Tangneka Smith is a financial advisor at Merrill with 12 years of experience at the firm and holds a Series 66 designation. She is based in Johnson City, TN. 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.

Thomas Dixon is the Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill, where he provides retirement education and strategies for individuals and businesses, in addition to philanthropic planning approaches. He plays a key role in organizing his team's overall structure and maintaining a client-centered focus. Since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1997, Thomas has worked with a diverse client base, including many physicians and health professionals. His areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy and philanthropic planning, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. Thomas holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration degree from East Tennessee State University. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Outside of his professional work, Thomas enjoys basketball, fishing, reading, and spending time with his family.

Cindy Thurlow is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Johnson City, TN, where she has worked since 2010. She has 15 years of industry experience. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets. The firm offers a variety of advisory strategies and affiliated investment products, operating under a fiduciary standard and supporting a nationwide network of over 23,000 financial advisors.

Gerald Malchak is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Johnson City, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he holds multiple powers of attorney for family members related to investment matters. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering services such as investment policy preparation, performance reporting, participant education, and plan benchmarking. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options in its investment offerings.

Richard Hobbs is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing since 2009. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, incorporating a range of investment options including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Teresa Ring is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Bristol, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2010. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a broad range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Denise Depriest is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in personalized wealth management strategies that help clients pursue their long-term financial goals. With over 30 years of experience, she serves individuals and families by focusing on wealth growth, management, preservation, and legacy planning. Her expertise encompasses areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, retirement income, portfolio management services, and employee financial health. Denise holds a Bachelor's Degree from Milligan College and has earned professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She integrates the investment insights of Merrill and the banking convenience and lending solutions of Bank of America to provide comprehensive financial services to her clients. Outside of her professional role, Denise is involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kingsport Tennessee. Her personal interests include biking, camping, cooking, golfing, hiking, music, photography, reading, traveling, and yoga. Denise values family deeply and enjoys connecting with others through shared interests.

Arnold Abel Jr. is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent and its affiliated entity, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for Orphan Grain Train and the Lutheran Mission Society, both organizations focused on charitable efforts. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, delivering holistic, goal-based financial analyses and planning without discretionary trading authority. The firm integrates planning with managed-account options while maintaining separate service structures.

Jason Conkin is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill since 1994 and serves as a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Merrill Investment Advisory Program. In this role, Jason builds and manages personalized or defined investment strategies that may include individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment options. He also has the capability to manage client assets on a discretionary basis and collaborates with other Merrill Advisors to extend his strategies to their clients. Jason focuses on helping clients navigate significant transition events such as retirement, inheritance, or business sales, while also coordinating with clients’ attorneys, accountants, and other advisors to align financial and legacy strategies. Jason holds a Bachelor's Degree from East Tennessee State University and maintains professional designations including Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®). His client focus areas include corporate executive services, education planning, endowment and nonprofit services, legacy planning, retirement planning and income, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, and tax minimization. Outside of his professional work, Jason resides in Jonesborough, Tennessee, with his wife Becky and their two sons. The family is actively involved in their community and supports Central Baptist Church of Johnson City. Jason’s personal interests include baseball, basketball, boating, football, golfing, hiking, and reading.

Richard Kegley is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked with firms including Trinitas Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Advisors. Kegley is also the owner of Building 4 One, Inc., a commercial rental business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and corporate clients. The firm uses tailored, non-discretionary planning and analytical tools to support client goals and offers programs that include municipal advisory and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory services.

Katie Sikkenga is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where she has been working since 2026. She specializes in developing personalized financial planning strategies that align with clients' unique goals and priorities, focusing on supporting their vision for retirement. Prior to her current role, Katie served as a Life Events Consultant III at Fidelity Investments from 2021 to 2026. In this capacity, she gained experience assisting clients through significant life changes and providing tailored financial guidance. Outside of her professional work, Katie enjoys reading and traveling.

Mark Tipton is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with 10 years of experience in the financial industry, all at Edward Jones since 2016. He is based in Bristol, VA. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as the SPRC Chair at Gate City United Methodist Church and is the founder of Wyoming Territory Arms, LLC, a social media content business focused on firearms. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, operating under a fiduciary standard and supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Uril Peterson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Johnson City, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo since 2012. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and includes a broad range of financial products, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Mark Dennis is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Bristol, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Eastman Credit Union, Ameriprise, Morgan Keegan & Company, and other financial institutions. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Michael Merritt is a CFP® and Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Edward Jones and has worked at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC from 2015 to the present. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory programs and services, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and tax-efficient solutions, supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

David Mullins is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. He previously worked at LPL Financial and Commonwealth Financial Network. Mullins serves as a board member for the Virginia Council of Economic Education, assisting with financial literacy initiatives. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary advisory services supported by integrated custody, brokerage, and financial planning capabilities.

Kenneth Bevins is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2012. He is based in Kingsport, Tennessee. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals approaching or in retirement who meet certain asset thresholds, providing written Recommendation Reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Ron Fox is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Bristol, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 46 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors and its predecessor, Axa Advisors, since 1999. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a church elder on the session board of the First Presbyterian Church of Bristol. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm’s approach includes matching clients to program models or discretionary managers, often using third-party asset managers and advisory programs.

Frank Luton is a financial advisor with Merrill based in Johnson City, TN. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has professional experience spanning roles at Bank of America, Financial Insurance Group Benefits, Beacon Financial Credit Union, and The Hilb Group. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Andrew Ferguson is a financial advisor with OSAIC based in Johnson City, TN. He holds the ChFC® designation and has 11 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Securities America Advisors, Inc. and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of financial advising, he is the owner of ENF Building Group, a residential construction business focusing on new builds and renovations. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of brokerage and advisory services. The firm’s advisers utilize asset-allocation tools, risk assessments, and automated rebalancing to construct portfolios across various asset classes, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.