After 42 rewarding years in wealth management, including 23 years as President & CEO of Keystone Financial Management, I’m excited to transition into retirement at the end of 2024. Reflecting on this incredible journey, I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead our company through significant growth, innovation, and the creation of lasting value for both our advisors and clients. What I’m most proud of, however, are the relationships we’ve built along the way. These connections have been the true foundation of our success, and I look forward to continuing and nurturing these bonds in this new chapter of my life.

One of my greatest joys has been the opportunity to transition the business to my successors—my children, Amber Carrick and Eric Nikles. Watching them step into leadership roles at Keystone and carry on the firm’s legacy has been an immensely proud moment for me. Their passion, integrity, and vision ensure that Keystone will continue to thrive for years to come.

Professional Designations

• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), the American College.

Professional Honors

• Signator Hall of Fame Inductee - 2014

• ACE (Achieving Client Excellence) Qualifier 2009-2015

• President’s Conference, 1983 - 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993;

• Life Member Inductee, President’s Conference, 1989;

• Super Achievers Club, 1987, 1992;

• National Quality Award, 1984 – 1988;

• National Sales Achievement Award, 1985, 1987, 1988;

• Sales Manager's Recognition Conference, 1990 – 2001;

• Sales Manager’s Outstanding Achievement Citation, 2001;

• Life Member Inductee, Sales Manager's Recognition Conference, 1997;

• The Vincent C. Bowhers Quality Award, 1997, 1998, 1999

• Citation Award as Associate General Agent and Associate Managing Partner:
  1985, 1988, 1993, 2001, 2004, 2005

• LEX (Leading with Excellence) National Growth Leader 2008, 2009, 2011

• LEX National Sales Leader 2016 & 2017

• Perennial LEX Growth Leader and among top firms for Signator Investors, Inc.

The Hall of Fame was an elite group of financial representatives of former broker-dealer Signator Investors, Inc. and the John Hancock family of companies.  To be included in the HOF, inductees need to qualify for the ACE award 15 times. 

The Achieving Client Excellence Award (ACE) was granted by former broker-dealer Signator Investors, Inc.  and the John Hancock family of companies.  The ACE award is granted to the top 250 advisors each year based on total weighted premium from the sale of both proprietary and non-proprietary protection and wealth products.  No other factors are considered.  Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client’s evaluation.

NAIFA National Quality Award – Life Insurance and Annuities Category The NAIFA National Quality Award is issued by The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and is awarded based upon policy persistency which is determined by a sliding scale depending upon the number of qualifying policies sold that year. Recipients are determined by the production requirements for that year. The financial professional did not pay a fee for this award and clients were not consulted for this award. For more information please visit https://tdc.naifa.org/nqa Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation.