David Balok is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Denver, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and having 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Linsco/Private Ledger Corp. since 2006, totaling 20 years at that firm. He also operates a wealth management business under the name David R. Balok Wealth Management. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals—including both high-net-worth and non-HNW clients—retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research from multiple sources.

Thomas Druckenbrod is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management who specializes in retirement income and wealth management planning. With over 19 years of experience in the financial services industry, he focuses on helping individuals set realistic financial goals and develop outcome-oriented strategies using Merrill's customized advice and Bank of America Global Research. Thomas holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has earned multiple professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). His client focus areas include college education planning, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, special needs planning strategies, women and wealth, and retirement income. In addition to his professional work, Thomas is involved in his community as a church volunteer. Outside of work, his personal interests include adventure sports, chess, fishing, ice skating, table tennis, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Kirk Messick is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2012. He began his career in the financial services industry in 2006 with Wachovia Securities. Kirk holds professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his high school diploma from West Iredell High School. With over sixteen years of experience, Kirk focuses on goal setting and retirement planning, specializing in consolidation and distribution of retirement and pension plans. He employs Goals Based Wealth Management, creating personalized strategies to help clients pursue their financial goals through a structured process of defining objectives and implementing solutions. His approach emphasizes putting the client's interests first and building trust through integrity and hard work. Outside of his professional role, Kirk participates in community activities such as coaching the All Pro Dads Odell Elementary Chapter and serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America. His personal interests include hiking, spending time with his family, and watching movies.

Mark Kuznitz is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill from 2009 to 2023. Kuznitz is based in Denver, NC. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals approaching or in retirement with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide customized, non-discretionary recommendations supported by a centralized consulting team.

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.

Thomas Francomano is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he partners with individuals, families, and business owners to accumulate and preserve wealth tailored to their short and long-term goals. He joined The Lake Norman Group of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2018 as a Financial Advisor in Boulder, CO, and returned to the Charlotte, NC area in 2020. Thomas works closely with clients to develop customized and comprehensive wealth management strategies that consider their risk tolerance and the dynamics of changing markets. He provides regular reviews and periodic contact to track progress towards goals and make appropriate recommendations. His expertise includes areas such as college education planning, corporate benefits, divorce transition planning, and retirement planning. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Colorado State University and has earned the designations of CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Thomas is involved in the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce and participates in community activities, including coaching youth lacrosse and volunteering with the Big Brother Big Sister program.

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.

Eileen Stoner is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 29 years of industry experience. She has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2021, following a decade at UBS Financial Services. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and emphasizes a structured financial planning process supported by firm-approved tools and scenario modeling.

Christine Sowell is currently the Vice President and Wealth Planner at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2024. In this role, she engages with clients to develop, support, and advise them throughout their financial journeys, aiming to provide confidence, insight, and direction to their financial health. Prior to her current role, Christine served as a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2019 to 2024. She also has experience as a Senior Manager in Assurance at Ernst & Young LLP from 2005 to 2013. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Christine's interests include family activities, hiking, military service, parenthood, soccer, and traveling.

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.

Toni Clarke is a financial advisor with Merrill in Huntersville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Michelle Heide & Associates and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Clarke is involved as a part-time, nonpaying member of the Italian American Heritage Club of Hunterdon County, a charitable organization focused on cultural and community support. 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 investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

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.

Caleb Cheyney is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial plans that align with their unique goals and priorities, focusing on areas such as retirement planning, portfolio management, tax minimization, and special needs planning strategies. Caleb leverages the resources of Merrill and Bank of America to assist federal employees, medical professionals, and business leaders in preparing for well-structured retirements. Caleb holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina System and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) as well as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His approach emphasizes understanding clients' individual circumstances and providing clear, disciplined guidance to help them manage their financial futures confidently. Outside of his professional work, Caleb enjoys basketball, football, music, pickleball, and spending time with his family. He is also involved in the community through his participation with Niner United at UNC Charlotte.

Robert Carrington II is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Primerica Advisors since 2020. Prior to this, he was employed at Medi Weightloss and ECPI University, among other roles. Outside of advising, he is involved in sales of loan products and home-related services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and a limited selection of separately managed accounts. The firm uses third-party asset managers and offers a tiered wrap-fee structure, focusing on curated investment models rather than institutional portfolio management.

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.

Mason Hardy is a Financial Consultant currently working at Fidelity Investments. He focuses on collaborating with clients to develop personalized financial plans that align with their individual goals. Mason's approach involves understanding each client's unique situation to create effective and manageable strategies for pursuing their financial objectives. He has accumulated experience through various roles at Fidelity Investments, including Planning Consultant, Investment Consultant, Relationship Manager, and High Net Worth Associate, covering the period from 2022 to the present. Prior to joining Fidelity, Mason worked as a Financial Professional at Equitable Advisors in 2021.

Karen Anderson is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She joined Merrill in 2004, bringing over 20 years of executive sales, marketing, and business development experience from her previous roles at a major consumer products company and a start-up. Karen works closely with a select group of clients, often including multiple generations of the same family, to coordinate all aspects of their financial lives. She focuses on preparing clients for future uncertainties as well as financial opportunities, offering services ranging from income planning strategies to transferring wealth and financial education for the next generations. Karen's expertise encompasses executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, small business strategies, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan and has earned professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Karen is also affiliated with professional organizations such as NextUp and Procter & Gamble Alumni. Outside of her professional duties, Karen is involved in community organizations including The First Tee of Greater Charlotte, the University of Michigan Alumni Association - Charlotte, and the Women's Impact Fund in Charlotte. She lives in Lake Norman with her husband and two daughters, and her personal interests include golf, health and wellness, and community service.

Michael Bird is a financial advisor with Merrill in Cornelius, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill and Bank of America since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he maintains a rental property where he manages tenant relations. 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, and institutional investors.