Aaron Watkins is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently advising clients at Ameriprise since 2020. His prior experience includes roles at Bank of America, Merrill, and Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. He is also the owner and manager of Aaron Watkins Holdings, LLC, a business used to manage miscellaneous expenses related to financial planning. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services focused on clients approaching or in retirement, typically those with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver personalized, non-discretionary recommendations, supported by a centralized consulting team and algorithmic tools.

Ronald Warden is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Mt Pleasant, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with MassMutual Life Insurance Co and Mass Mutual Investors Services since 1996. Outside of his advisory role, Warden is involved in real estate sales and appraisals and operates a benefits group specializing in life, health insurance, and retirement plan communications. MML Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides ongoing financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers collaborative, annual financial planning engagements using firm-approved analysis tools and structures its services to focus on investment strategy recommendations rather than specific product selections.

La Tasha Gandy is a financial advisor at Merrill with three years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. She has been affiliated with Bank of America since 2010. Gandy serves on the boards of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, the MUSC Foundation College of Nursing, and My Sister’s House Inc., a nonprofit focused on domestic violence support. Merrill, along 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 individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Stephan Zacharkiw is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Charleston, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank since 2015 and has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs that include tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies.

Maxwell Huggins is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on providing personalized financial strategies that connect all aspects of a client's financial life to help prioritize and pursue their most important goals. Max works with a select group of clients to develop customized investment advice tailored to their unique priorities and long-term aspirations. Maxwell has been with Merrill Lynch since 2017 and brings expertise in family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, and sports and entertainment. His approach emphasizes collaboration, drawing on the resources of a global financial institution to create strategies that reflect clients' goals for themselves and future generations. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina and has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Maxwell is actively involved in his community, serving as Secretary for the Mt. Pleasant Exchange Club and participating in organizations including Habitat for Humanity and the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce.

David Ranney is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Rebalance, LLC and Bend Financial. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors, utilizing a blend of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm engages in discretionary and non-discretionary advisory work, fund advisory, and portfolio management with notable use of systematic methodologies and AI in its investment process.

Colin Johannessen is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at firms including Citigroup Global Markets and Commonwealth Financial Group. Johannessen operated as a self-employed advisor from 2019 to 2021. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through various third-party programs. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model, leveraging multiple advisory platforms and offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions.

John Elson is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Charleston, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and UBS Financial Services. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a broad range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s planning process uses structured discovery conversations and firm-approved tools without providing individual security recommendations as part of standalone plans.

Jeffrey Malott is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Thrivent Financial and LGCY Power, among other firms. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers with The Exchange Club of Charleston, a community organization that supports local nonprofits through events such as the Coastal Carolina Fair. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on comprehensive, goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority. The firm combines planning with managed-account programs under consolidated billing while keeping these services distinct.

George Debnam Jr. is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked within various Raymond James entities since 2013 and is the president of Debnam Financial Services. He also serves as executor for an estate under his name. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individual, institutional, and charitable organizations. The firm uses tailored, non-discretionary planning supported by analytical tools and offers specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Richard Carlin Jr. is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 45 years of industry experience. He has been with RBC Capital Markets Corporation since 2008 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs featuring discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services tailored to clients’ risk profiles and investment preferences.

Richard Young Jr. is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Mt Pleasant, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of the Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo Legacy of Life Foundation and the Rivertowne Swim Team Board. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, providing written recommendation reports that include income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis with a centralized consulting team to deliver tailored, algorithm-supported retirement advice.

Clark Samisch is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing, Morgan Stanley, CUSO Financial Services, LP, and SCFCU. Samisch is based in Charleston, SC. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The group offers customized financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of investment strategies and overlays to align with client goals and risk tolerances.

Jason Oates is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Mount Pleasant, SC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 21 years of industry experience, including 15 years with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services tailored to plan objectives and risk tolerances.

Mary Davey is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Ameriprise, Clawson and Staubes, The Keynote Group, and First Citizens Bank. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research from in-house and third-party sources.

Michael Zechmann is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LPL Financial since 2024. He has prior experience at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, where he worked from 2015 to 2024. Outside of his advisory role, he is an author. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a nationwide network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs supported by LPL Research and third-party subadvisors.

Andrew Kernich is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and having two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at South Carolina Federal Credit Union and CUSO Financial Services, LP. Outside of advisory work, he has been involved with Rooftop at The Vendue and Sole on the Green. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and retirement plan consulting.

Robert Hatala is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Charleston, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is a sole proprietor in real estate investment. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, emphasizing tailored financial planning supported by firm‑approved tools and extensive asset management.

Edward Gilbert is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 29 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Strategic Resources Group, Ascend Financial Services, and Minnesota Life. Gilbert serves as an officer on the board of the Commonwealth Cares Foundation. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC serves a broad range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and access to multiple investment strategies through a large national network of independent advisors.

Caroline Mahoney is a financial advisor at Cetera with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked with NYLIFE Securities LLC, New York Life Insurance Company, and Northwestern Mutual. Mahoney is also the owner of CM Financial Group, LLC, which she maintains for tax purposes. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered advisor serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.