Your life. Your wealth. Your future.

Pursue what matters most

Team 3

Our clients know that we put their best interests first at all times. As your financial advocates, we ask the critical questions to learn all about you, your family, priorities and concerns. At the end of the day, we understand that earning your confidence and trust requires integrity, prudence and accessibility.

Skye and Al

Your primary source for financial advice

We are here to provide quality strategies customized to your needs. We concentrate on developing long-term relationships through a commitment to quality client service. You can rely on our personalized advice, first-class solutions, and extensive wealth management experience.

  • Skye Ferrell

    Skye Ferrell

    Financial Advisor

    Portfolio Manager

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    • AZ
    • CO
    • CT
    • FL
    • GA
    • IL
    • LA
    • MA
    • MD
    • NC
    • NV
    • NY
    • OH
    • PA
    • RI
    • SC
    • TN
    • TX
    • VA
    • WA

    As a co-founder of The Ward-Ferrell Group, Skye specializes in asset management as it relates to portfolio construction, analysis and execution, and he heads the research effort for the team.  Over the course of his 10 year career he has provided comprehensive financial planning to clients, seeking to balance their objectives with their assets and estate plans. By conducting unbiased analysis to understand their needs, Skye believes he can identify, communicate, coordinate, and adapt effective strategies that have the potential help clients attain their life’s goals.

    Skye received his B.A. in Economics with a concentration in Monetary and Financial Economics from The University of North Carolina at Asheville. He has obtained the Portfolio Manager designation from UBS and holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist℠ designation from the College for Financial Planning. In addition, he has taken an executive education course in leadership through the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

     

      • University of North Carolina at Asheville, Economics with a concentration in Monetary and Financial Economics
      • Duke University Executive Education
      • Portfolio Manager
      • Accredited Asset Management Specialist℠
      Financial planning
      Custom portfolios
      Asset allocation
      Alternative investments
      138 Charlotte Street
      Asheville, NC 28801
    • Alan Personal

      Alan Ward

      First Vice President–Wealth Management

      Senior Portfolio Manager

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      • AZ
      • CO
      • CT
      • DC
      • FL
      • GA
      • IL
      • LA
      • MA
      • MD
      • NC
      • NE
      • NV
      • NY
      • OH
      • PA
      • RI
      • SC
      • TN
      • TX
      • VA
      • WA

      As a co-founder of The Ward-Ferrell Team, Alan focuses on developing and cultivating client relationships by asking the pertinent questions that uncover the most important factors for designing a successful and suitable investment portfolio. He is passionate about helping client understand what they own and how their investments may work to support their financial goals. With more than three decades of experience in estate planning, Alan is highly qualified to provide professional advice on the critical issues that can either support or derail a lifetime of work and accumulation.

      Over the course of his 30+ years in the financial services industry, Alan has gained extensive knowledge and an expansive background that he applies to each client’s situation. He began his career in 1986 and has assisted many individuals, families, and entrepreneurs through his tenure at Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, and UBS. He holds a B.S. from Western Carolina University and an M.B.A. from Clemson University.

      Alan has two adult children—Meredith, a senior intake worker for Henderson County child protective services, and Bryant, a doctor practicing in Boone, NC. In his free time, Alan works with numerous local charities, including children’s groups, animal protection and farm preservation on the state and federal levels.

        • Western Carolina University, Business Administration
        • Clemson University, M.B.A.
        • Senior Portfolio Manager
        138 Charlotte Street
        Asheville, NC 28801
      • Karyn Personal

        Karyn Laughrun

        Wealth Management Associate

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        • FL
        • GA
        • NC
        • SC
        • TN
        • TX

        Karyn has been in the securities industry since 1991 and assistant to Bob Douglas since 1993. She first started with D.A. Davidson in Great Falls, MT before migrating to Asheville, NC. She joined UBS in 2013 after working at A.G. Edwards and BB&T/Scott & Stringfellow.

        Karyn holds the Series 7, 9, 10, 63  & 65 licenses. She expands her knowledge by taking continuing education courses, learning new processes (such as Financial Goal Analysis) and staying current with client needs and goals.

        She and her husband  (both USAF veterans) have 3 grown children and 3 grandchildren – a daughter in Alabama raising 2 children, a son proudly serving in the USAF in Hawaii (with wife and newest grandchild-to-be), and youngest son, a 2020 college graduate from Appalachian State University.

              138 Charlotte Street
              Asheville, NC 28801

            A focus on personalized access and service

            Working with diverse clients with specific needs, our team sees it as our top responsibility to understand each aspect of your unique and often complicated financial life.

            A team approach

            A team approach

            Tree

            Exceptional financial strength and stability

            Sustainable investing

            Sustainable investing

            Sustainability matters

            Seek returns and drive change through sustainable investing

            Your values define you. But do your investments reflect who you are? As a global leader in sustainable investing, we can help your portfolio align with your principles, while seeking returns.

            Backed by the strength of UBS

            A global leader in wealth management

            $3.9 trillion

            In invested assets globally 
            As of 12/31/2022

            51 countries

            Our global footprint

            Global leader

            UBS is a world-leading wealth manager