Michael Best

Gary Hubbard is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since beginning his career at Merrill in 2000, he has focused on providing clients with personalized wealth management strategies tailored to their individual financial goals. His approach emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of each client's full financial picture to develop flexible strategies that align with changing market conditions. He offers access to Merrill’s investment insights alongside the banking and lending services of Bank of America. His areas of expertise include college education planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. Gary holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a bachelor's degree from Campbell University. Outside of his professional work, Gary participates in community volunteer activities, reflecting the Merrill tradition of community involvement. He enjoys antiquing, genealogy, music, reading, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Steven Smith is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been since 1986. He holds the role of Senior Portfolio Manager, enabling him to construct and manage personalized investment strategies that may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment approaches. His position allows him significant discretion in portfolio construction and security selection, and he manages client assets through the Firm’s Investment Advisory Program, sometimes on a discretionary basis. Steven's client focus includes education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Wake Forest University and carries the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, Steven enjoys biking, fishing, photography, reading, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Eve Fowler is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She began her career in the financial industry in 1996 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2004. Eve’s advisory approach emphasizes understanding clients’ goals through detailed conversations, allowing her to guide them in making informed and objective decisions about their financial futures. Her areas of focus include managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, and portfolio management services. Eve holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She has earned several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She is also recognized as a member of The Tilghman Fowler Lawhead Group, which was named to the 2023 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Residing in Fayetteville with her husband Jason and their two sons, Eve values her community and maintains involvement with the Center for Economic Empowerment & Development (CEED). Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.