Elizabeth Watkins is a financial advisor with OSAIC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities and Ameriprise Financial Services and has been involved with ESPN / Ming Ling Entertainment for over two decades. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a notary and acts as a registered agent for several LLCs. OSAIC serves a wide range of clients, including individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and charitable organizations, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services with various portfolio management tools and third-party solutions.

Cynthia Celeste is a financial advisor at Merrill with 27 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 1992 and holds a Series 66 designation. 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.

Michael Harris is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill. LPL Enterprise, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, banks, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm’s investment approach is model-driven, utilizing portfolios developed by LPL’s Research Department and third-party strategists, and provides access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, and insurance product sales through affiliated entities.

Walker Grove is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He began his career at Merrill Lynch in 2023 and is part of the GOLD Group team. Walker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in Psychology from North Carolina State University. He has completed the SIE, Series 7, and Series 66 FINRA registrations and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Walker’s advisory approach focuses on personalized financial strategies that align with clients’ life goals, risk tolerance, time horizons, and liquidity needs. His expertise includes family wealth management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, and individual and corporate investment strategy. He aims to simplify and clarify investing complexities to help clients pursue objectives such as education funding, retirement income sustainability, healthcare cost planning, and wealth transfer management, always prioritizing clients’ unique perspectives and priorities. Outside of his professional role, Walker is involved with the Continuous Blessings Foundation, a community organization founded in honor of his uncle, Chris Bunn, where he volunteers annually to support the foundation’s tournament. In his free time, Walker enjoys basketball, cooking, fishing, football, golfing, ice hockey, spending time with family, and watching movies.

Sean Gyger serves as a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he provides a concierge-style wealth management experience tailored to the individual needs of each client. He focuses on advising a diverse clientele across the full spectrum of wealth management, assisting them in creating, growing, and preserving their wealth. His areas of expertise include personalized portfolio management for individuals and families, business owner planning to ensure the value created serves families and future generations, and philanthropic planning aimed at creating meaningful impact through clients' resources. Sean employs a framework centered on managing time, maximizing value, and using money as a tool to help clients steward their wealth wisely and live with purpose. He emphasizes a personalized approach rather than standardized investment strategies. Sean holds professional credentials as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and is an alumnus of Methodist University and Appalachian State University. He is actively involved in his community, participating with organizations such as Autism Speaks, the City of Raleigh Museum, and the North Carolina Museum of Art as a docent. Additionally, he coaches youth baseball and basketball through local recreational programs including North Wake Baseball Association, Rolesville Parks and Rec, and Wake Forest Parks and Rec. His personal interests include baseball, fishing, golfing, painting, reading, spending time with family, and traveling.

Eric Cohen is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career in 2012 and joined The Liberatore Group as a Financial Advisor in 2015. In his role, Eric focuses on practice management, cash flow planning, and portfolio construction to support clients' financial objectives. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Eric is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certificant, awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and also holds designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Eric has been named to the Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list for consecutive years from 2022 through 2026. He has served on the board of Urban Ministries of Wake County. Outside of his professional work, Eric enjoys travelling, watching sports, and spending time with his family and friends.

William Miller is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and over seven years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at First Bank, Evolve Bank & Trust, Prime Mortgage Lending, and Bank of Clarke County. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branches.

Jeffrey Lane is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in assisting high net worth clients in managing their comprehensive financial affairs. With over 31 years at Merrill, he utilizes the firm's investment tools, resources, and networks to simplify wealth management planning, focusing on retirement and estate planning, tax minimization, portfolio management, and philanthropic planning among other areas. Jeff began his career with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1990 after graduating from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor's degree in Corporate Finance. He has earned several professional designations, including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Jeff emphasizes forming meaningful client relationships to prepare for both expected and unexpected life events through tailored financial strategies and consistent reviews. Beyond his professional work, Jeff has served on the Board of Directors at Wake Enterprises, supporting independence for people with disabilities, and has received a leadership award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He is also involved with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Jeff and his wife, Illyse, live in Raleigh with their two sons and a rescue dog. He enjoys golfing, ice hockey, music, running, and spending time with his family.

Amanda Penrose is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and having three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, she worked at Oakbridge Financial Group and Dillon Burdette. In addition to her advisory work, she owns and operates Amanda Michele Photography. Equitable Advisors serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs. The firm employs a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and relies on both proprietary and third-party investment solutions, including discretionary portfolio management and alternative investments.

Newman Townsend III is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2026, he worked at OSAIC for three years and FSC Securities Corporation for 14 years. He is also involved in wealth management through his practice, Steward Wealth Strategies. 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 portfolio management solutions, utilizing both proprietary and third-party research, and supports over 22,800 advisors with extensive operational resources.

David White is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities Corp for 17 years. He is also a partner at The Capital Planning Group LLC, where he offers disability insurance, fixed annuities, long-term care insurance, premium financing, and traditional life insurance products. OSAIC serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services, utilizing asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and a variety of investment options for discretionary or non-discretionary account management.

Gordon Richardson Jr. serves as a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With a career in the financial services industry beginning in 1983, he brings a comprehensive perspective to wealth planning and financial advice. Prior to his current role, Gordon worked as a senior tax manager at a major global accounting firm and has extensive experience in the brokerage industry. He holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Gordon earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama System. He has been recognized on the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list consecutively from 2019 through 2026 and is a member of the Richardson Team, which has been named to the Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” list multiple years.

Michael Best serves as a Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2000, he collaborates with clients to establish quantifiable financial goals and prioritize their needs. He develops customized strategies utilizing a wide range of financial instruments to assist clients in pursuing long-term objectives. His client focus includes college education planning, family wealth management, retirement planning, portfolio management, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University, an M.B.A. from Fayetteville State University, and an associate degree from Wayne Community College. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). A lifelong resident of eastern North Carolina, Michael is active in charitable organizations and community service. He is a past president of the Lafayette Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and volunteers with Liberty Point Rotary Club service projects. In his personal time, he enjoys boating, fishing, camping, cooking, football, gardening, writing, and spending time with his three children.

Jessica Rudin is a financial advisor at Merrill with four years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Equitable Advisors and The Preiss Company. 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 strategies for a range of client types including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Eric Svenson is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors since 2018. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to both retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of proprietary research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage multi-manager and fund-of-funds portfolios.

Russell Hadley is a CFP® professional with 34 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Osaic and has prior experience at Lincoln Financial Securities Corp and Woodbury Financial Services Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in selling fixed life insurance and annuities and owns Alpha Omega Wealth Partners. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm offers brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, managed accounts, and access to third-party money managers, employing asset-allocation tools and automated rebalancing to construct portfolios across various asset classes.

Stephanie Davis is a financial advisor at Merrill with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Merrill since 2017, following eight years at First Citizens Investor Services. Outside of her advisory role, she also sells Avon beauty products by catalog. 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.

Tyler Faggart is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Edward Jones since 2017. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Pruco Securities LLC for three years. Outside of his advisory role, he has participated in competitive bass fishing tournaments. 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 advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Darryl Banks is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Raleigh, NC, holding CFP® and Series 66 designations and having 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2016. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of investment advisory programs and affiliated financial products. The firm is notable for its extensive advisor and branch network and its integrated capabilities, including trust services and securities-based lending.

Travis Johanson is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and having 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Securities Incorporated, and Waddell & Reed, Inc. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors. The firm provides holistic, goal-based financial planning covering a broad range of topics and offers clients the option to combine planning with managed-account services under a consolidated billing program called “WealthPlan.”