For over 34 years Joe has been working with individual and institutional clients as their personal wealth manager.

In 2000, he earned his Certified Investment Management Analyst^SM designation (CIMA^®), through the Investment & Wealth InstituteSM  from  The Wharton School. Joe is proficient in PNF analysis through NASDAQ/Dorsey Wright.

In 2019-2022 Joe was ranked by  Forbes¹ as a Best-In-State Wealth Advisor.  Additionally, has been a Certified Kingdom Advisor® since 2011.

Joe began his career in Atlanta as Public Finance Officer with NationsBanc Capital Markets Group. He then took a position with Grant Thornton as an Asset Specialist before returning to Charleston in 1993 to join a predecessor firm of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network. 

He earned a (MBA) masters degree in business administration from the Darla Moore School of Business at University of South Carolina and a bachelor of science in business administration from the College of Charleston. 

Joe strongly believes in giving back to the community. Previously, he has served as President of the NAMI of Charleston and served as the Treasurer of two non-profits,  the Alzheimer’s Association of the Low Country and Carolina Autism both of which he helped found. Joe also served on the board of the College of Charleston’s Alumni Association and Treasurer of the non-profit Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy.  Additionally, on the advisory boards of the Camp St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center and FreshStart Visions.

Joe is an active member of Kingdom Advisors which is a non-profit organization for Christian Financial professionals. His faith is an instrumental part of his personal and professional life.

Originally from Greenville, SC,  Joe and his wife Nicole reside on John’s Island.  They have two children. Their daughter graduated Clemson University and their son is attending  the University of South Carolina Moore School of Business.  They are members of St. Michael's Church in Charleston and enjoy advocating Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University and Cursillo ministries. 

Joe has a passion for Model A Fords and is a member of the Low Country Ford Model A Club.  He can often be spotted in town driving either his 1930 Ford Model A Town Sedan or 1930 Ford Model A Truck to work.

Lonny Elfenbein, Chief Compliance Officer of Serenus Wealth Advisors, has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He began his career as a financial advisor and then moved into various compliance, supervisory, and marketing roles with independent and bank-based Broker-Dealers and Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs).

As an Arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Mr. Elfenbein utilizes his expertise on behalf of the wealth and investment management industry, also serving as a member of the FINRA Qualifications Content Committee, evaluating and creating new content for the Security Industry Essentials® (SIE®) Exam.

Mr. Elfenbein holds the Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations. He received a Bachelor of Science in Management fom Tulane University and is also a graduate of the American College of Financial Services and the FINRA Institute at Wharton.

Betsy moved to Charleston from Greensboro, NC in 2011 to work with Wells Fargo Advisors, and has over 20 years of investment and financial experience. Betsy was formerly a Registered Securities Representative and holds a Series 7, and a Series 66 State Registration.

Betsy began her financial career in 2000 with Morgan Stanley as a Financial Advisor and was trained in New York on Wall Street.  In 2003 she joined a Wealth Management Team at UBS –PaineWebber until she relocated to Charleston in 2011. She is a graduate of High Point University with a degree in Education, and previously worked for American Express and Allstate Insurance.

Betsy lives in West Ashley and enjoys antiquing and exploring the history of Charleston. She has a grown daughter and travels frequently to California to visit her.

John Wagner 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. 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, health and fitness, 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, and mixed martial arts.

Lee Moore is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in education and business. Currently she serves as the Co-Director of The St. Philip's Preschool.  In 2023, Lee expanded her horizons by joining Nicholson Wealth Management Group, where she specializes in providing concierge services to clients.

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 going to the North Carolina mountains and boating.

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.