Kristen Thomas is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding CFP® and Series 66 credentials, and has nine years of industry experience. She has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Federated Investment Counseling, and currently operates her own garden consulting business, Southern Rooted Gardens. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving a broad client base including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management and consulting services, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts through a network of over 10,000 advisors.

Nicholas Caropreso is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Mooresville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He joined Edward Jones in 2026 and has prior professional experience at Lowe's Companies Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and Pinnacle Foods. 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. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Donald Coggins Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, Coggins is a musician, performing as a keyboard player and singer at various clubs and events in North Carolina, and is also involved in timber farming. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, supplemented by research and model portfolios from LPL Research and third-party subadvisors.

James Tapp II is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 designations and has been with Wells Fargo firms since 2009. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets through more than 14,000 advisors and offers a combination of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Jesse Riley is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has one year of industry experience and has been with Wells Fargo Bank and its affiliates 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 grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options in its investment menus.

Patrick Nielsen is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Mooresville, NC, holding CFP® and Series 66 credentials and seven years of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones in 2018, he worked for twelve years at Lowe's Companies, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a self-publishing business through which he writes fiction. 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 with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm is notable for its large network of financial advisors and branch offices, as well as its affiliated capabilities beyond advisory services.

Natasha Rufino Da Silva is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving the Suburban Philadelphia market. She is recognized as Merrill’s only African American advisor in the region and collaborates with an award-winning team that includes partners with over 40 years of experience. Drawing upon her athletic background, Natasha applies a disciplined and focused approach to her work with high net worth families and individuals. Her expertise spans advising medical professionals, athletes, business owners, and affluent families on various aspects of financial life, including wealth growth and preservation, retirement planning, managing new wealth, and tax minimization. Natasha emphasizes personalized strategies tailored to each client’s unique financial goals and has a commitment to educating her community on financial literacy, especially empowering Philadelphia’s youth. Natasha holds a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University and completed an Accredited Certificate Program at Temple University. She carries several professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). She is involved with community organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Tri State Black Men in Medicine. Fluent in English and Yoruba, Natasha focuses on clear communication to help clients understand financial strategies and market conditions.

Christian Burns is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with eight years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2017 and previously worked six years at the United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina, Inc. He serves on the Development Committee of the Cornelius Arts Center, where he contributes to training board members on major gifts and may collaborate with board members on donor meetings. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a large network of financial advisors and branch offices. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and affiliated investment products under a fiduciary standard.

Stephen Abercrombie is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for 17 years. Fidelity’s affiliate Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients using a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm also manages multiple registered investment companies and utilizes systematic methodologies and long-term asset allocation benchmarks.

Mary Michael is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. She has worked at Edward Jones since 2018 and previously held roles at Storr Office Environments and Palm Avenue. Outside of her advisory work, she is a co-owner of Hill Lane Home and Embroidery, an online retail business specializing in embroidery and design. 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 through a nationwide network of financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non‑discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

William Haugen is a CFP® professional with 56 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Prior to this, he worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. He serves as a board member of the Downtown Development Association of Morganton, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides a range of brokerage and advisory solutions.

John Shaffer is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Corpay and Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with investment options that include insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Paul Jackson is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley and its Private Bank division since 2009. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning and a range of advisory programs, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Edie Kijesky is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and eight years of industry experience. She has worked with Primerica and its affiliates since 2018, with prior roles at Sourcepoint/ISGN and Ocwen. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved as a VIP Ambassador with Plexus, a non-investment related activity. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable entities. The firm offers advisory services using model-based strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers, supported by discretionary separately managed accounts and third-party trade execution and custody providers.

Krista Thurmond is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with Series 66 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Baird, she worked at Hopewell Academy and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. She has also been involved with Soccer Shots of Greater Charlotte. The DDK Group, part of Baird’s Private Wealth Management department, serves individuals, corporate clients, pensions, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage services. Baird employs a range of strategies including SMA programs, tax management, and unified fee arrangements, supported by internal research and investment professional oversight.

Jeffrey Karp is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 32 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he operates Karp Financial Strategies, Inc., and sells fixed annuities and various types of non-variable insurance products including long-term care, term life, disability, and universal life insurance. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charities through a broad network of representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with research and model portfolios.

Jonathan Boone is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Mooresville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Panera Bread and was a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, affiliated mutual funds, and tax-efficient services. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Charles Thompson is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has been affiliated with Raymond James Financial and its services since 2000. Thompson also owns and operates a real estate brokerage license in North Carolina. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting using analytical tools and supports both retail and institutional clients through a broad network of advisors.

Bruce Sanborn is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2001, including its predecessor firm LINSCO/PRIVATE LEDGER CORP. Sanborn is also involved in selling fixed insurance products through F&M Insurance Agency in Granite Quarry, NC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual clients, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including model portfolios and retirement plan consulting, supported by research from internal and third-party sources.

Warren Williams is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial for 18 years. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, supported by research from LPL and third-party subadvisors.