Our team has a combined 100 years of wealth management, investment management, and insurance experience.
Rick M. Higgins, ChFC®
Managing Partner
Phone: (864) 573-7089
rick@wwhweb.com
Rick Higgins and wife Mary have three children and four grandchildren. Rick is the Managing Partner of Walker, Higgins & Associates Wealth Management, LLC. His professional specialties include comprehensive financial and retirement planning, investment securities and portfolio management, 401(k) and other employer sponsored retirement plans, and estate and insurance planning.
He graduated from The Citadel with Honors in 1986 and started his career in the financial services industry in 1987. The former owner of Higgins and Associates, Rick merged with Walker and Walker in 1996. He obtained the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation in 1990 and the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation in 1991. In 2002, he graduated from the American College with a Master of Science in Financial Services.
Rick is a past president of the Life Insurance Leaders of South Carolina and the Spartanburg Estate Planning Council. He has qualified for membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table for 32 consecutive years and has 16 Top of the Table qualifications. Rick has served on the Board of Directors for the Upstate Employers Network (formerly the Spartanburg Development Association) for the past 20 years.
He is an avid cyclist, hunter, and mountain climber. He has climbed or hiked to 37 of the State high points in the United States and is working toward completing all 50. He has also had successful climbs on 3 of the “7 summits” (Denali, Aconcagua, and Kilimanjaro)- the highest point on each of the 7 continents. He hopes to complete as many of the 7 as age, time and energy allow!
Matt C. Smith
Partner
Phone: (864) 582-4597
matt@wwhweb.com
Matt joined Walker Higgins & Associates, LLC in 2009 and has been in the financial services and wealth management industry since 2004. Matt became a Partner with Walker, Higgins & Associates Wealth Management, LLC in 2014. His areas of expertise are wealth accumulation, investment management, estate planning, and employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Matt and his wife, Amanda, are natives of Spartanburg and have two daughters, Olivia and Ella. Matt received a B.A. in History from Erskine College.
Jennifer Duncan
Director of Operations
Phone: (864) 582-4597
jennifer@wwhweb.com
An associate since 2007, Jennifer Duncan is our Director of Operations. She brings over 10 years of experience in client services to this position. A Spartanburg native, Jennifer has an Associate’s Degree in Marketing and Business Management. She holds a Series 6 and 63 securities license.
Jennifer and her husband Jeremy enjoy spending time with their four children and four grandchildren. She enjoys reading, traveling, and scuba diving.
Amanda P. Smith
Director of Finance and Administration
Phone: (864) 582-4597
amanda@wwhweb.com
Amanda grew up in Spartanburg and graduated from Presbyterian College. She worked in the banking and recruiting industries before coming to Walker Higgins.
Amanda enjoys traveling, hiking and spending time with her family. Amanda is the wife of partner, Matt Smith. They live in Spartanburg with their daughters, Olivia and Ella.
Valarie A. Johnson
Director of Marketing
Phone: (864) 582-4597
valarie@wwhweb.com
Valarie Johnson joined Walker, Higgins and Associates in June 2017 as Director of Marketing. She has 9 years of banking experience and 5 years of life insurance & retirement planning experience. Valarie holds a life/health insurance license as well as Series 6 and 63 securities license. Valarie received her B.A. in Marketing from Michigan State University.
Valarie and her husband Jason enjoy spending time with their 4 children, Ashlyn, Alana, Aliza and Harlan.
Adam M. Higgins
Registered Representative
(864) 754-3464
adam@wwhweb.com
Adam and his wife Elizabeth have one daughter, Parker Anne. Adam joined Walker Higgins in 2018.
Adam graduated from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina in 2017. Since graduation, Adam has worked in the Financial Services Industry helping local businesses and families find solutions and plan for the future. He specializes in individual retirement planning, employer sponsored retirement plans, and life insurance. Adam is a Spartanburg native and he enjoys the outdoors. He loves hunting, fishing and hiking in the surrounding areas.
Laura T. Bevell
Insurance Account Manager
(864) 754-3462
laura@wwhweb.com
Laura joined Walker, Higgins & Associates in February of 2019 as our Insurance Account Manager. Prior to joining our team, Laura was an Associate Financial Representative for a wealth management team in Greenville, SC. She graduated from Clemson with a B.S. in Psychology and currently holds her SC Life and Health License.
Laura and her husband Billy enjoy Clemson football, traveling and spending time with their two children and two grandchildren.