Dylan Thurman is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TIAA and First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities by providing advisory and brokerage services that include portfolio management, financial planning, and tax-aware strategies. The firm emphasizes IAR-led client assessments and applies various analytical methods to manage portfolios across multiple asset classes.

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.

George Bowery is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked with SunTrust Advisory Services and related SunTrust entities since 2014. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, participant advice, and a manager-selection program, implementing advice through discretionary and non-discretionary relationships supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Franklin Mcelroy is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 34 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Mcelroy is co-owner and manager of BMH Investment Group, LLC, where he is involved in business decisions and client management. He also serves on the boards of Beers & Burpees and the CLT Foundation, both charitable organizations serving the greater Charlotte area. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a wide range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers fiduciary services, plan design and compliance testing, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients including large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

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.

Matthew Fortenberry is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Prudential-related firms, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and AXA Advisors. Equitable Advisors serves individual clients—including both non‑high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals—along with pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset management programs, utilizing a range of third-party asset managers and proprietary advisory models.

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.

David Hahl is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Edward Jones in Cornelius, NC, where he has worked since 2010. He has 15 years of industry experience. Outside of advising, he is involved in managing rental properties through several real estate entities. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, and is notable for its extensive advisor network and affiliated capabilities such as a trust company and securities-based lending.

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.

Mitchell Harris is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial in Denver, NC. He has been with LPL Financial since 2013. In addition to his advisory role, he is a Notary Public. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Amy Murray is a financial advisor at Merrill with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Her prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Holston Medical Group, and Novant Health. Merrill, along 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 and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

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.

Robert Koppenhofer is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James since 2012. Koppenhofer also works as an associate at Williamson Wealth Group. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and investment consulting using detailed analytical tools and supports municipal and public-finance work through unique affiliations.

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.

Connor Lacz is a financial advisor with Fidelity Investments, holding a Series 66 credential. He began his advisory career in 2025 and is based in Huntersville, NC. Prior to joining Fidelity, his work experience includes various roles in education, hospitality, and retail. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and charitable funds. The firm employs a systematic investment process combining fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction.