Kevin Spence is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 26 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. His prior roles include positions at TIAA CREF Individual & Institutional Services, Cary Street Partners, Luxon Asset Management, and HSBC Technology & Services USA. He serves as a FINRA arbitrator, contributes scholarly articles on regulatory compliance, participates as a speaker at financial services industry conferences, and is a council member of the Securities Industry Continuing Education Programs. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as certain retail clients. The firm offers integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan sponsor-chosen investment lineups.

Tod Wells is a CFP® professional with 33 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at &Partners since 2024. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2011 to 2024. Wells is a partner in DWM, LLC, a pass-through entity related to an equity buyout and office build-out. &Partners serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, foundations, universities, trusts, private businesses, and corporations. The firm offers investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan consulting using a combination of proprietary and third-party strategies.

Corie Basham is an advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and no prior industry experience. She has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2020 and previously held roles at Randstad and Enterprise Rent a Car. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage channels, offering a variety of managed account programs via the Passageway platform. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and provides services that include mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed accounts, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

Karen Hough is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Thrivent Financial For Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2006. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based analyses and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan,” while keeping planning and portfolio management services separate.

Caleb Wyckoff is a financial advisor with Merrill in Huntersville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America N.A. and Merrill since 2023 and previously spent seven years at Harris Teeter. 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 individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Laura Spivey is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones, based in Cornelius, NC. She has three years of industry experience, including prior roles at Movement Mortgage. She has been with Edward Jones since 2018. 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 large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Amy Sigmon is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Davidson, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2013 to 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Boyd Hough is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Salisbury, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 44 years of industry experience and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a broad, goal-based planning approach. The firm’s planning services address various financial topics and can be combined with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option, while keeping planning and asset management separate.

David Nifong is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial and Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC for nine years each. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of an architecture committee in Bryson City, NC. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals, providing tailored strategies across multiple custody and platform options.

Alan Burke is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He is also the owner of Alan F. Burke, CPA, PA, an accounting firm he has operated since 1989, and serves as treasurer for the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he manages a real estate business, Hole-in-One Properties, LLC, and owns Studio512, LLC, a business involved in band activities. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm uses detailed risk profiling and modeling tools to tailor non-discretionary planning and encourages implementation through its advisory programs or other providers.

Lexter Fennell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Concord, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth households, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Raymond Halstead is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. He is also the managing partner of REH CPA, PLLC, an accounting firm, and serves as managing partner of Halstead Real Estate Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he is an executive board member and treasurer for FeedNC, a local food bank, and president of the Morrison Executive Suites Owners Association. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide advisory firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with access to model portfolios, third-party managers, and customizable strategies across various program structures.

David Vespoli is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth Inc, holding a Series 66 credential and 22 years of industry experience. He has held prior roles at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd, LPL Financial, and Morgan Stanley, among others. Osaic Wealth Inc serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of brokerage, advisory, and financial planning services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm employs asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and third-party platforms to manage portfolios that may include stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

Sydney Kimball is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 10 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, Northwestern Mutual Investment Management, and Alex Beilin. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor plans to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Bruce Lau is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Mooresville, North Carolina, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2003. Outside of his advisory work, he is a certified independent contract pilot and has served as a first officer for American Airlines. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients across a broad spectrum, including non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth households, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Jon Rothenberg is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He has been associated with various entities within the Cetera network since 2004, including Cetera Wealth Services and Cetera Advisors LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers, managing over $256 billion in assets through a network of more than 10,000 advisors.

Kinyon Vinson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and was previously with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is a strategic business advisor for a recovery center through his involvement with VBR LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates a broad range of investment options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Kevin Nervegna is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 18 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at OSAIC, Sagepoint Financial, Questar Asset Management, Questar Capital Corporation, and GCG Wealth Management. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Samuel Schaefer is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wells Fargo Securities LLC since 2018. Prior to that, he was employed at Global Value Investment Corp. from 2014 to 2018. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering services such as investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, and participant education. The firm’s IPS-driven advisory process incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes both non-discretionary and discretionary services, with a broader range of financial product offerings than typical institutional advisers.

Douglas Robertson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Truliant Federal Credit Union and CUSO Financial Services, among other firms. His business activities include operating under a DBA affiliated with LPL Financial. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by internal and third-party research.