Your Valuable Team

With over thirty years of industry experience, we provide unparalleled service to those we serve. Our comprehensive road map ensures your purpose aligns with your financial planning. This process eliminates the stress and has helped us become the competent advisors we are today.

Created with a desire to make retirement planning simple. We have learned all systems need not be difficult. We listen to your needs, goals and walk with you hand and hand to obtain them. Without these lessons, we would be left referencing textbook material and subjective news commentary, and that’s no way to run a business. Our goal for all of our clients is that after each meeting, you’ll feel more confident and rest assured that your finances are being built to provide you with the future you dreamed of.

Doug Jolley

CEO

doug@sharp.sc

A mentor is not someone who walks ahead of us to show us how they did it. A mentor walks alongside us to show us what we can do.” – Simon Sinek

In 2020, a VP of a large bank with their own financial investment department, was approaching retirement age and facing several major decisions. He chose Doug Jolley to be his retirement planner. When Doug asked him why, he simply said, “After getting to know you, I trust and choose you.”

That sums up what Doug is all about – earning your trust to walk alongside as you make some of the most important decisions of your life – how to structure your life savings at retirement in a way they last.

Doug just completed 31 years in his chosen profession. His passion for financial planning began in 1989 at American Republic Insurance, where he was recognized as one of the top agents, and later as one of the top five managers in the nation, ultimately becoming a Vice President with the company. In 2001 he decided to branch off and form his own firm. Today he is the CEO and managing partner of Retiring Sharp.

Every day, he searches out new ways to better serve his clients. Surrounding himself with a team that shares the same values and vision, Retiring Sharp continues to grow and make a real difference in the community. The Columbia International University School of Business conducts retirement seminars in which Doug is one of two featured speakers, along with the Dean of the business school, Dr. Scott Adams.

He majored in Journalism at the University of South Carolina and is an accredited journalist, having published newspaper, magazine and online articles. Doug has served as a featured guest on talk radio shows across the country.

Outside of work, Doug served two terms as the President of the Midlands chapter of NAIFA – the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Doug currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the non-profit Tri-County Veterans Support Network. TCVSN serves as a liaison to provide comprehensive support services for our veterans.

Doug and his wife, Jan of thirty-nine years enjoy spending time with their son, Jonathan his wife, Lila and their granddaughter Fiona. They happily await the arrival of their grandson Judah this spring. Doug and Jan are active members of 12 Springs Community Church.

Learn More About Me

If you had a million dollars to spend, what would be the first three things you would buy?
I would buy a vacation house and embark on a year-long tour of Europe and Asia.

What’s the most likely place people could find you on a Saturday night?
At my sister and brother-in-law’s place with my wife, playing scrabble and enjoying a cold beer.

Which would you pick: Living on the beach or living near the mountains?
Live on the beach in the summer and near the mountains in the winter.

Imagine being approached by a genie who offers you three wishes. What might those wishes be?
I’d wish for a rocket-fast metabolism, an amazing memory and perfect health.

If you had the ability to travel back in time, what’s something you would tell your 18-year-old self?
Slow down — the faster you go, the more you miss out on.

Peter LaHatte

Financial Advisor

Peter is an Insurance and Income Specialist concentrating on making sure that individuals both young and mature, will get comfortably to their retirement. Peter is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where he received a BS Degree in Marketing and Economics, and later an MBA in Finance and Economics.

Peter’s experience includes a position in the Investment Division of First National Bank of South Carolina which is now a part of the Wells Fargo Family of Companies. He was responsible for the short-term portfolio where he managed over $400 billion during some of the most tumultuous times in monetary history.

After his experience in banking, he was the Director of Marketing for Financial Services for BellSouth Corporation where he was responsible for a revenue stream of $4.6 billion dollars.

After BellSouth Peter founded The Solutions Group, LLC where he built, managed and grew a local telephone company for the City of Marietta, Georgia, called Marietta FiberNet, which was absorbed by American FiberNet in 2003.

From consulting in the Telecommunications industry, Peter moved into financial services, in that his experience in banking and running a small company brought a unique combination of skills, which could be useful to others, especially as they relate to risk mitigation, wealth accumulation and income planning.

Peter has two children, Michael, a fireman and first responder in St. Augustine, Florida and a daughter, Alicia who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Peter is an active member of St. Peter’s Church in Columbia, SC and St. Mary’s Church in Aiken, SC

Peter is a proud grandfather of two beautiful grands Avie Grace in Jacksonville, FL and Asher Flynn in St. Augustine, FL.

Stacey Gurley

Marketing & Events Director

stacey@sharp.sc

Stacey brings a passion to the industry that is unparalleled. With over thirty-five years of marketing, retail and consultative sales she is experienced as a manager, directing key account relationships and large-scale projects. Prior to joining Retiring Sharp Stacey was employed as the Marketing Director with EnKindle Designs in Greenville, South Carolina. She worked directly with the CEO of the organization with the responsibility for business development of new and existing clientele.

Stacey executes marketing plans and programs both short and long range to ensure the profit growth and expansion of products and services. She uses those strategies to determine which recommendations will best fit the Retiring Sharp mission and increase market share.

She is a visionary and creative at heart. She utilizes all aspects of her career whether building an event, hosting a family gathering or working on a new product. Stacey is a mother of two beautiful daughters; a son-in-love and four amazing grand-pups. The Founder of Women of Passion Ministry Events and resides in gorgeous Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!

When She is not wearing the creative hat at Retiring Sharp she enjoys helping women in crisis understand they are special and dearly loved. She enjoys learning how fueling our bodies with the right foods connects to health, exploring new restaurants, trying new coffees and all things "sunny".

Learn More About Me

If you had a million dollars to spend, what would be the first three things you would buy?
I would build a restoration home for women and children in crisis, travel the world and shop of course!

What’s the most likely place people could find you on a Saturday night?
Either at home or trying a new restaurant

Which would you pick: Living on the beach or living near the mountains?
Living on the beach!

Imagine being approached by a genie who offers you three wishes. What might those wishes be?
wisdom, what I know now when I was younger, live in divine health

If you had the ability to travel back in time, what’s something you would tell your 18-year-old self?
Live life full of love, give myself the same kindness I do others, enjoy the small things and go for your dreams!

Christy Lee

Administator

office@sharp.sc

Christy grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and spent many days afterschool in her accountant dad's office. She acquired the same skills as her dad; notetaking, the ability to hold a conversation with anyone, and loves to serve others. In pursuit of these skills, she moved to South Carolina and attended Columbia International University. Christy completed a BS with focus on Bible and Teacher Education and a Masters in Education. In her final year CIU, she met her fiancée, an Army Chaplain candidate. Once Christy joined the team at SHARP, her mind grew for financial planning and the importance of guiding clients through the process. Christy is an important part in the strategic plan and daily interacts one on one with clients putting the plan in motion.

She is the client's first point-of-contact for any questions or concerns they may have. Her favorite part about this job is being apart of an organization that makes a difference in the lives of those we serve. One of the highlights during her time at Retiring Sharp was attending and assisting with a series of retirement planning courses for a local physicians practice. Doug's experience offers insight and wisdom on how to start the planning process regardless of age or socioeconomic background. Planning for the future can be overwhelming for some, but our guidance eases their fears and alleviates frustrations allowing them to realize future plans and leave our offices relaxed and more reassured than when they first entertained the idea of retirement.

In her free time, you can find her reading, creating art and traveling with her friends or fiancée, Matthew.

Learn More About Me

If you had a million dollars to spend, what would be the first three things you would buy?
I would pay off my fiancée's student debt, buy a house, and much the rest to Doug to implement toward being used for retirement planning.

What’s the most likely place people could find you on a Saturday night?
At a friend’s house binge-watching Netflix and eating a meal we made together.

Which would you pick: Living on the beach or living near the mountains?
Living near the mountains would offer a lucky first peak at sunrise, fresh mountain air, and my favorite scenery: forestry.

Imagine being approached by a genie who offers you three wishes. What might those wishes be?
I would wish to always remember the things I am grateful for, for everyone to know their self-worth, and the safety of our Armed Forces.

If you had the ability to travel back in time, what’s something you would tell your 18-year-old self? A few years later, a wise friend told me something I'll never forget: "In every life challenge, look for a lesson to gain wisdom from."

Jan Jolley

Customer Service

Jan Jolley has spent 31 years as Doug Jolley’s “most important business partner.” Business doesn’t happen unless all the details are completed and the customers are taken care of. Jan is responsible for both customer service and the more complex details in our business that require her years of expertise to handle.

Her father, a naval commander, said “Jan could be a captain of industry.” In her first job after college and intensive scrutiny was the executive assistant to John Manning, the National Distribution Manager for Georgia Pacific.

Jan’s life story became one of caring rather than climbing career ladders. She prefers it that way. Jan is best known for her loving heart with many calling her “Momma Jan.” She has learned to balance her responsibilities in the family business utilizing those same gifts serving our clients needs while staying true to her best self caring for the needs of her family members.

Jan is not only a loving wife and business partner to Doug, and Mom but was a caregiver for her mother with Alzheimer’s, and helped with the care of Doug’s birth mother as well his father and stepmother in their final years. She does all with a smile and genuine love in her heart. You’re in good hands if Momma Jan is on the job.

Jan attended Columbia International and later Multnomah University. Today her joys include spending time with grandchildren and with their two pups, Champ and Nico.

Andrew Victor

Director of Planning Strategies

Andrew Auchincloss Victor has more than 24 years of experience in financial services. He specializes in strategies for Tax-efficient Income Planning, Wealth Transfer, Estate Planning, Business Succession and Insurance Planning. Victor supports advisors by presenting to their clients (and clients’ attorneys and accountants) complex and comprehensive solutions through succinct yet actionable guidance.

Harvard graduate
24 years of experience in financial services
Consults on risk and tax mitigation strategies with a focus on lifetime income

Jennifer Surmacz

Chief Counsel

In her role, Jennifer uses her experience in Estate Planning, Probate, Contracts, and other legal disciplines to review each eStatePlan™ file and collaborate with the eStatePlan™ team to ensure compliance with the client’s goals, objectives, and wishes. She works with client's to review finished documents for approving their efficacy, suitability, and accuracy.

Ciara Lister, Esq.

Network Attorney

As a network attorney for eStatePlan™ Ciara Lister believes in three key pillars: planning, preparation, and prevention. A full-scholarship graduate of Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Fla., Lister began her law career as a Commercial Insurance Litigator in Boca Raton. She began seeing clients and her close friends struggle with the negative effects of probate proceedings, from dwindling inheritances to families destroyed by battles over money. This motivated her to change her focus to Estate Planning so she could help people avoid these issues before it was too late, rather than perform legal triage when the damage to families and their legacies had already been done.

Noell Holmberg

Director of Life Insurance

Noell's experience as a medical surgery nurse, specializing in cardiology and neurology, gives her invaluable credibility when working with underwriters. Her persuasive advocacy results in insurers green-lighting client cases they may have otherwise denied. And her experience in handling jumbo life cases, whether $65 million or $450 million, adds even greater value to advisors and their high-net-worth clients.

Stacy Pearson

Universal Guardian Trust

Stacy brings an incredible background where she has legislated and advocates for individuals who have no voice. She has also spoken multiple times at the United Nations which brings a very unique perspective to our team approach. Stacy wears many hats at any given time and works directly with our Advisor Partners on training and mentoring them with amazing success to grow their business. Her personal style and professionalism stand apart from what most Advisors have experienced in this competitive industry.

Veronica Hill

Financial Planning & Tax Mitigation

In 1999 Veronica began her career in the financial sector on the securities side of the industry where she was Series 7 and Series 65 licensed. She moved to the life insurance side of the industry in 2005, working for a brokerage agency. Her journey on the life insurance side began in underwriting, assisting agents and their clients with obtaining the best possible offers by working hand in hand with the underwriters throughout the underwriting process. She then moved to the marketing side of the business, where she has been assisting agents by helping them to determine what is best suited for their clients based on both financial and medical information on hand.

Craig Isaacs, ChFC, CLU, RFC

Estate & Tax Planning Specialist

Craig has spent more than four decades serving a diverse clientele, from professional athletes, entertainers and affluent families to the middle Americans so many other firms leave behind. Craig is often called on by accountants, attorneys, and financial advisors to provide his expertise in advanced planning areas. These include but are not limited to estate & wealth transfer planning, income and estate tax planning, business succession and executive benefit planning.