About Us

foss-bioCreig Foss
President/CEO

Creig Foss is a well-known financial planner serving the eastern North Carolina area since 1981. He is skilled in helping retirees and pre-retiree efficiently plan their financial future. Creig’s expertise also extends to the needs of small business owners. Believing that each individual’s case is unique, Creig listens carefully to understand each person’s goals, shunning any “cookie-cutter” approach to financial planning. Instead, he utilizes his knowledge and industry knowledge to develop an optimal, high-quality solution that meets his clients’ specific needs and goals. Raised on a farm in Lenoir County, Creig learned the values of hard work, honesty and personal initiative. Creig is a graduate of UNC at Wilmington with a B.S. degree in business administration. Away from the office, Creig is an avid salt water enthusiast. He enjoys every aspect of coastal living, whether offshore fishing or just playing with the kids or grandkids in the waterway.

Strategic Alliances

Michael Binger, CFA®
President
Gradient Investments, LLC

As President, Michael is the leader of Gradient Investments and has been with the firm since 2012. He brings more than 35 years of industry experience, including prior roles managing multi-billion-dollar portfolios for an institutional asset manager. Michael is a CFA® charter holder and is a frequent contributor on CNBC, Fox Business, Barron’s, and the Wall Street Journal.

Keith Gangl, CFA®
Senior Portfolio Manager
Gradient Investments, LLC

Keith joined Gradient Investments in 2018 and has more than 30 years of industry experience. Prior roles include senior portfolio manager for a large institutional asset management firm, managing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio. Keith is a CFA® charter holder, and has been featured in media outlets such as CNBC, Bloomberg, Investor’s Business Daily, Nasdaq and Reuters.

Tyler Ellegard, CFA®
Senior Portfolio Manager
Gradient Investments, LLC

Tyler is a Senior Portfolio Manager at Gradient Investments, where he focuses on portfolio management, asset allocation, and investment research across multiple asset classes. He provides market insight and portfolio strategy to support client investment decisions. Tyler is a CFA® charterholder and has been featured in media outlets including Schwab Network, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal.

*This endorsement of Gradient Investments, LLC, (GI) and its portfolio management services is provided by the firm. The firm refers clients to GI for portfolio management services. GI does not pay separate compensation to the firm in relation to its endorsement or any promotional services. However, the firm receives a portion of the advisory fees paid by clients who utilize the portfolio management services of GI. The firm also shares in the revenue of GI via quarterly payments based on the amount of total assets the firm places with GI. This endorsement incentivizes the firm in increasing the assets placed with GI, and therefore the compensation received by the firm. The firm and its investment advisor representatives are not supervised by GI. While these conflicts of interest exist, the firm and its investment advisor representatives are subject to fiduciary duty and must act in the best interests of their clients. The firm and their clients are not required to use GI and may select other investment managers.