Wendy Weant is a financial advisor with OSAIC in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 23 years of industry experience. She has worked with OSAIC since 2018 and previously with Signator Investors and Insight Financial Partners, where she has also maintained a role since 2005. In addition to her financial career, she has been a self-employed singer and performer since 1981. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors, offering brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform. The firm employs a model-based investment process emphasizing asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and risk management, and is notable for its scale, affiliate network, and recent consolidation activity.

Gina Burnett is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 22 years of industry experience. She has been with Thrivent and its affiliated firm since 2002 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors. The firm offers goal-based analyses and planning across various topics, allowing clients to combine planning with managed-account services while maintaining separation between these offerings.

Robert Aiken is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 33 years of industry experience. He has prior experience at Raymond James Financial Services and operates Arco Capital Partners, which he founded and manages. He is also involved with REA Systems, an LLC he owns for accounting purposes, and acts as an insurance agent offering fixed insurance products. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered advisor serving individual, employer-sponsored retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management options, including model portfolios, third-party managers, and bespoke strategies, managing over $256 billion in assets.

Jonee Powell is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 14 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Independent Financial Group and First Allied Securities. Outside of her advisory work, she also works as an independent contractor driving for Uber in Kannapolis, NC. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including charitable funds and registered investment companies. The firm employs a blend of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios and oversees sub-advisers while managing conflicts of interest.

Loretta Gifford is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Concord, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2016. Gifford is listed as a part-time adjunct instructor in the medical billing and coding department at Rowan Cabarrus Community College, though she is not currently teaching. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of investment and advisory services supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Eric Brady is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Brady serves as a board member of the Union Fire Department, a volunteer organization providing fire and medical services to the community. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, providing holistic, goal-based analyses across various financial topics. The firm enables clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under consolidated billing while maintaining separate planning and portfolio management services.

Kurt Culbert is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he worked five years at NASCAR, Inc. Outside of finance, he serves as President of the NC Skeet Shooters Association and owns a small farming operation called Queen of the Grove. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and corporations. The firm specializes in tailored, non-discretionary planning and employs analytical tools to support client goals while offering advisory programs and institutional consulting.

Kerry Ernst is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Salisbury, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2019, she worked at the Disney Store and has experience in early childhood education through her role at Ramah Presbyterian Preschool. 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 and investment solutions supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branches.

Brad Brady is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and over 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Brady serves on the board of the Rowan Medical Foundation, which supports community involvement and fundraising for Novant Medical Center. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority. The firm’s approach includes holistic analyses and a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan” that integrates planning with managed accounts while keeping the services distinct.

James Menis is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with over 21 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Mass Mutual Investors Services in 2017, he worked at MetLife Securities from 2005 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, Menis is involved in insurance sales and office management at Garry Goble Insurance, and he serves as a pastor at Bethany Baptist Church. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, structuring planning engagements as collaborative, annual relationships that focus on goal analysis and written recommendations.

Stephen Kidd is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services for 12 years and Edward Jones for 4 years. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions through a broad network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Sheryl Johnson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 63 designation and over 40 years of industry experience. She has worked at LPL Financial since 1986, with a brief tenure at SCF Securities and SCF Investment Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in managing the Skorpik Johnson Farm in South Dakota. 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 and model portfolio programs, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives and advanced operational tools.

Jason Holt is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Linsco Private Ledger Corp since 2001. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products. 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 services including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting advisors with technology and a broad suite of financial products.

Raif Todd is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and having 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-president of a family rental property business in Monterey, California. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment options supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Stephanie Houghton is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2023, she worked at Kidd Financial Investments with Ameriprise Financial and has experience in education and the wine industry. 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 other institutions through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions, including model portfolios and institutional platforms.

Berott Mathnov is a Benefits & Planning Consultant for Executive Services at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2024. In this capacity, Berott assists clients in designing and executing financial plans by utilizing employer-sponsored benefits and adopting a holistic approach to financial planning. Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Berott worked as a Strategic Communications Manager at Robinhood from 2020 to 2022 and as a Client Relationship Consultant at TIAA from 2017 to 2020. These positions contributed to a diverse background in client relations and strategic communication within the financial services industry. Outside of professional pursuits, Berott enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including beach visits, gardening, horseback riding, outdoor adventures, scuba diving, and skiing.

Erik Johnson is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at LPL Financial with 27 years of industry experience. He previously worked at SCF Investment Advisors, Inc. and Scf Securities, Inc., and has been associated with LPL Financial and its predecessor entities for over two decades. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a broad range of services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, leveraging proprietary research and third-party subadvisors.

Charles Ketner is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors and its predecessor, AXA Advisors, LLC, since 1999. Equitable Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives, offering both proprietary and third-party advisory solutions.

Davis Whitley is a financial advisor with MML Investors Services, LLC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses, with 42 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Metlife Securities Inc. for 40 years before joining MassMutual Life Insurance Company and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of advising, he serves as a North Carolina notary public and operates a health and group insurance sales business. MML Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser affiliated with MassMutual that provides comprehensive financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers collaborative, annual financial planning engagements using firm-approved tools and supports event-driven planning services such as estate settlement and divorce planning.

Nathan Friesz is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he worked at Bank of America and has several years of experience in the food service industry. 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.