Frank Evers is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Raleigh, NC since 2008. He holds a Series 66 license and has spent his entire advisory career at Edward Jones. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, tax-efficient services, and affiliated capabilities including a trust company and proprietary mutual funds.

Scott Cook is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Ameriprise Financial Services LLC since 2021, following five years with Edward Jones. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written Recommendation Reports and ongoing retirement income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Angela Mackinnon is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having seven years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Equitable Advisors, W&S Brokerage Services, Omnistar Financial Group, and periods of self-employment. She serves as Vice President on the executive board of a Child Development Center in Wilmington, NC. 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 variety of advisory models implemented through third-party managers and programs, offering a broad range of investment products and ERISA fiduciary services.

Colleen Lyons is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2019. Prior to her current role, she worked at McGraw Hill Education for eleven years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Rachel Betzwieser is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services and has been with LPL Financial since 2020. Betzwieser is also a commissioned notary public. 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 financial planning and investment management services through a large network of advisors using diverse strategies and technology tools.

John Gammons is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been in the financial services industry since 2004 and brings over 18 years of experience working with individuals and families to create personalized wealth management strategies. John focuses on client needs in liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income, helping clients plan effectively for financial obligations across different stages of life. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from East Carolina University. His professional designations include CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). John’s approach centers on collaborating with clients to define what matters most to them, addressing key life priorities such as family, finances, health, home, leisure, work, and giving, and helping navigate the financial complexities that arise through life’s changes. Outside of his professional role, John enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. His personal interests include traveling, golfing, tennis, camping, scuba diving, skiing, and other outdoor activities.

Philip Johnson is a Senior Financial Advisor with the Bono & Kline Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he collaborates with team members to pursue optimal asset allocations tailored to clients’ objectives, cash-flow needs, and timeframes. He applies his quantitative skills to evaluate external investment managers and research market themes. His client focus areas include Family Wealth Management Strategies, Services for Endowments, Foundations, and Non-profits, Liquidity Management, Sports & Entertainment, and Tax Minimization. Philip holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Mercyhurst University and an M.S. in Finance from The Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certificant. He is an active member of the CFA Society of Washington, DC, and participates in the Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council. Philip resides in Raleigh, NC. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, camping, football, reading, and spending time outdoors with his dog.

Richard Black Jr. is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in aiding business owners, successful individuals, and families in managing, preserving, and growing their wealth through personalized and strategic financial guidance. His areas of expertise include college education planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. Richard holds several professional designations, including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of his professional work, Richard enjoys gardening, genealogy, hunting, skiing, surfing, tennis, and spending time with his family.

Andrew Applequist is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 license and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial, he worked at Osaic and Steward Wealth Strategies. His background includes roles outside finance at FlyExclusive and Bass Pro Shop. 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 and third-party asset management, and supports its large network of advisors with various investment and operational tools.

Sharmishtha Prasad is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Coastal Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo. She serves on the boards of the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Community Foundation of North Carolina East. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering a range of advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm supports its network of over 22,800 advisors with various investment strategies and operational tools, managing more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

David Mc Dowell is a financial advisor at Osaic in Raleigh, NC, with two years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Osaic, he held roles at James River Insurance, First Citizens Bank, and Appalachian State University. His other business activities include serving as a financial advisor at Capitol Financial Solutions and working as an insurance broker with Carter McDowell. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base ranging from individual investors to institutional clients, offering integrated brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs various asset-allocation tools and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, with access to multiple third-party money managers and advisory platforms.

Mike Patti is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 20 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Patti holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools supported by its Global Investment Committee.

E Ostendorff is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has extensive experience in estate and investment planning, serving the financial needs of families, endowments, foundations, and non-profits. E Ostendorff began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1995 as the Estate Planning specialist for multiple Merrill offices. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the College of Charleston and earned his Juris Doctorate from Nashville School of Law. His professional credentials include the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Outside of his professional work, E Ostendorff is a founder of the Continuous Blessings Foundation and has participated on the finance and membership committees for North Ridge Country Club. His personal interests include football, golfing, music, and reading.

Max Hollingsworth is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has been with Merrill and Bank of America, N.A. since 2026. Prior to his financial services career, he worked in various roles including teaching at William Peace University and several high schools from 2016 to 2026, and also spent three years at Jiffy Lube. 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, and institutional investors, with portfolio implementation supported by internal and third-party managers.

L James is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With a focus on helping families realize their financial goals, L James provides diligent, level-headed advice on building long-term wealth. His expertise encompasses personal retirement planning, family wealth management strategies, philanthropic planning, and socially responsible, values-based investing among other client focus areas. L James holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) certification, the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation, and other professional credentials including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina State University. Outside his professional work, L James enjoys boating, hiking, music, singing, skiing, swimming, spending time with his family, and watching movies. He aims to simplify clients' financial lives to support their lifestyle, legacy goals, and retirement income needs, maintaining an optimistic outlook on financial markets.

Collin Young is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at FlyExclusive, Weatherby Healthcare, Wells Fargo Clearing, Morgan Stanley, and Randstad Technologies, among others. 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 analyses addressing a wide range of financial planning topics, with options to combine planning and managed-account services under a consolidated billing structure called “WealthPlan.”

Yahir Perez Lora is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise holding a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. His work background includes roles outside the financial sector such as positions at Bartaco and Besi Machining. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm employs model-driven investment implementation, offers financial planning and consulting, and facilitates access to third-party asset managers and insurance products through affiliated entities.

Alyssa Potts is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with less than one year of industry experience. Her prior work experience includes roles in the United States Navy, retail, and the hospitality sectors. Equitable Advisors serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement consulting, and various asset management programs. The firm utilizes a network of Investment Adviser Representatives to deliver customized investment solutions, often implementing models through third-party managers and providing fiduciary services to qualified plans.

Caleb Hudson is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Morgan Stanley and E*TRADE Securities LLC. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs strategic and tactical asset allocation and offers tax-aware versions of strategies for investors with higher tax sensitivity.

Price French is a financial advisor with Osaic, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at The Potter Financial Group, Commonwealth Financial Network, Kestra Financial Services, Inc., and has operated The French Financial Firm, LLC since 2003. French is also a registered representative of Capital Financial Solutions, focusing on securities, insurance, and fixed annuities. OSAIC Wealth, Inc. serves a broad range of retail and institutional clients, offering brokerage and investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money managers. The firm employs asset-allocation tools and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios and supports multiple advisory platforms and legacy program transitions.