Jessica Beard

Joseph Leonard is a financial advisor with Leonard Wealth Management, LLC in Lincolnton, NC, holding a Series 63 license and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at AE Wealth Management, Foundation For Financial Education, Formula Folio Investments, and Retirement Wealth Advisors. Outside of advising, he provides trumpet lessons and performances through his Cain Leonard Trumpet Studio and offers adult education on retirement planning. Leonard Wealth Management, LLC is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, charities, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning, hourly consulting, estate-settlement assistance, and discretionary portfolio management, using a combination of model portfolios, third-party advisors, and various portfolio construction techniques.

Matthew Kale is the sole advisor at Extraordinary Kale LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has one year of experience in the financial advisory industry and has prior work experience at Goodwill Catholic Media and PETSMART. Outside of his advisory role, he maintains an executive position with Goodwill Catholic Media. Extraordinary Kale LLC provides advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporations, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan rollover advice. The firm combines hourly-billed financial planning and consulting with active portfolio management, using a primarily value-oriented, long-term approach alongside tactical and strategic asset-allocation techniques.

John Zarinsky is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed advisor with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with SafeBridge LLC since 2016, including a prior tenure at AE Wealth Management, LLC, and Horter Investment Management, LLC. Zarinsky is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities but does not receive commissions from their sale. SafeBridge primarily serves individuals and families near or in retirement, focusing on retirement income planning, tax-aware advice, and discretionary investment management. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio construction using low-cost index ETFs and high-quality fixed income, integrating tax planning and optional tax-return preparation.

Andrew Watkins is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Denver, NC, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has worked with Principal Financial Services, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Wells Fargo Advisors during his career. Watkins also serves as a team lead at Principal Advised Services, providing one-on-one investment advice to retirement plan participants. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party methodologies and proprietary models. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, which provides access to a range of affiliated financial products and integrated trading services.

Ashlie Link is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. She has worked at Members Trust Company since 2017 and has been affiliated with Credit Union Investment Services and SECU Life Insurance Company since 2016. In addition to her advisory roles, she serves as Treasurer for the Parent Association of Long Shoals Wesleyan Academy. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual investors and trust clients in North Carolina, providing non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm emphasizes low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs, fixed-income products, and a goals-based, long-term planning approach.

Samuel Hershberger is a financial advisor at United Brokerage Services, Inc. with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Edward Jones and J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC. United Brokerage Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, and trust clients through various wrap fee and advisory programs. The firm primarily manages client assets on a non-discretionary basis and is affiliated with United Bank through its parent company, United Asset Management Corporation.