Wade Howell is a financial advisor at Cetera with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked with Avantax and Legacy firms. Howell also serves as a registered agent and financial advisor at Legacy Tax and Accounting and Legacy Capital Advisor, LLC. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutions. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management options, including model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized strategies.

David Hart is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2025. He has previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network and LPL Financial and is the owner of Paragon Financial, LLC. Hart serves on the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Visitors and is a committee member of the WNC Bridge Foundation. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and trusts by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals. The firm offers a variety of investment solutions including proprietary model strategies and access to unaffiliated strategists, with options for discretionary and non-discretionary management across multiple platforms.

Michelle Cox is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Asheville, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 16 years of industry experience, including prior roles at LPL Financial, Commonwealth Financial Network, and Paragon Financial. In addition to her advisory work, she is a commissioned Notary Public. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory through independent Financial Professionals using various custody platforms and both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Jennie Wells is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with one year of industry experience. She previously worked at Charter/Spectrum and Verizon Wireless before joining Thrivent. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive planning on topics such as retirement, taxes, estate, and special needs without including implementation. The firm combines goal-based analyses with managed-account options through its WealthPlan program, maintaining separate planning and investment management services.

Kale Olson is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at JJB Hilliard WL Lyons LLC and Oppenheimer & Co. Olson serves as trustee for several family trusts established for the benefit of his children, overseeing their investment strategies. He is part of The DDK Group, a team within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice that advises individuals, families, pensions, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The group provides customized financial planning and portfolio management services, employing a range of investment strategies and overlay services to align with client goals and risk tolerances.

Charles Miller is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2025, he worked at State National Companies/Markel Insurance for nine years. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner of Cave Canis Kennels, a dog training and breeding business, and owner of Angels BBQ, a catering business in Hendersonville, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Vicki Epley is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wachovia Bank, N.A. Outside of her advisory role, she co-owns and manages a rental property through GG'S HOUSE LLC with her spouse. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering IPS-driven advisory services that include investment policy statement preparation, performance reporting, and participant education. The firm acts as an ERISA fiduciary and offers discretionary investment management options, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options in its investment menus.

Breona Leamon is a financial advisor at Merrill with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill since 2020. Prior to Merrill, she was employed at Centaurus Financial, Inc and has experience in other roles including positions at Hollywood Feed, Urban Dog Retreat, and Mars Hill University. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations by offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies supported by internal and third-party managers.

Kevin Clark is a Senior Financial Advisor and First Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Asheville, NC. He has been with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management since 1995 and serves as a Senior Portfolio Advisor, managing custom investment strategies and selecting from various Merrill and third-party investment portfolios on a discretionary basis. Over his 28-year career, Kevin has focused on building long-term relationships with clients to assist them in achieving their financial goals and objectives. His areas of expertise include investment portfolio management, wealth preservation and planning, retirement planning, cash management, mortgages, business lending, life insurance, banking, and credit cards. He leverages the resources available at Merrill Lynch and Bank of America to serve high-net-worth clients. Kevin holds a Bachelor's Degree from UNC Asheville and is designated as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He supports local charities and is a member of Biltmore Church. In his free time, Kevin enjoys riding motorcycles, lifting weights, hiking, traveling, biking, swimming, and spending time with his family.

Kevin Huston is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 63 designation and 32 years of industry experience. He has worked with Avantax Advisory Services and Avantax Insurance Agency, among other roles. Outside of his advisory work, Huston is an enrolled agent and United States Tax Court Practitioner who operates Blue Ridge Tax Advisors, where he focuses on tax preparation and resolving tax issues with the IRS and US Tax Court. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management options and oversight across various program structures and custodial relationships.

Alaina Nelson is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently advising clients at Edward Jones in Asheville, NC since 2017. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked briefly at Hotchalk, Inc./Insperity in 2016. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, with over $1 trillion in assets under management and a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies under a fiduciary standard, with capabilities including separately managed accounts, tax-efficient services, and affiliated mutual funds.

Chau Quach is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab since 2017 and previously held positions at Goldman Sachs and Kestra Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a rental property owner in Austin, Texas. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program, offering a mix of non-discretionary and discretionary investment management with integrated brokerage, custody, and advisory services.

Averyl Basolo is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Edward Jones since 2019. Prior to her current role, her background includes positions at Hobby Lobby, The Master's University, The Men's Wearhouse, and involvement with the Republican GOP. 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. 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.

Peter Bermont is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 57 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James since 2013 and concurrently associated with Mesznik since 1999. Bermont serves as a board subcommittee member for Jackson Hospital and participates in the Moorings Property Owners Association committee in Miami, FL. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a wide range of clients including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and investment consulting through various advisory programs and institutional solutions.

Adam Stanford is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Asheville, NC, bringing 13 years of industry experience. He has worked with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2012 and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients with a wide array of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process utilizing firm-approved tools and market simulations.

Shelia Christofalos is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently with Edward Jones since 2014. She is based in Asheville, NC, and holds a Series 66 license. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. With approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and a network of nearly 24,000 advisors, the firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, tax-efficient services, and affiliated investment products under a fiduciary standard.

Carl Powell Jr. is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 40 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and Citigroup Global Markets. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and manages a rental property in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. The firm uses proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor plans according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Colton Smith is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank NA since 2016, with prior experience at Waddell & Reed in 2015. 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 roughly $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research and analytics to guide investment recommendations.

Theodore Chiappini Jr. is a CFP® professional with 33 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Edward Jones since 1992. 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, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Isaias Puente is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for two years. His career also includes roles at Wells Fargo and Erus Energy. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to affiliated discretionary SMA portfolios and offers a formal process for alternative investments.