Melissa Combs is a CFP® licensed financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Winston Salem, NC, where she has worked for 10 years. She has 22 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Truist Investment Services and Morgan Stanley. Combs holds a 50% ownership in Griswold Investments, an investment-related business. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of investment advisory and financial planning services. The firm combines research and analytics with diversified investment strategies to support various client needs, including retirement plan consulting.

Nathan Plybon is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2021 and is a member of the Setzer Souza Childers wealth management team. Nathan focuses on a range of client needs including college education planning, executive and equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, and tax minimization. He holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Nathan earned his bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University in 2020, graduating cum laude. He grew up in Waxhaw, North Carolina. His personal interests include cooking, football, golfing, hiking, music, running, spending time with family, traveling, and yoga.

Jennifer Shealey is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Winston Salem, NC, with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Merrill since 2013. 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 individual, high-net-worth, pension, corporate, and charitable clients.

Scott Bilton is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2023, he worked for Winston Salem Forsyth County Schools for 16 years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including households across wealth levels, pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Stuart Vaughn Jr. is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Raymond James Financial, Uvest Financial Services Group, and Legg Mason Wood Walker. He is based in Winston Salem, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets across more than 14,000 advisors, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by extensive research and analytics.

Steven Davis is a financial advisor with MassMutual Investors Services in Winston-Salem, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 14 years of industry experience. He has worked with MML Investors Services since 2012 and has been associated with MassMutual Life Insurance Company since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is an agent involved in life and group health insurance. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning and offers asset management, wrap and money-manager programs, and educational seminars.

Kevin Westrich is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at Atrium Health - Davie Medical Center and held roles with local government recreation and parks departments in Winston-Salem and Wytheville. 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 serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Greyson Collins is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Kernersville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of experience at the firm. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked for four years at Stretch Zone and spent six years in full-time education. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of investment advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Robert Patronete is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience and has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. He previously worked at A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. from 2004 to 2008. Patronete is also the owner and president of a land-holding company based in Greensboro, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Lauren Casey is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 13 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2011. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets, and utilizes structured planning tools and estimates from its Global Investment Committee.

Julio Aller is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Winston Salem, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His career includes over two decades at Metlife Securities Inc. prior to joining Mass Mutual. In addition to his advisory role, he has an individual life insurance sales activity. Mass Mutual Investors Services operates as a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser subsidiary of MassMutual, providing financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm’s approach involves ongoing, collaborative planning engagements using approved software tools to analyze client goals and deliver written recommendations.

Nicholas Ryder is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing and Equitable Advisors, as well as a brief tenure at Amazon. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers tailored non-discretionary planning and consulting using analytical tools and supports municipal and public finance work through a unique municipal advisor affiliation.

Bonnie Suther is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Winston-Salem, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS since 2009. Outside of her advisory work, she serves on the board of advisors for Ace and Tj's Grin Kids, a nonprofit organization, and is a member of the board of directors at Pfeiffer University, where she acts as a fundraising liaison. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of brokerage and advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services to tailor investment strategies based on proprietary research and capital market assumptions.

Hugo Guerola is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Winston Salem, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Outside of his advisory work, he tutors Spanish and operates an independent e-commerce business as an Amazon seller. 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 combines research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute with a variety of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Logan Smith is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Winston Salem, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Northwestern Mutual and Edward Jones. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement-income planning with written recommendation reports and ongoing advice. The firm uses proprietary research and third-party data to support its recommendations, which are implemented non-discretionarily by clients or their advisors.

Kenneth Bell is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience, currently practicing at Edward Jones since 2012. He serves on the Principal Advisory Board of Midway Elementary School in Lexington, NC, which addresses key decisions affecting the school community. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a wide range of investment solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm operates under a fiduciary standard and is notable for its extensive advisor network and affiliated financial services.

Samuel Critz Jr. is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with CUSO Financial Services, LP and Allegacy Federal Credit Union since 2005. 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 services and investment platforms, combining a broad financial services network with advanced operational and research tools.

Sandra Smith is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 18 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm offers both brokerage and advisory solutions, managing approximately $671 billion in assets and supporting more than 14,000 financial advisors.

Hudson Bazemore is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 1999. 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 institutional investors.

Alden Lindstrom is a financial advisor at Fidelity with two years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. His prior experience includes roles at Bank of America and Northwestern Mutual, as well as involvement with nonprofit efforts such as Ukraine Friends Kyiv. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors. The firm employs a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage portfolios and serves as an advisor to multiple registered investment companies.