Matthew Thiel is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC for 21 years before joining Raymond James Financial Services in 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Signature Wealth Group and Covenant Wealth Strategies LLC. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using risk profiling and analytical tools and supports municipal finance and employer advisory programs.

Stephanie Johnson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in High Point, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and wrap-fee programs. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers a combination of brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research and analytics from Wells Fargo Investment Institute alongside third-party sources.

Radford Hyde is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2016. 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 advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and tax-efficient solutions, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Preston Russell is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with four years of industry experience. Before joining Equitable Advisors in 2022, he held positions at Eagle Point Golf Club, BenchMark Physical Therapy, Pinewood Country Club, and Covanta Environmental Solutions. 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 and uses a combination of proprietary and third-party investment solutions.

Eric Crowl is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill and Bank of America in 2025, he held positions in a variety of industries including manufacturing, distribution, and landscaping. Outside of financial advising, he co-owns and produces content for a small YouTube channel focused on the game Magic: The Gathering. 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.

Jay Brownfield is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Edward Jones in Asheboro, NC, having 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1992. Outside of his advisory work, he owns rental property in Asheboro. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs and affiliated investment products, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

John Dye is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Asheboro, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Eagle View Ventures of NC LLC, a real estate business in Sophia, NC. 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 advisory programs and investment strategies through a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Ted Stewart is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He currently works at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., having been with various Raymond James entities since 2011 and previously with Edward Jones for one year. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm uses tailored non-discretionary planning and analytical tools, including risk profiling and probability modeling, and supports municipal and public-finance work through an affiliated municipal advisor.

Kenny Kidd is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with LPL Financial and previously worked at Edward Jones for 14 years. Kidd serves as a commissioner for Randolph County Government and is a board member of the Randolph County Family Crisis Center and Emmys House, both nonprofit organizations in Asheboro, NC. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by various operational and research tools.

Donnette Draper is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Her approach centers on building personalized wealth plans that align with clients' family dynamics, financial situations, and long-term goals. She emphasizes frequent, comfortable conversations to understand clients' visions and values, focusing on disciplined strategies rather than chasing industry benchmarks. Prior to joining Merrill in 2021, Donnette spent 27 years at BB&T (now Truist) as a wealth advisor and wealth client associate. She leverages her strong banking background to address both assets and liabilities, offering clients access to lending and banking solutions through Bank of America, N.A. Additionally, she coordinates with clients' CPAs and attorneys on tax-minimization and estate planning strategies and assists with protective components such as long-term care and life insurance. Donnette holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina System and carries the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. She resides in McLeansville, North Carolina with her husband and is involved in community organizations including Junior Achievement of North Carolina and the SPCA of the Triad. She enjoys spending time with her family, participating in adventure sports, and engaging in music.

Tracy Dixon serves as Vice President, Executive Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role she has held since 2026. In this capacity, she partners with executives to assist them in understanding and coordinating their benefits, compensation, and financial resources through comprehensive planning. She adopts a personalized and consultative approach to help clients align their wealth with their wishes, aiming to provide confidence and peace of mind. Tracy has been with Fidelity Investments since 2017, progressing through roles including Financial Consultant from 2019 to 2026, Relationship Manager from 2018 to 2019, and Financial Representative from 2017 to 2018. Before joining Fidelity, she worked at Northwestern Mutual as an Associate Financial Representative from 2016 to 2017 and as a Financial Representative from 2012 to 2015. Outside of her professional work, Tracy's personal interests include fitness, exploring food, social events with friends, traveling, and volunteering.

Jason Ortiz is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Jamestown, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate firms since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Ortiz is involved in business ownership related to property development and management through several LLCs. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies to deliver personalized retirement recommendations. As a large institutional firm, Ameriprise provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated entities.

Thomas King is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Metlife Securities Inc., Mass Mutual, Pruco Securities, LLC, and Prudential Insurance Company of America. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a wide range of clients, including individual investors, high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, and corporate entities. The firm utilizes model-driven investment implementation and offers access to third-party asset managers and insurance products through its affiliated entities.

Connel Ware is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Edward Jones in Jamestown, NC, bringing 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is the managing member of Double Garnet Properties, LLC, an entity established to purchase his Edward Jones branch office building. 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 operates a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices, offering a range of advisory services including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Kevin White is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Thomasville, NC, holding the CFP®, Series 63, and Series 66 designations with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2001. 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 through a network of more than 23,700 financial advisors and offers a range of advisory strategies including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Steven Brackman is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Edward Jones. He serves as a trustee of a family trust. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and nonprofit organizations. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and supports advisory programs with analytical tools and specialized public finance services.

Celeste Little is a financial advisor at Fidelity with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC since 2019. Prior to her current role, she was employed at Veritude LLC and worked in the Wake County Public School Systems for eight years. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to both retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm employs a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios, with a formal advisory role to multiple registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Tyler Hickernell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Asheboro, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked for nine years at Certainty Home Loans. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a rental property managed by a third party. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of 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 through a nationwide network of over 23,000 advisors and 15,000 branch offices.

Nathan Shelby is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Good Samaritan Society–Home Care and Oasis Vape. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a blend of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios, fund advisory services, and model portfolios, incorporating systematic methodologies and long-term asset allocation benchmarks.

Brett Thomas is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 27 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been associated with Raymond James Financial Services since 2007. He is also the owner of Thomas Capital Management, LLC, a support business handling administrative duties. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored non-discretionary planning and consulting, using analytical tools and supporting municipal and public-finance work through a unique affiliation with a municipal advisor.