Tara Hicks is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and having eight years of industry experience. She has been with Thrivent Investment Management since 2016 and at Thrivent Financial since 2017. Outside of her advisory role, she manages rental properties. 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 planning across various financial topics, with services available on a one-time or ongoing basis, separate from managed-account programs.

Heath Prior is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His career includes 13 years at Lincoln Financial Securities Corp prior to joining Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in 2022. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as president and owner of Prior Wealth Planning. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through independent Financial Professionals using a variety of portfolio management approaches and custody platforms.

Edwin Gresham is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. since 2012. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm uses tailored, non-discretionary planning and analytical tools to support client goals and provides a range of advisory programs and consulting services.

Brandon Schlesinger is a Private Wealth Advisor with over 20 years of experience in financial services. He has been a key member of The Oberheide-Schlesinger Group since 2007, focusing on asset manager selection, due diligence, performance measurement, and overseeing operational and compliance matters for the team. Prior to joining Merrill Private Wealth Management, Brandon served as a Senior Vice President and Alternative Investments Director at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. Brandon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematical economics from DePaul University and maintains several FINRA licenses including Series 7, 66, 3, and 31. He has earned professional designations as a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of America's Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors during his eligibility years and was included in Forbes Top Wealth Advisors in 2023. Additionally, Brandon and The Oberheide Group were named to Forbes Magazine's Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams for 2024. He has also been a featured speaker at Forbes' 30 Under 30 and Barron's Top Advisory Teams Summits.

Bryce Moritz is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in the Lake Norman office. He works closely with families to improve their financial plans and help them take advantage of opportunities that align with their unique ambitions. His client focus areas include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, retirement income, tax minimization, and legacy planning among others. Originally from Baltimore County, Maryland, Bryce graduated from Clemson University in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a minor in Business Administration. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) designation and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Bryce's professional philosophy centers on uncovering what matters to each family to create a strategy that pursues their financial goals. Outside of his professional work, Bryce enjoys sports such as basketball, football, tennis, and golfing, as well as playing chess and watching movies.

William Dagit Jr. is a financial advisor at Osaic Wealth, Inc. with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Osaic Wealth since 2023. Prior to that, he spent over two decades at Royal Alliance Associates and has managed Lakeside Financial Services, LLC since 2001. In addition to advising on investments, he provides tax consultation and preparation services through his CPA practice. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services utilizing various asset-allocation tools and third-party platforms to deliver customized portfolio management solutions.

Jerry Inman is a financial advisor with Merrill in Huntersville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lpl Financial Services for 13 years before joining Merrill in 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for the Coach Ron Axselle Scholarship, a charitable organization. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, offers managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm provides model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors, employing strategic and tactical asset allocation with various implementation options.

Sarah Frimel is a financial advisor at Merrill with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill since 2011. Sarah has a beneficial interest in a family-owned real estate LLC but does not have an active role in its operations. 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.

Kimberly Kaylor is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 17 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial for 11 years. Kaylor is also involved with Williamson Wealth Group, a support company based in Cornelius, NC. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and employs analytical tools to illustrate potential outcomes, supporting clients through advisory programs and a broad advisor network.

Paul Collins is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Cornelius, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at PNC Bank and PNC Investments. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a broad range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, including tailored financial planning services supported by structured discovery processes and advanced modeling tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers both direct and employer-sponsored financial planning solutions.

Robert Pawlowski is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Cornelius, NC, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill from 2009 to 2022, before joining Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in 2022. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing structured planning tools and modeling techniques such as Monte Carlo simulations.

Gene Lenfest Jr. is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Denver, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. since 2005. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals nearing or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, providing written Recommendation Reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm employs a centralized consulting team and combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, algorithm-assisted recommendations.

Timothy Mcclurg is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with over 32 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and previously worked at Riversource Distributors, Inc. for 15 years before joining Ameriprise in 2022. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide non-discretionary, written recommendations, emphasizing managed accounts and using algorithmic tools overseen by a dedicated committee.

Jay Fitz is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at The Vanguard Group for 10 years, Waters Doctors for one year, and Lu La Rose for four years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Cooper Bumgarner is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Charles Schwab and First Community Bank. He also spent three years at Appalachian State University before starting his career in finance. 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 programs and investment solutions through a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Tim Bryson is a ChFC® and Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with nine years of experience, currently serving clients at Edward Jones since 2016. Before joining Edward Jones, he worked for fourteen years at Bed Bath and Beyond. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Samuel Edwards is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at SagePoint Financial for six years before joining LPL Financial in 2019. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Thomas North II is a CFP® professional with 31 years of experience currently serving at Ameriprise. He has been with Ameriprise and its related entities since 2005 and has also operated T.M. North & Nco. since 1994. He serves on the board of directors for Invest in Others, a nonprofit organization. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services for clients generally holding at least $1,000,000 in investable assets, offering written recommendation reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and algorithmic tools to deliver tailored retirement advice through a centralized consulting team.

Amy Matthews is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Lincolnton, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked for Lincoln County Schools for 12 years before joining Edward Jones in 2025. Edward Jones is a 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 investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Christopher Geoghegan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2024. He previously worked at SunTrust Advisory Services and SUNTRUST INVESTMENT SERVICES, Inc. for eight and nine years, respectively. Outside of his advisory role, Geoghegan is involved in several business entities, including an insurance agency and private wealth management under the MG Partners brand. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of financial planning and advisory programs, as well as access to model portfolios, research, and institutional investment solutions.