James Hatcher

Jon Green is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He has been the principal of Encompass Advisors, Ltd. since 2004. In addition to his advisory role, he is an author conducting research and writing on investment-related topics. Encompass Advisors, Ltd. provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm focuses on customized, long-term portfolio construction using a combination of low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities, employing fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis with ongoing portfolio monitoring and formal annual reviews.

William Zimmer is a financial advisor at Fortress Private Ledger, LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Fortress, he worked at MML Investors Services and Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, Zimmer is co-founder and co-owner of Ecusta Brewing Company, a brewery located in Pisgah Forest, NC. Fortress Private Ledger serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering financial planning, consulting, portfolio management, and specialized Qualified Opportunity Zone advisory services. The firm’s investment approach integrates trend identification and technical analysis with complementary strategies across various asset types, delivering tailored portfolio solutions through a network of investment adviser representatives.

Walter Hart is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Brevard, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked with Members Trust Company, Secu Life Insurance Company, Secu Brokerage Services, and State Employees’ Credit Union. Outside of his advisory roles, he has income from musical performances. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors and some trust clients in North Carolina, providing non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning focused on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs. The firm’s advisers are salaried employees of the parent credit union, and clients retain final authority over their investment decisions.

Jeffrey Schnee is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2003. Prior to that, he worked at Alphasights. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer managing approximately $100.8 billion in client assets and serving over 235,000 clients. The firm offers a wide range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and brokerage for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, charities, and institutional accounts.

Ray Croff is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC and holds a Series 63 designation. He has eight years of industry experience, including time at Hall ETF Wealth Management System, Inc., and over two decades of self-employment prior to joining Brookstone. Outside of advising, he is involved in exit planning roundtables, working with business owners on preparing for the sale and value creation of their businesses. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other RIAs, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, and is notable for its platform support of a large advisor network and its integration with insurance and banking referral channels.

Joseph Eppy is a financial advisor with MassMutual Investors Services who holds a Series 63 designation and has 32 years of industry experience. He has been with MML Investors Services since 1994 and with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company since 1993. Outside of his advisory role, he is the founder and CEO of Stress-Free Parenting LLC and serves as a board member for Oakstone Academy, a special needs school for children with autism. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers collaborative, annual financial planning engagements that utilize firm-approved analytical tools and provides educational seminars alongside various investment programs.