The Retirement & Estate Planning Services Team

President

R. Michael Slaughter, MSFS, CFP, AEP, CLU, CRPC

For over 30 years, R. Michael Slaughter’s financial consulting practice has focused on retirement, estate and tax planning strategies. Mike is President of Retirement & Estate Planning Services, Inc.

Mike received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1980, he became a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) through the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and he received the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation from the College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado in 1983. The Life Underwriters Training Council and the National Association of Life Underwriters in Washington, D.C. named Mike a Life Underwriters Training Council Fellow (LUTC-F) in 1989. He received his Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) Designation in 1996. In 2007 he achieved the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation also from the College of Financial Planning.  In 2010, Mike received his Masters of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) from The American College.

As a Master Elite Advisor, Mike works and studies closely with CPA Ed Slott, one of the country’s leading experts on IRA regulations and little known rules (www.IRAHelp.com).  He is also in a study group with Attorney Philip Kavesh who has developed a special stand-alone IRA Inheritance Trust and has obtained a private letter ruling for the document. Additionally, he is part of a practice development group with Attorney David Zumpano, a nationally recognized asset protection specialist focusing on business owners and seniors.

In 2008 Mike began consulting with charities and non-profit organizations about the intricacies of donor psychology as it relates to the financial fears that must be addressed prior to major donantions being made.  He studies with Scott Keffer, Founder of the Donor Motivation Program.

Mike has been an instructor of Finance and Insurance at the University or North Carolina at Charlotte and has served two years as President for the Charlotte Metrolina Entrepreneurial Council. Through his involvement in the educational and hands-on aspects of entrepreneurship, Mike has become aware of many unique issues facing business owners today. He is often used for financial consulting and/or implementation by property and casualty brokers, financial consultants, CPA firms and law firms. With all the new mortality tables and product changes in the life insurance industry, Mike is sought out for specialized life insurance audits for business owners, professionals, and high net-worth individuals.

Planning areas that Mike speaks about frequently are “The Biggest Mistakes Seniors Make with Their Money, “Managing Your Liabilities and Protecting Your Assets and Estate,” and “The Areas Which Most Small Business Owners Neglect.”  He is also a speaker to charities on “It’s All About Developing Relationships: Growing Endowments and Yearly Income”.

Senior Planners

William (Billy) Gwaltney, CFP, CLU, ChFC

William (Billy) Gwaltney has over 15 years of experience in the retirement planning and estate planning arenas.  Billy is a Senior Planner with Retirement & Estate Planning Services, Inc.

BIlly received his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1992.  Since then, he earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 2003 from the College of Financial Planning in Washington, DC. Also in 2003, Billy completed the Chartered   Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations from The American College in Bryn Mawr, PA.  Billy also holds a Life, Accident & Health Insurance License.

Prior to joining REPS,  Billy was an insurance broker and investment representative for over nine years with one of the largest financial planning firms in North Carolina.  He also spent over five years as Vice President and Consultant with the Professional & Executive Benefits Division of USI Consulting Group.
Together with the team at REPS, Billy works closely with business owner, professional and retiree clients in helping them meet their financial goals and dreams.

Bruce D. Henning, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CRPC

For over 25 years, Bruce D. Henning has specialized in helping physicians, professionals, and small business owners with retirement and financial planning strategies.  Bruce is a Senior Planner with Retirement & Estate Planning Services, Inc.

Bruce attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and since then has earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designations from the College for Financial Planning in Washington, DC. He has also earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA.

Prior to joining REPS, Inc., Bruce was a Vice President with USI Consulting Group, Inc. with responsibilities for helping to solve the retirement and financial security issues so often of concern to physicians and professionals.
Bruce currently serves as President of the Society of Financial Service Professions, and is a FINRA Registered Principal and a FINRA Registered Representative.

Bruce  is currently a student at Southern Evangelical Seminary. Bruce also is a member of Kingdom Advisors and is studying to become certified as a qualified member of Kingdom Advisors.