sedan or his 1930 Ford Model A Truck to the office.

John is a Portfolio Manager at Nicholson Wealth Management Group. Previously, he served as a Financial Consultant Partner at Charles Schwab for over 11 years, where he gained extensive experience in financial markets, investment strategy, portfolio management, retirement planning, and wealth advisory services. He also holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist™ (AAMS®) designation, reflecting his expertise in asset management, financial planning, investment analysis, and client portfolio solutions.

A native of Toledo, Ohio, John earned his degree in Finance and Business Economics from Ohio University before relocating to Charleston in 2013. He has a deep interest in complex systems, including financial markets, macroeconomics, behavioral finance, health and fitness, artificial intelligence, technology innovation, and nature. Outside of work, John enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, golfing, and playing chess. He is also an avid fan of the Detroit Lions, professional golf, mixed martial arts, and data-driven performance optimization.

Lee is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in education, client relations, and business operations. For many years, she served in a leadership role at St. Philip’s Preschool, where she was deeply committed to early childhood education, child development, family engagement, and creating a nurturing learning environment for young children. In 2023, Lee expanded her professional focus by joining Nicholson Wealth Management Group, where she specializes in concierge client services, relationship management, and operational support, helping deliver a personalized and high-touch experience for clients.

Known for her warm and service-oriented approach, Lee brings a unique blend of organizational leadership, communication skills, and client care experience to the team. Her interests include community involvement, family life, wellness, and creating meaningful personal connections.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Lee enjoys spending time with her family. She has been married to Richard for over three decades and has three wonderful children. In her free time, Lee enjoys traveling to the North Carolina mountains, boating, and spending time outdoors.

Laura is an experienced wealth management professional with more than 15 years in the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) industry, specializing in client service, financial operations, account management, and advisor support. Over the course of her career, she has held a variety of roles ranging from Client Service Associate to Operations Analyst before earning her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ (FPQP®) designation from the College for Financial Planning. Today, she serves as the Operations Manager at Nicholson Wealth Management, where she oversees day-to-day operations, workflow management, and client experience initiatives to help ensure efficient and seamless service for clients.

Prior to transitioning into wealth management, Laura built a strong professional foundation in the hospitality industry, working in both restaurants and hotels, where she developed her passion for customer service, organization, and relationship management. Originally from South Carolina, she grew up along the I-26 corridor, from Lexington to attending USC Upstate, before spending a decade in Asheville working at a local RIA firm. She now proudly calls Johns Island home.

Laura is passionate about financial planning, operational excellence, client relationships, and creating meaningful experiences for both clients and colleagues. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their two young boys, and their corgi. She also loves relaxing by the ocean and believes there is nothing quite like watching the waves roll in.

Lonny is the Chief Compliance Officer of Nicholson Wealth Management Group and brings more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, specializing in regulatory compliance, wealth management supervision, broker-dealer operations, risk management, and financial advisor oversight. He began his career as a financial advisor before transitioning into a variety of compliance, supervisory, and marketing leadership roles with independent and bank-based Broker-Dealers and Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs).

Throughout his career, Lonny has remained actively involved in advancing industry standards and financial services education. He previously served as a member of the FINRA Qualifications Content Committee, helping evaluate and develop content for the Securities Industry Essentials® (SIE®) Exam. He currently serves in a similar capacity with NASAA, contributing to examination content development for the Series 63, 65, and 66 licensing exams. His expertise includes compliance consulting, securities regulation, fiduciary oversight, ethics, advisor education, and financial industry best practices.

Lonny holds both the Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional™ (CRCP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations, reflecting his extensive knowledge in compliance, financial planning, and regulatory leadership. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Management from Tulane University and is also a graduate of The American College of Financial Services and the FINRA Institute at Wharton.

Bernie was a integral part of our group. He started with Merrill Lynch in 1965 and later worked with Wells Fargo Advisors, and its predecessor firms for nearly 50 years. We are honored that he chose to spend his last two decades as part of our group.

Educated in Charleston City schools, Bernie was a graduate of the College of Charleston. He is a past member of the Board of Trustees and the College’s Foundation Board. 

Bernie was a dedicated advisor and proud Charlestonian. We are privileged to call him our friend. He is missed every day by our team and his beloved Charleston community.