Julie Willard is a financial advisor with Robert Baird & Co. who holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 25 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at JJB Hilliard WL Lyons LLC and Oppenheimer & Co. She is based in Asheville, NC. She is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group offers customized financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of strategies from traditional to complex investments.

David Hartman is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving clients at Edward Jones in Weaverville, NC. He has been with Edward Jones since 2008. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Brittny Hobkirk is a financial advisor at Merrill with 12 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Her prior roles include positions at Bank of America, N.A., Securian Financial Services, Inc., Minnesota Life Insurance Company, CRI Securities, LLC, and North Star Consultants, Inc. She also worked briefly at Anytime Fitness. 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 a range of individual and institutional clients.

Ryan Moran is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Lincoln Financial Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Morgan Stanley. In addition to his advisory work, Moran is an independent insurance agent for various companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual, pension, and charitable organization clients, offering financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm manages a multi-billion dollar asset base and provides access to multiple platforms, third-party advisors, and proprietary model strategies.

Gareth Rich is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 40 years of industry experience, currently with OSAIC since 2025. He previously worked for 35 years at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, Rich offers accident, health disability, and traditional life insurance and serves as a trustee managing family member trusts. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients, providing both brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform. The firm’s investment approach focuses on model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supported by various tools and strategies that accommodate discretionary and advisor-managed accounts.

Stephan Ihde is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Edward Jones in Asheville, NC, holding 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Outside of finance, he operates a sole proprietorship selling landscape and nature photography prints online. 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 services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Katherine Bradley is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2023, she worked in real estate and hospitality from 2012 to 2023. 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 nationwide network of financial advisors and offices.

Howard Helms III is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Asheville, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. He is also involved with Helms Wealth Management in Asheville. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions, offering a broad range of financial planning and investment management solutions through a large network of advisors.

Addison Harris is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill and Bank of America in 2020, Harris held various roles including work with Mars Hill University and the YMCA of Western North Carolina. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Susan Sorrells is the Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Asheville, North Carolina. She has been with Merrill Lynch since 2007 and brings over 36 years of experience in the financial services industry, including prior roles in retail branch management and licensed banker supervision at SunTrust Bank and Wachovia Bank. Susan holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in commercial banking from Mars Hill University. She has earned several professional certifications, including Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™), and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®). Her expertise encompasses retirement planning, education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, and managing new wealth. In addition to her professional work, Susan is involved in the Waynesville Rotary Club and has contributed to community organizations such as KARE, Open Door, Manna Backpack, and Folkmoot. She resides in Waynesville, North Carolina, with her husband and enjoys boating, reading, and traveling.

Alan Brookshire is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked previously at JJB Hilliard W.L. Lyons LLC and Oppenheimer & Co. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a director at Cane Creek Cycling Components, advising on corporate strategy. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group provides tailored financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of investment strategies and overlay services.

Lauren Hackler is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors holding a Series 66 designation. She has experience primarily in technology and software roles prior to joining the financial services industry in 2026. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, ongoing investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management across multiple platforms and maintains proprietary model strategies under the Founders Gate Capital brand.

Scott Mcdonald is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses, with 16 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role since 2015, he has worked extensively as an optometrist, currently practicing at Optometric Eye Care Center and Elevate Eye Care. He is also involved in owning and managing Innovative Financial Planning, LLC, and Gryphon Capital, Inc., a real estate investment business. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm emphasizes structured annual planning engagements using firm-approved analytical tools and offers various programs including estate-settlement and employer-sponsored planning.

Allison Sharpe is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2015 and is currently affiliated with Bank of America. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of a family business, MFEO Properties, LLC, which manages long-term rental properties in Asheville, North Carolina. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Joshua Daigle is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Elevation Church and Waters Church. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers goal-based financial plans covering a wide range of topics, with the option to combine planning and managed-account services under a consolidated billing arrangement.

Robert Viands is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management since 2023. Prior to his financial services career, he was involved with Daystar Machining Technologies and operated Viands Lawn Care Plus. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, providing comprehensive planning that covers topics such as retirement, tax, estate, and special needs planning. The firm emphasizes client-driven, goal-based analyses and separates planning from managed-account services.

Matthew Plymale is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has previously worked at Western & Southern Life and Valic Financial Advisor, Inc. Prior to his financial advisory roles, his background includes positions at companies such as Sea Island Company and Grand Teton Lodge Company. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves a large client base primarily composed of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. Schwab combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and offers a range of integrated brokerage, custody, and advisory services.

Joseph Schrader Jr. is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with RBC Capital Markets since 2008. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs with tailored strategies based on clients’ risk profiles, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party investment managers and providing portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services.

Gary Krieger is a financial advisor with Stifel, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an Executive Committee Officer for the Zoological Society of Palm Beaches. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional investors, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and investment advisory services supported by proprietary investment analysis and asset allocation models developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Michelle Patrick is a financial advisor with Robert Baird & Co. in Asheville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. She has worked at Robert Baird & Co. since 2019 and has prior experience at Hilliard Lyons from 1998 to the present, including its predecessor firm J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc. from 1998 to 2019. The DDK Group, part of Robert Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management department, serves individuals, corporate and business clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management, separately managed account programs, and custody and brokerage services, supported by internal research and a variety of investment strategies.