Our Team

" A firm structured to fit the individual situations of any client is a firm that bridges the gap between identifying goals & achieving them."

~Joshua Friedlander, Founder & Managing Partner

Josh believes that clients can achieve long-term financial security when they have clarity & an understanding of their ideal vision for the future. Josh & the ArisGarde team use a creative approach to help clients “Win the Game of Life” in the areas of personal, estate, & business planning. He takes the time to educate clients so that they can make informed planning decisions in a collaborative process. If you have a complex & dynamic problem facing you, he is the one you want to have in the room.

He founded ArisGarde to create an organization where independent, objective advice, & creative ideas are at the center for clients. After starting his career at the height of the financial crisis in 2008, he recognized the importance of coordination & preparation for the best of times, and when the going gets tough. He frequently works with clients legal & accounting teams to provide a cohesive approach with other disciplines to help ensure clients have the best outcomes for the long-haul.

Josh frequently lectures on topics for local health-care organizations & business associations. Staying committed to giving back to his industry, he has also spent time mentoring other advisors & providing seminars to share his experience on practice management. In addition, he has published articles on topics such as § 409A, Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation, Estate Planning, and Business Planning for various publications including TaxStringer (NYS Society of CPA’s online publication).

Some recent accolades include a ranking on the prestigious FORBES Top Financial Security Advisors for 2022, in addition to top producing rankings with various financial institutions. Committing time and talent to important causes are what also motivates him. Previously, Josh served on the board of directors for the Elias A. Cohen Foundation as well as the Tranquility Endowment Fund. He also served as Planned Giving Advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) Long Island Chapter.

Josh lives in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina along with his wife, & their four children. A college rugby standout while attending Stony Brook University, he played rugby at a national level on the collegiate circuit and is his favorite sport to this day. For fun, he enjoys time at the beach, weightlifting, and being on the sidelines for his children’s sporting events.

William Yex, a native of Spartanburg, SC, now calls Charleston home, where he lives in West Ashley with his fiancé, Juliet.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in finance, William launched his career in the financial services industry in Charlotte, NC. After gaining valuable experience, he joined the ArisGarde team, where he is committed to helping clients improve their financial literacy and gain clarity on their financial futures.

William's passion for financial education drives him to empower clients, guiding them in identifying their priorities and achieving their goals through tailored, strategic financial plans. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), reflecting his dedication to providing personalized, effective solutions that address each client's unique needs.

Outside of work, William enjoys fishing, golfing, and cheering on the USC Gamecocks at football games.

Dannye Riley is a native of Pennsylvania and a proud graduate of Drexel University where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Shortly after graduation, she began her career in financial services in 2002 starting with Delaware Investments as a processor and client service associate. In 2003, she began working at Lincoln Investment Planning for nearly a decade as an Administrative Coordinator.

Upon becoming a full-time mother to her autistic son, her love and passion for serving the special needs community developed and she worked as a special education paraprofessional for Midland Public Schools to better serve the community. She later joined the ArisGarde team in 2021 as an administrative assistant to help provide onboarding support and service to clients of the firm.

In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and friends, cooking, and is an accomplished pianist.

Utilizing over 30 years of experience in financial services, Chris works with an experienced team of planners in estate, business, investment, retirement planning and executive compensation. Working with recommends innovative ideas & concepts and utilizes blue chip quality products, to address the unique needs of each client.

During his career, Mr. Jones has moved vertically, holding positions ranging from Financial Advisor to Managing Partner. While working as a Lead Managing Partner, Mr. Jones received the Master Agency Award and International Management Award - Platinum Level from GAMA. Mr. Jones has attained the Certified Financial Planner® (from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.), Chartered Financial Consultant, and Chartered Life Underwriter (from the Chartered Life Underwriter Institute), among other professional designations.

Mr. Jones, an active community volunteer, is a past Chair of the Board of the Long Island Lutheran High School, a past Board Chair of Lutheran Social Services of New York, a current Board Member of The Lutheran Care Network and Coburg Village. He also is Past President of Lutheran Church of Resurrection in Garden City. Mr. Jones has received numerous awards including: Wheat Ridge Ministries, "Seeds of Hope" award in 2003, ICMS Atlantic District - "Witness in the Public Square" award in 2004 and long Island Lutheran High School, "Rev. Ed Visscher" award in 2009. Mr. Jones currently resides in Oyster Bay with his wife. Madelaine. *Not associated with LSF or LSA