Brittny Hobkirk is a financial advisor at Merrill with 12 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Her prior roles include positions at Bank of America, N.A., Securian Financial Services, Inc., Minnesota Life Insurance Company, CRI Securities, LLC, and North Star Consultants, Inc. She also worked briefly at Anytime Fitness. 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, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for a range of individual and institutional clients.

Ryan Moran is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Lincoln Financial Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Morgan Stanley. In addition to his advisory work, Moran is an independent insurance agent for various companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual, pension, and charitable organization clients, offering financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm manages a multi-billion dollar asset base and provides access to multiple platforms, third-party advisors, and proprietary model strategies.

Gareth Rich is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 40 years of industry experience, currently with OSAIC since 2025. He previously worked for 35 years at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, Rich offers accident, health disability, and traditional life insurance and serves as a trustee managing family member trusts. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients, providing both brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform. The firm’s investment approach focuses on model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supported by various tools and strategies that accommodate discretionary and advisor-managed accounts.

Stephan Ihde is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Edward Jones in Asheville, NC, holding 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Outside of finance, he operates a sole proprietorship selling landscape and nature photography prints online. 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 services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Katherine Bradley is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2023, she worked in real estate and hospitality from 2012 to 2023. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a nationwide network of financial advisors and offices.

Howard Helms III is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Asheville, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. He is also involved with Helms Wealth Management in Asheville. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions, offering a broad range of financial planning and investment management solutions through a large network of advisors.

Addison Harris is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill and Bank of America in 2020, Harris held various roles including work with Mars Hill University and the YMCA of Western North Carolina. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Susan Sorrells is the Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Asheville, North Carolina. She has been with Merrill Lynch since 2007 and brings over 36 years of experience in the financial services industry, including prior roles in retail branch management and licensed banker supervision at SunTrust Bank and Wachovia Bank. Susan holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in commercial banking from Mars Hill University. She has earned several professional certifications, including Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™), and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®). Her expertise encompasses retirement planning, education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, and managing new wealth. In addition to her professional work, Susan is involved in the Waynesville Rotary Club and has contributed to community organizations such as KARE, Open Door, Manna Backpack, and Folkmoot. She resides in Waynesville, North Carolina, with her husband and enjoys boating, reading, and traveling.

Alan Brookshire is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked previously at JJB Hilliard W.L. Lyons LLC and Oppenheimer & Co. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a director at Cane Creek Cycling Components, advising on corporate strategy. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group provides tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of investment strategies and overlay services.

Lauren Hackler is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors holding a Series 66 designation. She has experience primarily in technology and software roles prior to joining the financial services industry in 2026. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, ongoing investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management across multiple platforms and maintains proprietary model strategies under the Founders Gate Capital brand.

Scott Mcdonald is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses, with 16 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role since 2015, he has worked extensively as an optometrist, currently practicing at Optometric Eye Care Center and Elevate Eye Care. He is also involved in owning and managing Innovative Financial Planning, LLC, and Gryphon Capital, Inc., a real estate investment business. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm emphasizes structured annual planning engagements using firm-approved analytical tools and offers various programs including estate-settlement and employer-sponsored planning.

Allison Sharpe is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2015 and is currently affiliated with Bank of America. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of a family business, MFEO Properties, LLC, which manages long-term rental properties in Asheville, North Carolina. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Gary Krieger is a financial advisor with Stifel, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an Executive Committee Officer for the Zoological Society of Palm Beaches. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional investors, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and investment advisory services supported by proprietary investment analysis and asset allocation models developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Michelle Patrick is a financial advisor with Robert Baird & Co. in Asheville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. She has worked at Robert Baird & Co. since 2019 and has prior experience at Hilliard Lyons from 1998 to the present, including its predecessor firm J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. from 1998 to 2019. The DDK Group, part of Robert Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management department, serves individuals, corporate and business clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management, separately managed account programs, and custody and brokerage services, supported by internal research and a variety of investment strategies.

Nathan Moran is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Asheville, NC. He has 11 years of industry experience and has been with Edward Jones since 2014. 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 under management and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, alongside affiliated mutual funds and tax-efficient services.

Gregory Greiner is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, operating as part of the wealth management advisory team Greiner, Ezell and Associates based in Asheville, NC. He focuses on serving families, individual investors, and business owners. At Merrill Lynch, Greg manages responsibilities that include conducting investment research, trading, and retirement planning and modeling. As a Senior Portfolio Advisor, he provides clients with investment strategies by managing custom portfolios on a discretionary basis, selecting from a range of Merrill model portfolios and third-party investment strategies to help clients pursue their financial objectives. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 2011, Greg spent 15 years working in civil engineering and environmental sciences as a consultant and business development professional. He also has experience in the commercial real estate industry handling transactions for buyers and sellers. This background gives him a detailed understanding of the financial challenges and opportunities faced by many clients. Greg holds a Bachelor's Degree from Ohio State University and holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered SRI Counselor (CSRIC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He is actively involved in the community, volunteering with organizations such as Manna Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and Trout Unlimited. Greg has previously served on the board of Heart of Horse Sense and was a Past-President of The Ohio State Alumni Club of Asheville, North Carolina.

Mariah Doyle is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 10 years of industry experience, currently with Robert W. Baird & Co. She has previously worked at Gratz Park Private Wealth, Raymond James Financial Services, and Oppenheimer. Doyle serves as Chair of the Board and Finance Committee member for the North Carolina Arboretum Society, a nonprofit organization. She is part of The DDK Group at Baird, which advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The group provides tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of investment strategies and overlays to meet client goals and risk tolerances.

Evan Truxton is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Asheville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and nine years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Robert Half. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, employing proprietary capital market assumptions and research to tailor plans based on clients’ goals and risk tolerances. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and provides a broad range of capital markets and investment products.

Elizabeth Anderson is a financial advisor with Merrill in Asheville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Members Trust Company, Credit Union Investment Services, SECU Brokerage Services, SECU Life Insurance Company, and State Employees' Credit Union. She has also been associated with Herbalife International of America, Inc. as a distributor, maintaining status primarily for personal product discounts. 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, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutions.

Leslie Apple is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Edward Jones in Asheville, NC, and has nine years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2017 and is also involved with Off-Trail On Purpose College Advisors, a role she has held since 2014. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a broad range of advisory strategies and affiliated investment options. The firm operates under a fiduciary standard and maintains a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.