Benjamin Powell is a financial advisor at Merrill with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc. since 2003 and Bank of America, NA since 2009. 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.

David Hronich is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. His work history includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill since 2025, along with positions outside the financial sector, such as at Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Barbershop Landscaping. 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 and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Larry Hammonds is a financial advisor at Stifel with 41 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc since 2019, following three years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Stifel serves a diverse client base including individuals, high net worth clients, institutional investors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services supported by proprietary investment analysis and asset allocation methodology.

David Ruck is a Certified Financial Planner® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2017. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Chick-fil-A Brassfield for two years. Outside of his advisory role, he operates a small online business buying and selling collectibles on eBay. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a broad range of advisory services and investment options supported by a nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Phillip Joyce is a financial advisor at Stifel with 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc since 2014. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Stifel serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, charitable organizations, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach is based on a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group, which uses forward-looking capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling to support asset allocation and financial planning.

Daniel Branon is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Edward Jones since 2019. Outside of his advisory role, Branon coaches boys' varsity basketball at both Caldwell Academy and North Carolina Leadership Academy. 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 strategies, operating under a fiduciary standard and supporting a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Anne Wishon is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Greensboro, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has six years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2019, she worked at Grady-White Boats and spent sixteen years in full-time education. Outside of advising, she serves as Commodore of the Cape Lookout Grady-White Owners' Club and is involved with Windrose Travel Co. 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 management solutions, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies across various asset classes.

Kia Streater is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in High Point, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Triad Financial Advisors, Inc. from 2009 to 2013 before joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2016. Streater serves on the finance committee of The Foundation for a Healthy High Point, reviewing account balances for grant purposes. 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 roughly $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute alongside third-party data to support portfolio management.

Evan Hunter is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities, LLC. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, banks, and charitable entities. The firm utilizes model-driven investment implementation and offers services such as financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and participation in wrap programs.

Anne Fitzgerald is a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial Services LLC with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has prior experience at Fifth Third Bank and Pinnacle Financial Partners. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides tailored retirement planning with a focus on dependable income and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

David Austin is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones and Signing Carolina Inc. Outside of advising, he has experience in retail management through a nearly two-decade tenure at The UPS Store. 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 financial planning and investment management solutions, utilizing various advisory platforms and technologies to support a broad network of more than 22,800 advisors.

Jordan Balmforth is the Vice President and Branch Leader at Fidelity Investments, where he leads the local Investor Center. In this role, he provides financial and investment guidance to customers. Jordan has been with Fidelity Investments since 2005, progressing through various roles including Customer Service Representative, Active Trader Representative, Active Trader VIP Specialist, Client Services Team Leader, Assistant Branch Leader, and currently Branch Leader. This extensive experience reflects his familiarity with client services and investment strategies within the firm.

Nora Kowalcheck is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Winston Salem, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise in 2023, she worked at Edward Jones from 2018 to 2023. She also has experience in early childhood education and counseling-related roles, and has operated a Beautycounter business since 2013. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for clients approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, offering tailored written recommendations on income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis in its advisory approach and supports a broad range of investment and insurance solutions.

Robert Higgins is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Greensboro, NC. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been working in the financial industry since 2024. Prior to entering finance, he spent nine years at TEKsystems. Mass Mutual Investors Services operates as a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser, providing financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers annual collaborative planning engagements using firm-approved tools and also provides specialized programs such as divorce and estate-settlement planning.

Gregory Sardzinski is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Greensboro, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 25 years of industry experience. His career includes prior roles at Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, institutional clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting supported by a variety of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

James Dicus is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in High Point, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2019 and previously spent time at AxA Advisors and Vann York Honda. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in sales activities with Dergalis Associates, Realty Benefits Services, and Oakbridge Financial Group, LLC. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a range of advisory programs and third-party asset managers, focusing on personalized risk assessment and matching clients to suitable investment models.

Randall Richard is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2019 and previously held positions at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, Osaic FS, Inc., and PRUCO Securities, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in selling fixed annuities, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, and life insurance through ECA Marketing. 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. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions through its extensive network of advisors.

William Depriest is a financial advisor with Cetera in Greensboro, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Cetera in 2025, he worked extensively with Avantax-affiliated firms from 2014 to 2025 and has operated his own CPA practice since 1988. Outside of advising, he serves as treasurer for both the Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire District and the Oasis Shriners, overseeing financial reporting and budgeting. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered firm providing a multi-manager platform that serves individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients nationwide. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services with access to multiple program structures and third-party money managers.

Douglas Williams Jr. is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for four years. Outside of his advisory role, he operates Springboard Promotions as an independent contractor, selling promotional products to individuals and businesses. 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, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting based on client goals, using analytical tools and risk profiling.

Erick Ellsweig is a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill, where he also holds the Sports and Entertainment Advisor designation. He has over two decades of experience working with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, including clients from the entertainment and technology industries, entrepreneurs, business owners, and senior executives. Erick and his team provide holistic wealth management services, focusing on areas such as family wealth management strategies, sports and entertainment, and retirement income. Erick grew up involved in a multi-generational family business, an experience that informs his approach to advising clients through significant financial decision points and wealth planning. He has earned recognition from Barron's, Forbes, and the Financial Times for his work in the industry. Erick holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Northwestern University, where he remains active in volunteer leadership, and a law degree from Brooklyn Law School. He also holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) credential. In addition to his professional work, Erick serves as co-chair of the National Alumni Admissions Council and Director for South Florida at Northwestern University. He is involved with Northwestern University, Chabad, and Sigma Chi - Omega Chapter. Erick resides in Palm Beach County with his wife and three children and enjoys music, traveling, spending time with his family, and watching movies.