Jean Alden is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor with 18 years of experience, serving clients through Liberated Investor Advisors, LLC since 2008. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual clients, including both high-net-worth and non-HNW investors. Liberated Investor Advisors utilizes model portfolios and third-party money managers to implement investment strategies focused on diversification and long-term purchase approaches across ETFs, mutual funds, and individual stocks. The firm operates as a small, single-advisor practice, with Jean Alden directly managing client relationships.

Douglas Alden is a financial advisor with Liberated Investor Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Liberated Investor Advisors since 2007 and also holds roles at Winning Point Advisors, L.L.C. and Efficient Advisors, LLC. Alden is president of Alden Agency, Inc., an independent insurance agency selling life and disability products. Liberated Investor Advisors, LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individual clients, including both high-net-worth and non-HNW investors. The firm primarily uses model portfolios and third-party money managers, focusing on diversification and long-term investment strategies across ETFs, mutual funds, and individual stocks.

Dustin Poteat is a financial advisor at Gradient Advisors, LLC with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. He has a background in manufacturing operations and analytics consulting at Crane Resistoflex and is also involved with Premier Insurance Services, Inc. outside of his advisory role. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm supports a large network of advisors and employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor investment strategies, typically delivering portfolio services on a non-discretionary basis.

Ryan West is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has seven years of industry experience, including roles at Members Trust Company and State Employees' Credit Union. Outside of his financial career, West serves as a financial assistant at East Marion Baptist Church, managing accounts payable, budgeting, and bank reconciliation. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm focuses on recommending low-cost, mostly index-based mutual funds and ETFs, fixed-income products, and supports a goals-based, long-term planning approach.

Catherine Zieman is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience, currently serving at Advisory Services Network since 2019. Her prior roles include positions at Field Point Private and Neuberger Berman LLC. Outside of her advisory work, she is the managing partner of High Pointe International Equestrian Tours, a travel agency she operates as a hobby. Advisory Services Network serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporations, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, investment and retirement-plan consulting, and third-party manager selection through a network of independent advisers.

Boyd Phillips II is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Marion, North Carolina. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 23 years of industry experience. Phillips has been with Eagle Strategies since 2007 and concurrently associated with New York Life entities and Phillips Financial Group, LLC since 2006. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on several local boards including the McDowell County Schools and Mission Hospital McDowell, and is involved with the Marion Business Association. Eagle Strategies LLC provides financial planning, investment advisory, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes client-directed solutions through a network of over 2,000 advisors and utilizes third-party managers and model portfolios rather than firm-controlled discretionary mandates.

Catherine Morris Nink is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Marion, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Nylife Securities LLC, Phillips Financial Group LLC, and Pharo Management, Inc. Eagle Strategies LLC serves individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients by providing financial planning, investment advisory, and retirement plan consulting services through a network of over 2,000 investment adviser representatives. The firm emphasizes client-directed solutions using third-party managers and model portfolios and reported approximately $25.4 billion in regulatory assets under management as of December 31, 2024.

James Engelman Jr. is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Transamerica Life Insurance Company and American United Life. His experience also includes a background outside of finance at Quality Care Transmission & Auto. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies through a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Rodney Kirkner is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 45 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has previously worked at Grove Point Advisors LLC, Grove Point Investments, LLC, and Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales related to non-variable insurance products. LPL Financial provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a range of financial planning and asset management solutions supported by an in-house research team and a broad network of investment adviser representatives.

James Boles is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Marion, NC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. He has seven years of industry experience, including five years at Enterprise Holdings before joining Edward Jones in 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers with WMIT Blue Ridge Broadcasting, assisting with event setup and engaging with attendees. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including various types of households and organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets across a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs with discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Michael Daye is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as operations manager and financial advisor at Joe Davis Financial Associates, LLC. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, charitable organizations, and municipal entities. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary advisory services supported by extensive research and a broad affiliate network.

Daniel Steinberg is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 29 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses a structured planning process that incorporates firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

Joseph Davis III is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Wilmington, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial and its affiliate since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, Davis owns and operates a storage and moving business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutional entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting through Wealth Advisory Services and institutional solutions, emphasizing client collaboration and tailored investment strategies.

Juan Suarez is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including Rocket Mortgage, LPL Financial, and AXA Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a mattress sales business in Marion, NC. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory services for workplace retirement accounts, IRAs, taxable accounts, and institutional clients. The firm manages both model-based and customized portfolios, serving a large client base through advisor-led and online offerings.

Kimberly Chmielewski is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently with Prime Capital Financial. Her prior roles include positions at United Capital Financial Advisers, Davidson Capital, Fidelity Brokerage Services, Raymond James Financial Services, and Gulf Coast Advisory Group. Outside of financial advising, she is also licensed as a real estate agent with Tidal Realty Group. Prime Capital Financial is an enterprise firm with 255 advisors, serving clients through a comprehensive investment approach.