Joseph Gilleland is a financial advisor at CreativeOne Securities, LLC with 36 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at several firms including Royal Alliance Associates, Inc and Signator Investors, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an assistant high school cross country coach at Iredell-Statesville Schools and Statesville Senior High School. CreativeOne Securities, LLC is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm combines project-based planning with ongoing asset management, utilizing both fundamental and cyclical security analysis alongside model asset allocations through its proprietary advisory platform.

Ryan Engle is a financial advisor with Secure Asset Management, L.L.C. in Harmony, NC, holding Series 63 and 66 licenses and bringing five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC and Thrivent Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in multi-level marketing and owns a business entity used for tax and investment purposes. Secure Asset Management provides personalized financial planning and discretionary investment management primarily to individual clients, alongside pension consulting services for retirement plans. The firm uses a mix of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and emphasizes equitable allocation of investment opportunities while maintaining custody with external custodians.

Connor Bain is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, currently advising with StoneX Advisors Inc. He has four years of industry experience, including prior roles at TIAA and Capital Investment Brokerage. His background also includes positions at North Carolina State University and Robert Bosch Tool Corp. StoneX Advisors Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations with portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA plan consulting services. The firm uses a combination of independent advisors and in-house teams, employing various managed portfolios and third-party money managers supported by advanced platforms for portfolio implementation and oversight.

Jonathan Spatz is a financial advisor at Foundations Investment Advisors LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms, including LifeWorks Advisors LLC, Brookstone Wealth Advisors LLC, and Retirement Wealth Advisors, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in insurance services through ownership and management roles at Epic Income Advisors, Spatz Delmonico LLC, and Benefit Solutions Inc. Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC provides financial planning and portfolio management to individual and high-net-worth clients, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and registered investment companies. The firm delivers services through a large network of affiliated offices, employing a mix of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside model portfolios and an asymmetric rebalancing approach.

Evangeline Lodwick is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 28 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials. Her prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors, TIAA-CREF, and Encompass Investments. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services feature an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and consistent rebalancing within established plan lineups.

Robert Steele is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked with Truist Advisory Services since 2023 and previously served in related roles at Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and BB&T Investment Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supplemented by AI-enabled research tools, and is notable for its integration across affiliated entities and its AMC Advantage manager-selection program.

Justin Baldwin is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group, Baldwin worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank, NA, and has experience in both educational and retail sectors. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and focus on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates.

Ian Williams is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with a Series 65 credential. He has diverse work experience including positions at Mercury Tech Partners, Piper Aircraft, Textron Aviation, and service in the United States Army. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to sponsored advisory programs, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party strategies supported by technology and centralized due diligence.

Matthew Cook is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at NewEdge Advisors and has previously worked at Edward Jones, LPL Financial LLC, Greenstone Ventures LLC, and Blue Ridge Realty & Investments. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser that serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a broad suite of services and multiple program structures, combining in-house manager selection with third-party model portfolios and advisor discretion, supported by centralized due diligence and technology tools.

Charice Biggins is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Conover, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 21 years of industry experience. She has previously worked with First Citizens Investor Services and currently advises through Advised Assets Group, LLC and GWFS Equities, Inc. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm uses an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and focuses on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its planning services.

Blair Homesley is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Truist Advisory Services since 2021 and previously worked at Bb&T Investment Services from 1995 to 2021. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting. The firm employs AI-enabled tools and integrates multiple affiliated entities to support manager selection, fiduciary services, and client account administration.

Josh Vanepps is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Troutman, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at Empower Financial Services, Inc., Iredell Health System, Whole Foods, and Carolins Healthcare System. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated model combines proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and regular rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Cassandra Smith is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning her industry career in 2026. Her prior work experience includes roles at Dean Financial, Planet Fitness, and Family Video. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a broad suite of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party managers, utilizing centralized due diligence and technology tools to support advisor and client needs.

William Morgan Jr. is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 40 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Grove Point Advisors, LLC, Grove Point Investments, LLC, and IFG Advisory Services Inc. Morgan is involved in several nonprofit and community organizations, including serving on the boards of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Mount Mitchell Community Fund, and the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce. He also contributes to political activities and hosts a local radio program. 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 institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment solutions, including model portfolios and third-party asset management, supported by advanced operational and research tools.

James Magee Jr. is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2013. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Statesville, NC. 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, supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 advisors.

David Payne is a financial advisor at Osaic Wealth, Inc. with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Woodbury Financial Services, and Securities America Advisors. Payne also operates a non-variable insurance business alongside his advisory role. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients, offering brokerage and advisory services through various programs. The firm’s investment process centers on model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supported by multiple custodial and platform arrangements.

Michael Wilson is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Mutual of Omaha, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and OneAmerica Securities. Outside of advising, he serves as a trustee and board member at New Life Missionary Baptist Church. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm supports multiple account platforms and proprietary model strategies, managing a multi‑billion dollar asset base through thousands of financial professionals.

Zachary Payne is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth, INC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Woodbury Financial Services, and ownership of Payne Financial Consultants, where he also operates an insurance agency selling fixed annuities. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients, offering a range of brokerage and advisory services. The firm’s investment approach centers on model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supported by various tools and discretionary strategies, and is notable for its scale, complex affiliate network, and recent consolidation activity.

Samuel Hilbish is a financial advisor with Merrill in Statesville, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and has one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and several other companies across various industries. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Raymond Yackel Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 34 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with Commonwealth Financial Network and operates his own insurance agency, Raymond A. Yackel Agency, Inc., which he has owned since 1977. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.