Are “finfluencers” guiding your financial decisions?

By Mike Switzer

Published March 10, 2026 at 6:30 AM EDT

Gyles Laney Headley, certified financial planner with Jeter Hrubala Wealth Strategies in Isle of Palms, SC

Every day, millions of Americans are scrolling through YouTube and their social media accounts in search of quick financial insights. While many creators share information with good intentions, a growing number of what our next guest says are being referred to as “finfluencers” are individuals who don’t have serious qualifications but still offer opinions or guidance on investing, budgeting, cryptocurrency, and other financial topics. Mike Switzer interviews Gyles Laney Headley, a certified financial planner with Jeter Hrubala Wealth Strategies in Isle of Palms, SC.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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