Melissa Ray

Patrick Riley is the principal advisor at Optimal Planning LLC in Concord, NC, with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial from 2013 to 2016. In addition to his advisory role, Riley is an insurance agent with Wealth Management of the Carolinas, dedicating about 20% of his time to this activity. Optimal Planning LLC offers investment management, financial planning, and educational seminars to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm primarily utilizes passive investment strategies with index mutual funds and ETFs, complemented by fundamental and cyclical analysis, and manages the majority of client assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Edward Helm Jr. is a financial advisor at Emerald Haven Investments Corp in Albemarle, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Emerald Haven Investments Corp since 2011. Emerald Haven Investments provides financial and retirement planning as well as discretionary wealth management services to individuals, employee benefit plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm uses client interviews to develop investment policy statements and manages portfolios across various risk profiles, employing asset allocation based on fundamental analysis of mutual funds, ETFs, and individual equities.

Alexandra Rickard is the sole advisor at Rickard Investment Consulting, LLC, a state-registered advisory firm based in Concord, NC. She holds a Series 65 credential and has professional experience spanning roles at Novant Health, Bonded Logistics, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Rickard Investment Consulting, LLC provides investment advisory services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio analysis, ongoing monitoring, and periodic review meetings. The firm uses fundamental and technical analysis to tailor portfolios across cash, equity, and fixed income, incorporates options strategy education, and operates on a non-discretionary basis.

Phillip Whitley is a financial advisor with Whitley Financial, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and over 30 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Grove Point Investments, H. Beck, Sterne Agee, and Synergy Investment Group. He is also a licensed insurance professional, dedicating less than 10% of his business time to insurance activities. Whitley Financial provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and small businesses. The firm employs a primarily long-term investment approach using both fundamental and technical analysis to develop customized asset allocations, with accounts managed on a discretionary basis and reviewed at least annually.

Colton Strawn is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Copperleaf Capital, LLC and has prior experience at Fidelity Investments, Uber, Lyft, The Vanguard Group, Signature FD, and State Farm. Outside of his advisory role, he is licensed to sell health, disability, and life insurance products, including Medicare Supplement insurance. Copperleaf Capital serves individual and high-net-worth families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, insurance product implementation, and digital currency management, using a values-driven planning process and a combination of fundamental research, technical signals, and sub-advisory management.

John Harris is a financial advisor at WMC Capital Management, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Brookstone Capital Management and Wealth Management of the Carolinas, where he serves as president of a separate insurance business focused on fixed insurance products. WMC Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individual and institutional clients, utilizing primarily passive investment strategies with an emphasis on asset allocation and periodic rebalancing. The firm also offers educational seminars on personal finance and manages accounts according to individualized investment policy statements.