Kate Holton is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. She holds a Series 66 designation and has nine years of industry experience. Kate has been with Bankers Life since 2007 and Bankers Life Securities since 2016. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a Field Development Manager, training agents and managers on insurance-related topics and products. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm emphasizes customized asset allocation, tax efficiency, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in its investment approach.

Chris Gruin is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Lincolnton, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at First Citizen Investor Services, Wells Fargo Clearing, Suntrust Investment Services, and PNC Bank. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs, including advisor-directed models and access to third-party portfolio managers, with features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Daniel Schmitz is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc., Kingdom Building Holdings LLC, Grayley Co., and Lincoln Charter School. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a wide range of clients including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and multiple wrap/advisory programs.

Robert Eberhardt is a CFP® with over 31 years of industry experience, currently serving at Principal Financial Services since 2011. Based in Denver, NC, he holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he is president and owner of Safe Self Storage, LLC, where he manages accounting and marketing for two self-storage locations. Principal Financial Services provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Kelsey Neal is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has prior experience with BDS Financial Network and service in the Army National Guard. Neal is also the owner of Waypoint Wealth Solutions, LLC, a private entity involved in securities, advisory, and insurance business. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and support services, including operations, trading, compliance, and investment management, allowing advisors to offer customized portfolio solutions under Commonwealth’s supervision.

Tonya Guffey is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with two years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2022, as well as at Fifth Third Bank since 2018. Prior to that, she was employed at PNC Bank from 2015 to 2018. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Jessica Beard is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network based in Lincolnton, NC. She holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Commonwealth, she worked at Sherrill, Blake & Harrison CPA PA and Abby H. Champion CPA PC, with a combined 13 years in the accounting field. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients. The firm provides advisory programs, back-office support, investment management, and technology solutions, allowing affiliated advisors to offer customized portfolio management and a range of program structures under Commonwealth’s supervision.

Kathy Kuczenski is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. She has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021 and previously at Bbtis and Lincoln County Schools. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform arrangements and an Equity Research team that employs AI-enabled tools.

Matthew Fortenberry is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Denver, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Prudential and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. He also operates Alpha Omega Financial, LLC as a separate business activity. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and institutions, offering financial planning, insurance distribution, broker-dealer services, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm emphasizes a dual-registered model and works extensively with program sponsors and third-party managers to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.

Candance Heavner is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Lincolnton, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2020, following a decade at Lineberger's Cattle Company. Outside of finance, she is involved with Copper Hill Entertainment in Culver City, CA. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

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.

Matthew Foster is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at MML Investors Services, LLC since 2020. Prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co, Advantage Waypoint, and Cabarrus County Schools. He is also the owner of Elite Equity LLC, an entity used for pass-through compensation. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC 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 offers collaborative, annual financial planning engagements supported by firm-approved analytical tools, along with various specialized planning programs.

Patrick Wittekind is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 38 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC for 22 years and has been self-employed for over two decades. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for his own defined benefit and 401(k) retirement plans. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary advisory services and supports its large network with advanced planning tools and specialized programs such as municipal advisory and SIMPLE IRA Employer Consulting 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.

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.

Henry Wepner is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked within various Wells Fargo entities since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer for the Newton Depot Authority in Newton, NC, where he participates in meetings, reviews financial reports, and volunteers for community projects. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutions, offering a broad range of planning services including cash-flow, retirement, education, and specialized planning areas. The firm uses proprietary research and tools to develop tailored recommendations, with clients able to implement advice through brokerage or advisory programs as they choose.

Joseph Reimels is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 63 designation and 46 years of industry experience. He worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp for 16 years before joining LPL Financial in 2024. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in non-variable insurance activities. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and financial planning services with both discretionary and non-discretionary management, supported by research, model portfolios, and various investment technologies.

Kimberly James is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Lincolnton, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 25 years of industry experience. Her career includes 13 years at Merrill prior to joining Raymond James in 2022. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional investors, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and investment consulting services through various advisory programs.

Jeffrey Basik is a financial advisor at Cetera with 37 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Cetera Advisors LLC since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for the nonprofit Haven of Hope International and is chairman of the finance and missions teams at Tree of Life Church. He is also part-owner of Repurposed Materials of Naples, a waste recycling business. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered advisory firm that serves individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers.

Sarah White is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with nine years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Edward Jones since 2019. Prior to that, she was employed at Bank of America and Merrill from 2014 to 2019. She is also a member of the Board of Elections in the City of Lenoir. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and corporate entities. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, operating under a fiduciary standard with a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.