Jesse Riley is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has one year of industry experience and has been with Wells Fargo Bank and its affiliates since 2012. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options in its investment menus.

Patrick Nielsen is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Mooresville, NC, holding CFP® and Series 66 credentials and seven years of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones in 2018, he worked for twelve years at Lowe's Companies, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a self-publishing business through which he writes fiction. 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 with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm is notable for its large network of financial advisors and branch offices, as well as its affiliated capabilities beyond advisory services.

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.

Natasha Rufino Da Silva is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving the Suburban Philadelphia market. She is recognized as Merrill’s only African American advisor in the region and collaborates with an award-winning team that includes partners with over 40 years of experience. Drawing upon her athletic background, Natasha applies a disciplined and focused approach to her work with high net worth families and individuals. Her expertise spans advising medical professionals, athletes, business owners, and affluent families on various aspects of financial life, including wealth growth and preservation, retirement planning, managing new wealth, and tax minimization. Natasha emphasizes personalized strategies tailored to each client’s unique financial goals and has a commitment to educating her community on financial literacy, especially empowering Philadelphia’s youth. Natasha holds a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University and completed an Accredited Certificate Program at Temple University. She carries several professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). She is involved with community organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Tri State Black Men in Medicine. Fluent in English and Yoruba, Natasha focuses on clear communication to help clients understand financial strategies and market conditions.

Christian Burns is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with eight years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2017 and previously worked six years at the United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina, Inc. He serves on the Development Committee of the Cornelius Arts Center, where he contributes to training board members on major gifts and may collaborate with board members on donor meetings. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a large network of financial advisors and branch offices. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and affiliated investment products under a fiduciary standard.

Stephen Abercrombie is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for 17 years. Fidelity’s affiliate Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients using a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm also manages multiple registered investment companies and utilizes systematic methodologies and long-term asset allocation benchmarks.

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.

Edie Kijesky is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and eight years of industry experience. She has worked with Primerica and its affiliates since 2018, with prior roles at Sourcepoint/ISGN and Ocwen. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved as a VIP Ambassador with Plexus, a non-investment related activity. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable entities. The firm offers advisory services using model-based strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers, supported by discretionary separately managed accounts and third-party trade execution and custody providers.

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.