Jeffrey Annas is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in helping individuals and families gain control and confidence in their financial futures. Drawing on his experience, he collaborates with clients to design clear and customized financial strategies aligned with their goals and lifestyles. His expertise includes family wealth and multigenerational planning, retirement planning, equity compensation guidance, charitable gifting strategies, tax planning, and tax-efficient investing. Prior to his current role, Jeffrey served for 10 years in the U.S. Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller, where he developed discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain composure under pressure. He holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. His educational background includes a High School Diploma from South Caldwell High School and an Associate's Degree from the Community College of the Air Force. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Jeffrey enjoys spending time with his wife and two young daughters. His personal interests include fishing, camping, exercising, basketball, biking, chess, hiking, pickleball, skiing, and tennis.

Taylor Mclennan is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Kearfott Corporation and Mission Health System before joining Morgan Stanley in 2019. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, delivering tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and a comprehensive investment research process.

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 and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 24 years of industry experience and has worked at firms including Lincoln Financial Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of advising, Moran is an independent insurance agent representing various insurance companies. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory through a network of independent Financial Professionals using various portfolio management strategies and platform arrangements.

Gareth Rich is a CFP® professional with 40 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with OSAIC since 2025. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation for 35 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is engaged in offering insurance products and acts as a trustee managing family trusts. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing integrated brokerage, investment advisory services, and access to third-party money managers across multiple platforms. The firm employs firm-provided tools and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios tailored to client risk profiles.

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.

Brian Fortune is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2020. He previously worked for CETERA Advisor Networks LLC from 2013 to 2019. Outside of his advisory work, he is a committee member volunteer for the YWCA in Asheville, NC. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and trusts, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals. The firm provides various portfolio management options with both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, including proprietary models and access to third-party managers.

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 at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to her advisory role, she worked in various positions at companies including ProductPlan, Flexera, RISC Networks, and Gartner. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, retirement plan advisory, and financial-wellness services through a network of independent Financial Professionals using a range of portfolio management and model-based solutions.

Gregg Defilippi is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in the financial industry, all spent at Edward Jones since 2000. He holds the Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and is based in Arden, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

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.

Ross Ryan is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Edward Jones, LPL Financial, and Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. prior to joining his current firm. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory services focused on workplace retirement accounts, IRAs, taxable accounts, and institutional clients. The firm manages model-based and customized portfolios, offers sub-advisory services, and supports a large participant base through both advisor-led and online offerings.

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.