Adam S. Drake, CFA
Adam S. Drake, CFA
Managing Director & CCO

Mr. Drake’s passion is partnering with independent financial advisors to build fee-based practices that deliver a successful investing experience to clients. At Highland, Mr. Drake is involved in investment management, operations, business development, and strategy.

Before joining Highland, Mr. Drake worked as an investment analyst at Vogel Consulting LLC, a multifamily office firm serving ultra-affluent individuals. Prior to Vogel, he was a portfolio manager at a registered investment advisory firm in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Before this, he worked as an equity research analyst for Robert W. Baird & Co. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and in various roles at Strong Investments (now Wells Fargo). He has been in the financial services industry since 1998.

Mr. Drake holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Finance in 2000.

Kenneth E. Karr, CFP®
Kenneth E. Karr, CFP®
Founder & Private Client Advisor

Mr. Karr has been practicing investment management since 1996 when he joined Strong Investments (now Wells Fargo) as an investment representative. Mr. Karr worked at Strong from 1996 to 2003. In April 2004, he joined a Lake Geneva based registered investment advisor as an investment advisor representative.

In September 2006, Mr. Karr founded Highland Investment Advisors, LLC and serves as President and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to his career in investments, Mr. Karr served as an officer with the Arlington Police Department in Texas for fifteen years.

Mr. Karr graduated from Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice in 1980. He earned an MBA in Finance from the University of Texas – Arlington in 1993. Mr. Karr was awarded the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation in January 2004.

Wm. David Morrison
Wm. David Morrison
Private Client Advisor

Mr. Morrison is an Investment Advisor Representative at Highland Investment Advisors, LLC, working with clients to develop prudent strategies to achieve their personal financial targets. Since 2009, Mr. Morrison has worked as a Private Portfolio Manager for a high net worth family office. Prior to that, Mr. Morrison was President and co-owner of a wholesale company in St. Louis, and a Sales Representative for Pulsar, a division of Seiko USA. He also worked in the buying offices of a major department store chain. His strong commitment to results oriented investing and the fiduciary standard brought him to Highland Investment Advisors in April 2013.

Beverly Whitman CPA CFP®
Beverly Whitman CPA CFP®
Private Client Advisor

Beverly joined Highland Investment Advisors, LLC as an Investment Advisor Representative in February 2020.

Beverly fell in love with the financial planning profession after working for wealth management firms and seeing first-hand the value that a coordinated approach to finances can make to clients. By combining her expertise as a CPA and as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner she helps clients see “the big picture” and assists them in minimizing their tax liability through careful planning.

Beverly graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from NC State University and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Richmond.  She has over twenty years of experience and holds the following professional designations:

  • CPA (Certified Public Accountant) since 1993
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner since 2003
Robert T. Dignan, CFP® AIF®
Robert T. Dignan, CFP® AIF®
Private Client Advisor

With more than two decades of experience in the investment management and financial planning profession, Mr. Dignan brings a wealth of knowledge that provide him an understanding into the challenges that so many of today’s advisors face. Having owned and successfully transitioned two different investment firms, one a FINRA-registered OSJ Broker/Dealer office and the other a fully independent SEC-registered Investment Advisory practice, he has experienced and lived the challenges and benefits that go with both.

In January of 2009, Mr. Dignan founded CedarPoint Investment Advisors, after spending nearly five years developing his own fee-based business through his Broker/Dealer at the time. While making this transition provided him the opportunity to always put his clients’ interests first, it also was a great learning experience into the logistical and practice management challenges that go hand-in-glove with running a world-class firm. When presented with the opportunity to reunite with Mr. Karr and Mr. Drake in an effort to make this same opportunity available to other advisors who want to focus solely on their clients’ best interests, it was simply too attractive to pass up.

Russell Stoeckler, CLU®, CHFC®
Russell Stoeckler, CLU®, CHFC®
Financial Advisor

As founder and Chief Financial Advisor of Stoeckler Financial Advisory Services, Russ Stoeckler has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Russ leads the firm’s team with integrity and is knowledgeable in all areas of financial planning.

EDUCATION

  • Carroll University, Waukesha, Wisconsin
    • Studies in Business with an Emphasis on Finance
  • The American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
    • Earned Charter Life Underwriter, CLU® and Charter Financial Consultant, ChFC® designations
  • Institute for Business and Finance, San Diego, California
    • Earned Certified Fund Specialist designation, CFS®

EXAMINATIONS

  • FINRA Series 65
  • Uniform Investment Advisor Law Examinations
Adam Stoeckler, CFP®
Adam Stoeckler, CFP®
Financial Advisor

Financial Advisor Adam Stoeckler, CFP® is a second-generation financial planner with the firm. Adam graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor’s degree in finance. He has been with Stoeckler Financial since 2008.

EDUCATION

  • UW-Milwaukee, BS – Finance 2010
  • College for Financial Planning – Certified Financial Planner TM

EXAMINATIONS

  • FINRA Series 65
  • Uniform Investment Advisor Law Examinations
Tiffany Baptist
Tiffany Baptist
Operations Manager

Tiffany joined Highland Investment Services in October of 2021 and brings an abundance of skills including financial management, project management, leading various teams, marketing, and facilitating business functions. She is always looking for ways to improve efficiency, return on value, and improving relationships.

Tiffany attended Florida State College at Jacksonville where she studied Business Management and Supervision with an emphasis on psychology and project management. She previously worked for Merrill Lynch assisting clients, advisors, and internal partners with their financial and technical needs. Tiffany chaired a Disability Advocacy Board with Merrill Lynch focusing on accommodations, event planning, communication, and networking. In her free time, Tiffany enjoys capturing photography, volunteering for different outreach organizations, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Allison Alexis
Allison Alexis
Office Manager

Allison joined our team in Ponte Vedra Florida in July of 2022 and contributes her
extensive administrative support skills to serve our clients in a professional and
nurturing environment.

Allison obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of West Florida in Legal
Studies/Pre-Law and worked as a litigation paralegal for numerous years at prestigious
firms in downtown Jacksonville before making the shift to the financial services industry.
Allison prides herself on her organizational skills and enjoys learning new software,
training others and managing projects.

In her free time, Allison enjoys spending time with her family; visiting with friends;
reading biographies and suspense novels; and, traveling.