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.

Paul Mayes is a financial advisor with Veritas Investment Advisory Group LLC in Hendersonville, NC. He holds a Series 65 credential and has five years of industry experience. Prior to founding Veritas, he worked at Shankland Financial Advisors, LLC and BorgWarner Turbo Systems LLC. Mayes is also a licensed insurance agent operating Mayes Financial & Insurance Solutions LLC. Veritas Investment Advisory Group LLC serves individuals, families, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm offers financial and retirement planning, discretionary portfolio management, third-party money manager selection, and educational seminars, combining fundamental and technical analysis with tactical strategies and tax-aware rebalancing.

Germaine brings to the Inspired Financial mix her considerable experience as a financial planner, investment advisor and wealth manager — along with a keen sense of humor, honed by her life’s rich experience. Germaine has ridden out not just one hurricane, but two. In 1969 she lost her childhood Pass Christian home to Hurricane Camille then Hurricane Katrina destroyed their Ocean Springs home in 2005! Hurricane forces are nothing compared to Germaine’s. Having “flunked Retirement 101” (her words) she leaped at the opportunity to co-found Inspired Financial Planners with Tricia Kollath, CFP(r), CPA, in 2019. Their combined talents pair well with their shared passion for helping people navigate a complex financial world. Germaine has a master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi. She is a CPA with a Personal Financial Specialist™ credential (MS certificate 5504 and NC certificate 43722), as well as a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner. Germaine founded and continues to chair the North Carolina CPA Association’s Financial Planning Networking Group to help her fellow CPAs understand the complex financial planning issues their clients face. Outside of her career, Germaine is an enthusiastic advocate for the arts. She is a life member of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, having served various roles including its board since the early 1990s. She and her husband John (a physician) stay young by hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains that surround their North Carolina home. These days, Germaine and John divide their time between western North Carolina and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where Germaine enjoys kayaking … when the waters are calm.

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.

Eric Warren is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Spartan Planning & Wealth Management, the Henderson County Tax Department, and Kilpatrick Land Surveying. Blueprint Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered, multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets, offering diversified portfolios and incorporating a proprietary strategic-and-tactical framework that emphasizes trend-following and momentum across multiple asset classes.

Adam Carey is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked previously at firms including International Assets Investment Management and The Dantas Advisory Group. Outside of advisory services, he is a licensed insurance agent offering fixed insurance products. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor SEC-registered firm that provides portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension plans, and nonprofits. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets using a proprietary strategic-and-tactical framework that incorporates trend-following and momentum rules to guide asset allocation.

William Vlahoulis is a financial advisor with SB Advisory, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Oppenheimer & Co. Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, and UBS Financial Services. SB Advisory, LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm primarily provides non-discretionary advice and employs a range of investment approaches, including fundamental, technical, and qualitative analysis, managing roughly $1.1 billion across diversified portfolios.

Dean St. Marie is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at The Fiduciary Alliance since 2025. He previously worked at Bison Wealth, LLC for five years and led St Marie Financial Advisors for six years. Outside of advisory work, he is a board member and finance committee participant for SAFE Womens Domestic Violence Services and serves on the board for the Ecusta Trail Rail Trail Project in Brevard, NC. The Fiduciary Alliance provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and other advisers. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and charting analysis in portfolio supervision and offers discretionary management alongside estate, business, and risk-planning support.

Dollie Halford is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience, currently with Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors, LLC. Her prior roles include positions at Dixon Hughes Wealth Advisors LLC and Uvest Financial Services Group, Inc. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as Vice President of the NC Apple Festival in a volunteer capacity. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors serves individuals, families, retirement plans, institutions, and nonprofit organizations by providing comprehensive wealth management, including financial planning and investment consulting. The firm’s approach emphasizes customized asset allocation and combines active and passive strategies within an integrated service model connected to its parent accounting firm.

Jeremie Kelt is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently affiliated with PFG Advisors in Hendersonville, NC. His background includes positions in emergency medical centers and financial services firms such as Securities America and iHn Family Legacy Planning, where he is also involved through a DBA. PFG Advisors offers fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and corporate clients. The firm employs a combination of macroeconomic allocation and fundamental/technical analysis, primarily using index-based ETFs and supports a distributed network of over 100 advisors across multiple platforms.

Suzanne Holbert is a PFS™ credentialed financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience. She is currently with Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors, LLC, having joined in 2022 following long tenures at Dixon Hughes Goodman Wealth Advisors LLC and its successor entities. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors serves individuals, families, retirement plans, institutions, and nonprofit organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and consulting services. The firm employs a customized investment approach combining active and passive strategies, emphasizing diversification, cost control, and integration with tax and accounting services through its parent company.

Renee Lague is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at AE Wealth Management since 2022. She also has a role as a client service manager and advisor in insurance sales and services at J. Biance Financial. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including individual households, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors, utilizing a model portfolio and discretionary management approach.

James Stike is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wealth Enhancement, he worked at LPL Financial and RBC Capital Markets and spent 15 years as founder and board member of Materials Innovation Technologies, an advanced materials development and manufacturing company. He also serves on the board of Carbon Conversion, Inc., another advanced materials manufacturer. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized consulting, employing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management with quantitative and fundamental research.

Carlton Murrey is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with AE Wealth Management and J. Biance Financial, Inc. since 2019. Outside of his advisory roles, he was involved with the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association for 11 years and Curtis Wright Outfitters, LLC for 19 years. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a platform-centered approach combining model portfolios, discretionary asset management, and financial planning, supporting advisors with an internal investment consulting group and various licensing programs.

Dominic Shea is a financial advisor at &Partners with 22 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing for a combined 10 years. Shea serves as a contingent trustee for a family trust and has partial ownership in Norwich Wealth Management LLC. &Partners serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers investment management and financial planning through both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, utilizing a combination of proprietary and third-party approaches.

Amelia Shechet is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has prior experience with J Biance Wealth Management and J Biance Financial. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a volunteer member of the finance board at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hendersonville, NC. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of services including model portfolio solutions, discretionary asset management, financial planning, and ERISA plan services through a platform that combines internal and third-party managed models.

Thomas Connelly is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at AIG Retirement Services and Retirement Clearinghouse. He is also involved with J. Biance Wealth Management, where he sells annuities and life insurance. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm employs a platform-based approach utilizing discretionary model portfolios and various investment strategies, managing approximately $49.8 billion for over 127,000 clients.

William Gold Jr. is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Merrill, UBS Financial Services, Raymond James Financial Services, and multiple Steward Partners entities. Outside of advisory work, he serves on the board of the Hendersonville Country Club and consults for Tommy Tolles Enterprises, which manages professional golfers. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered, enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing a range of investment advisory, financial planning, and portfolio management solutions.

Richard Alexander Jr. is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 23 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC and has held positions at Raymond James, Bank of America, Merrill, ValMark Securities, and Northwestern Mutual. He serves as Chairman of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, a civic organization supporting local businesses. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering investment advisory, financial planning, and managed account programs through a range of proprietary and third-party solutions.

Carl Leblanc is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including New York Life Insurance Company and LPL Enterprise. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including individual households, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and a range of investment strategies, serving a large number of clients with a platform-focused approach.