Zachary Hauser is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Merrill, Bank of America, Elon University, Cape Fear Community College, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of financial services, he has experience with Kustom Koozies, a business he was involved with for three years. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program to Bank of America fiduciary clients. The firm offers a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies designed for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Mary Akin is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009 and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process utilizing firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

Jay Rapp is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a member of the Harrison Rapp Mansfield & Associates Team. He is responsible for designing the team’s approach to wealth management, focusing on investment research, portfolio development opportunities, and outside investment manager analysis. Jay conducts both macroeconomic and investment-oriented research to assist in developing proprietary and client-specific customized strategies. As a Senior Portfolio Advisor, he manages custom investment strategies on a discretionary basis, selecting from various Merrill model portfolios and third-party investment options. Jay began his career in financial services with UBS in 2008 before joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Sports Management from North Carolina State University, and he earned his high school diploma from the International School of Geneva. Jay is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and speaks both English and French. Residing in Cary, North Carolina, Jay lives with his wife, Katy, and their sons, Cole and Eli. He serves as Vice President of the Stay Strong vs ALS organization and is a minority owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. Jay participates in community activities aligned with his professional values, particularly through his involvement with Stay Strong vs ALS.

Judith Naegely is a financial advisor at OSAIC with six years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Woodbury Financial Services and Pariox LLC, and also has experience with Certamed Medical Staffing. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in community fundraising as Co-Sponsorship and Fundraising Chair for Carroll Magnet Middle School PTO and is a managing member of Live Your Archetype, a workshop series focused on personal development. OSAIC serves a diverse client base that includes individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services through a large network of advisors, employing asset allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and multiple investment platforms to construct tailored portfolios.

Taylor Horten is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors in 2022, Taylor held roles at Financial Data Systems, Papa John's, and UNC Wilmington. Equitable Advisors serves individuals ranging from non‑high-net-worth to high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party asset managers.

Scott Stephens is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. since 2005. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service designed for clients approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, providing detailed written Recommendation Reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to deliver personalized, non-discretionary advice, primarily for assets held within Ameriprise-managed accounts.

Robert Eargle Jr. is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Garner, NC, holding a Series 66 license and four years of industry experience. Prior to his current role at Edward Jones, he worked at DICKS SPORTING GOODS for six years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Chase Hill is an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2024. In this role, he assists clients in navigating a seamless planning process by understanding their current financial situation and future goals to co-create tailored financial plans. Prior to this, he served in various positions at Fidelity Investments, including Relationship Manager, Workplace Planning Consultant II, Workplace Planning Consultant I, and Workplace Planning Associate from 2021 to 2024. Before joining Fidelity, Chase was a Financial Representative at Northwestern Mutual from 2018 to 2019. Chase holds an Arkansas Insurance License, which supports his expertise in financial planning and investment consulting. His professional experience spans across different facets of financial services, focusing on collaborative planning and aligning strategies with clients' life events and objectives.

Hylton Early is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He works with clients across various stages of life, focusing on personalized financial strategies and investment management. Hylton’s approach involves understanding clients’ visions for their futures and developing tailored wealth management plans that address goals such as tax minimization, retirement income planning, and liquidity management. He also works directly with corporate executives and business owners anticipating liquidity events, providing a detail-oriented strategy aligned with their values and expectations. With experience spanning over several years, Hylton draws on the resources of Merrill to assist clients in areas including corporate benefits, education planning, LGBT wealth planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, and portfolio management. Prior to joining Merrill in 2015, he worked in politics as a consultant, campaign manager, and finance director in Washington, DC, and Utah. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Kenyon College, where he also lettered in varsity lacrosse. Hylton is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional role, Hylton enjoys skiing, hiking, boating, and spending time with his wife and twin daughters in Raleigh. He maintains an active interest in outdoor activities, including his part-time role as a ski patroller at Deer Valley Resort. He is also a member of the Boy Scouts of America and holds the rank of Eagle Scout.

Seth Henriksen is a financial advisor with Merrill in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has been with Bank of America and Merrill since 2014. Merrill, along 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 and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Amber Clos is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Clayton, North Carolina, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at United Community Bank and United Community Advisory Services, as well as sixteen years with McDonalds / Huebner Management Company LLC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Michael Langley is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he worked in the hospitality sector and briefly at Defender Capital. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs delivered through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party asset managers.

Jenna Diehl is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She specializes in customized wealth planning and implementation, employing a goals-based wealth management approach. Jenna is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) professional, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and also holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Jenna joined Merrill in 2015, bringing over a decade of experience in financial services. She focuses on connecting clients' lives with their finances, serving client needs in areas such as college education planning, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible investing, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Along with her team, the GOLDS Group, Jenna helps families and businesses develop customized financial strategies designed to last for generations. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management/Finance. In her personal time, Jenna enjoys football, golfing, reading, soccer, and spending time with her family. She also participates in community volunteer activities aligned with the Merrill tradition of community involvement.

Dillon Burdette is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2015 and previously worked at Axa Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is a guest lecturer at NC State University’s Poole College of Management and is the owner and managing member of Oakbridge Financial Group, LLC. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party asset managers.

Lindsay Elliott is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She previously worked for ten years at State Employees' Credit Union before joining Merrill in 2022. 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 using model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party teams.

Stephen Murray is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Before joining Equitable Advisors, he worked at Oakbridge Financial Group and has a background that includes roles in education and community services in the Raleigh area. 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 asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives, utilizing a range of firm-offered and third-party advisory solutions.

William Whichard III is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience, including prior roles at Transamerica and four years at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning services, including specialized areas such as business-owner transition and special-needs analysis, using proprietary research and planning tools.

Ryan Bachmann is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, part of the Bank of America and Merrill family since 2018. He provides a comprehensive approach to financial management, focusing on bringing clarity and transparency to each client meeting through a personalized process. Ryan works with high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals and families to simplify complex financial matters and develop strategies tailored to their goals and long-term visions. His expertise includes areas such as college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. Ryan holds professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Pennsylvania State University. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Ryan is involved as a Bank of America Community Volunteer. His personal interests include chess, golfing, music, painting, and woodworking.

Brent Little is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management based in Raleigh, NC. He holds the Series 66 designation and has five years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, Brent worked with 323 Sports for six years. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based planning across various financial topics and combines planning with managed-account programs through a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan.”

Alexander Starnes is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and holds the designations of Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Wofford College. His practice emphasizes creating personalized wealth management strategies that align with clients' unique goals and situations. Starnes focuses on areas such as college education planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, retirement planning, small business strategies, special needs planning, women and wealth, sports and entertainment, tax minimization, and retirement income. A significant aspect of his work involves assisting special needs families with the transfer of assets to special needs trusts to help beneficiaries qualify for or maintain government benefits. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Starnes participates in multiple community organizations including the Autism Society of North Carolina, Autism Speaks Raleigh/Charlotte, Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte, North Raleigh United Methodist Church, Special Blessings, Special Olympics NC, The Arc of Charlotte Mecklenburg County, and Trusted Parents. He also has interests in outdoor activities, sports, and music, and he rappels annually off the Wells Fargo building in downtown Raleigh to support the Special Olympics.