Eric Wellford is a Benefits & Planning Consultant in Executive Services. He provides benefits guidance and planning support for executives. Eric has been with Fidelity Investments since 2021, starting as a Workplace Planning Consultant I-3 before becoming a Benefits & Planning Consultant in 2026. In his personal time, Eric enjoys art, camping, hiking, photography, and traveling.

James Hoke is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, where he has worked since 2015. He has 10 years of industry experience and serves as a board member for several local organizations, including the Kenly Area Chamber of Commerce, the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, and the Johnston County Tourism Authority. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, offering holistic, goal-based financial planning that covers a wide range of topics without direct portfolio management or discretionary trading authority.

James Forrester is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding a Series 66 credential and over 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James & Associates since 2015. Outside of advising, he owns a commercial fishing boat and is a one-third owner of a water disaster mitigation equipment sales and leasing business. He also serves as president of the board for Pine Knoll Townes Phase 1. Raymond James & Associates is a large dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser overseeing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering a range of financial planning, investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary services.

Scott Blanchard is a financial advisor with LPL Financial and holds a Series 66 designation. He has worked in the financial services industry since 2024, including roles at Charles Schwab, Osaic, and Steward Wealth Strategies. His background also includes experience outside finance, such as working in the restaurant industry and at an educational institution. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of advisors and integrated financial activities.

Robert Mitchell Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 41 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is also a published book author and a motivational speaker. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive resources and technology.

Christopher Key is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Smithfield, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2010 and previously at Edward Jones from 2007 to 2010. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, combining a broad range of advisory services with various non-advisory financial activities.

Grayson Clements is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and 0 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Bank of America and Merrill since 2026 and previously worked in various roles including at Townsquare Interactive and Mythic. 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 a wide range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts.

Benjamin Woodard Jr. is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 52 years of industry experience, including 27 years at Equitable Advisors and 21 years at Axa Advisors, LLC. He is also approved to conduct insurance business with carriers outside of the Equitable network. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a range of asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives, utilizing both in-house and third-party investment solutions.

Michael Sterling is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at FSC Securities Corporation and Banyan, Rock and Talent Insurance Agency prior to joining OSAIC. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in an insurance agency and serves as president and CEO of a personal financial consulting firm. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors, offering a range of brokerage and advisory services supported by model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization tools. The firm is notable for its scale, complex affiliate network, and recently expanded platform offerings.

Zachary Merritt is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. He has previously worked at several financial firms including Lincoln Financial Securities, Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch. Outside of his advisory role, Merritt assists with family business consulting and serves as a Notary Public. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a range of advisory models and third-party asset managers to deliver tailored investment solutions.

Ryder Seiz is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors in 2023, his work history includes roles at DoorDash and UNC Aquatics. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a range of advisory models implemented by third-party sponsors and offers access to mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and select alternative investments.

Maria Williams is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience. She has worked at Edward Jones since 2021 and previously held positions at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors and Fidelity Investments. 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, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Andrew Blanchard is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Raleigh, NC, with two years of industry experience. Prior to his financial advisory role, he served nine years in the U.S. Air Force and was a homemaker for five years. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as an actor represented by a talent agency and serves as a board member for the Apex Public School Foundation. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive financial planning focused on goals such as retirement, tax, estate, and special needs planning. The firm combines planning with managed-account programs under consolidated billing while maintaining separate planning and investment services.

Melinda Poulton is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with four years of industry experience. She has worked at Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management since 2022. Outside of her advisory role, she acts as a brand ambassador for nutritional supplements and wellness products in a limited capacity. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on holistic, goal-based analyses across various financial planning topics. The firm offers a planning service separate from portfolio management and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under consolidated billing.

Anna Hartwell is a financial advisor at OSAIC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 14 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. and Pruco Securities LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a House Director at NC State University, managing student housing operations. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse range of retail and institutional clients through a multi-advisor platform that offers brokerage and advisory services, including comprehensive financial planning and advisor-managed portfolios. The firm employs a model-based investment approach with portfolio optimization tools and supports a variety of account types and third-party investment options.

Tonya Maness is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with LPL Financial, based in Smithfield, NC, with 4 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL in 2021, she worked in healthcare and social services roles, including positions at Liberty Home Care and Hospice and the Chatham County Department of Social Services. She has also authored a published book outside of her investment activities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering a range of advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement participants, institutions, and banks. The firm provides access to financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting over 22,800 advisors and $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Mauriel Vega is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at BridgeLight Financial Advisors, Symmetry Partners, LPL Financial, and TIAA-CREF. Outside finance, he is involved as an agent in retail sales and distribution and operates as an independent insurance agent. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base of individuals and institutions, including pension and charitable organizations, by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management through various platforms and proprietary model strategies.

Daniel Griffith is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and based in Raleigh, NC. He has been with LPL Financial since 2026 and previously held roles at Osaic, Samaritan's Purse, and Liberty University, among others. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a broad range of investment options and utilizes various operational and research tools to support its network of over 22,800 advisors managing more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Crystal Dempsey is a CFP® and Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 14 years of experience, currently practicing at Edward Jones in Garner, NC since 2012. She has been with Edward Jones throughout her advisory career. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and supports a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Shawn Ingram is a Planning Consultant who assists clients in achieving their financial goals by collaborating with them to create actionable and accessible financial plans. He currently works at Fidelity Investments, where he has held several roles since 2023. His positions have included Investment Solutions Representative, High Net Worth Associate, and Customer Relationship Advocate, reflecting his experience in various aspects of client relationship management and investment solutions within the firm.