Christopher Godsey

Sawyer Sams is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of the Smith Conkin Dixon Wealth Management Group. In his role, Sawyer and his team develop personalized wealth strategies for over 500 families across more than 40 states, utilizing a comprehensive planning approach that integrates Merrill's investment and planning resources with Bank of America's banking and lending capabilities. Before joining Merrill, Sawyer worked at a smaller wealth and investment management firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he led the firm's investment committee and was responsible for asset allocation strategy and trading activities. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Furman University and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. Sawyer is a member of the CFA Society of East Tennessee. Residing in Johnson City, Tennessee, Sawyer is involved in his community through membership at First Christian Church. He enjoys spending time with his family and participates in activities such as basketball, cooking, football, and pickleball.

Crystal Bright is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has been employed since 2004. She focuses on developing and analyzing portfolio strategies and identifying specialized opportunities to build customized portfolios. Crystal is responsible for the investment analysis and recommendations serving more than 400 families and businesses. She also assists in managing trust and philanthropic planning for clients, integrating charitable initiatives into their investments to support community growth in the region. She holds both a Bachelor's Degree and a Master of Business Administration from East Tennessee State University. Crystal has earned professional designations including Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Crystal is active in her community, volunteering with Girls Inc. of Johnson City/Washington County. She lives in Johnson City with her family.

Karl Smith is a Wealth Management Advisor specializing in wealth management strategies and business retirement services. He supports clients in defining their long-term financial goals and focuses on coordinating growth planning, events, and client experience within his team. Karl has expertise in areas such as divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, philanthropic planning, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, retirement income, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. His professional designations include Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He holds a bachelor’s degree from King College. Karl’s line of business is Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. His personal interests include boating, fishing, gardening, golfing, hunting, reading, spending time with family, and woodworking.

Sarah Newman is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments. She partners with clients to build, implement, and maintain financial plans tailored to their specific financial goals. Sarah has been with Fidelity Investments since 2018, progressing through roles including Financial Representative, Relationship Manager, and Planning Consultant before her current position. Her experience at Fidelity Investments spans several years, during which she has developed expertise in comprehensive financial planning and client relationship management. Sarah's approach focuses on understanding individual client needs to deliver personalized financial solutions. Outside of her professional work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, engaging in activities such as gardening, reading, playing board games, and visiting the beach.

Chad Rutherford is Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments. In this role, he partners with clients to build, implement, and maintain financial plans tailored to their specific financial goals. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2015, progressing through roles including Financial Consultant, Senior Relationship Manager, and Relationship Manager. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked as a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones from 2014 to 2015.