Michele Compton is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 30 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Edward Jones and J.W. Cole Financial. Since 2020, she has also been associated with Signature Wealth Group as a Senior Wealth Advisor. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary advisory services supported by advanced analytical tools and has a notable affiliation supporting municipal and public finance work.

Michael Gerken is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Newton, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Gerken Enterprises, LLC. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors, offering holistic, goal-based analyses and planning across a broad range of financial topics. The firm separates planning from managed-account services and does not provide portfolio management for institutional clients.

Matthew Starnes is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2019 and previously worked at SagePoint Financial and runs Starnes Financial Group. He is also a licensed insurance agent with experience in term life and long-term care insurance. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual clients, retirement plans, financial institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Mark Teague is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2014. He is also authorized to sell Medicare supplemental, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Advantage plans to residents of North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, and institutions, offering diverse advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services through a national network of investment adviser representatives.

Samuel Reavis is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he collaborates with individuals and families to develop personalized financial plans and strategies tailored to their unique goals. His work encompasses a broad range of services including retirement planning, education funding, wealth preservation, tax-efficient investing, and philanthropic planning. Sam emphasizes building long-term relationships and understanding each client's comprehensive financial situation to provide ongoing, adaptable advice. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina and has earned professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His client focus includes corporate executive services, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, and tax minimization. Outside of his professional role, Samuel enjoys basketball, cooking, football, golfing, reading, watching movies, and spending time with his family. He brings a philosophy centered on understanding client priorities and creating personalized plans that align with what matters most to them.

Peter Nelson is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with OSAIC and has previously worked at Spectrum Financial Inc. and Securities America Advisors. Outside his advisory role, Nelson serves on the board of Exodus Homes, a local nonprofit assisting individuals transitioning from rehab, jail, and prison, where he also chairs the marketing committee. OSAIC serves a wide range of retail and institutional clients, offering integrated brokerage and investment advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm employs asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios and provides access to third-party money managers and wrap programs.

Elizabeth Dailey is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Statesville, NC, with seven years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm that serves individual and institutional clients, including pension plans, corporate entities, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of over 23,700 advisors and offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Florance Johnson is a Series 66 designated advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Newton, NC, bringing two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent, Johnson held positions at Dollar General and HealthSmart Pharmacy, among other roles. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering goal-based analyses on various financial topics with options for one-time or ongoing planning engagements. The firm separates planning from managed-account services and does not hold discretionary trading authority for its Dedicated Planning Service.

Terry Eskind is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Conover, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2010. Outside of advisory work, he is president of Eskind Group LLC, a company involved in owning and maintaining rental properties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients across a broad range of financial needs, with over $1 trillion in assets under management and a nationwide network of more than 23,000 advisors. The firm offers various advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated investment products, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Sarah Mangan is a financial advisor at Merrill with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill, Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. Prior to her financial services career, she was employed at the University of Maryland and in accounting advisory roles. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

John Watkins is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving clients in Western North Carolina. He focuses on developing personalized financial strategies designed to help clients pursue their long-term goals through tailored wealth management approaches that adapt to changing market conditions. John's expertise encompasses areas such as college education planning, corporate benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, and retirement income. He applies his knowledge to assist clients across various financial aspects, including corporate executive services, divorce transition planning, and employee benefits planning. In addition to his professional work, John is active in his community, volunteering with local organizations. He has personal interests in baseball, fishing, golfing, and hunting, reflecting his engagement with the community and leisure activities. John is committed to partnering with clients one-on-one to develop strategies aligned with their individual goals.

Dorthy Hilt is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Statesville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. She has one year of experience at Edward Jones and previously worked for eleven years at United Federal Credit Union. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Elizabeth Frederick is a financial advisor at Fidelity with seven years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Merrill, Wells Fargo Clearing, Keller Williams Lake Norman Realty, and L'BRI Pure and Natural. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a blend of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to create model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Samuel Dyer is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works with clients to develop strategies to pursue their financial goals by understanding what matters most to them and their families. His approach encompasses general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unexpected financial needs. Samuel holds a Bachelor's Degree from Appalachian State University and has earned professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He provides ongoing advice and guidance tailored to clients' evolving needs.

Sarah Montgomery is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She previously worked for Truist Investment Services, Inc. for ten years before joining LPL Financial. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Christopher Mcbride is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been a member of the Lail Watkins Group since joining Merrill in 2014. The team delivers extensive knowledge with combined decades of practical experience, focusing on service and goal-oriented strategies to build and maintain long-term relationships. Leveraging the full enterprise capabilities, they serve clients' investment and banking needs through access to Bank of America. Christopher works as a full-service planner with families possessing $250,000 or more in investible assets, covering areas from asset gathering to legacy planning. He also supports business clients in retirement planning options including 401(k) plans, cash management services, treasury functions, investment management, lending, and business transitions. His client focus areas include education planning, family wealth management strategies, employee financial health, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds a High School Diploma/GED from Summers County and has earned the professional designations Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional work, Christopher enjoys boating, bowling, golfing, pickleball, and spending time with his family.

Anne Abernethy is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 18 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Wells Fargo in various capacities since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a part-time pastor at Bethel United Church of Christ in Hickory, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients, offering a broad menu of planning options tailored to clients meeting specific net-worth thresholds.

Angelique Harris is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with four years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC®, Series 63, and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked for TIAA Kaspick from 2010 to 2023. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment options, supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Brian Sohovich is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Since 2000, he has been with Edward Jones in Statesville, NC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Vice President of Special Events for a Chamber of Commerce venture and is a board member of the Statesville Racquet Club, involved in facility management and programming decisions. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branches.

Tomohiko Minami is a CFP® and CFA® professional with 10 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2024 and previously held positions at SunTrust Advisory Services and Suntrust Investment Services, Inc. Minami has involvement with a private wealth entity and an insurance agency in addition to his advisory role. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including model portfolios and retirement plan consulting, supported by research from LPL Research and third-party subadvisors.