Andrew Blanchard is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Raleigh, NC, with two years of industry experience. Prior to his financial advisory role, he served nine years in the U.S. Air Force and was a homemaker for five years. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as an actor represented by a talent agency and serves as a board member for the Apex Public School Foundation. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive financial planning focused on goals such as retirement, tax, estate, and special needs planning. The firm combines planning with managed-account programs under consolidated billing while maintaining separate planning and investment services.

Melinda Poulton is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with four years of industry experience. She has worked at Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management since 2022. Outside of her advisory role, she acts as a brand ambassador for nutritional supplements and wellness products in a limited capacity. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on holistic, goal-based analyses across various financial planning topics. The firm offers a planning service separate from portfolio management and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under consolidated billing.

Omid Bonakdar is an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2024. He collaborates with individuals and families to understand their goals, values, and concerns in order to co-create financial plans aimed at pursuing their lifelong objectives. Prior to his current role, Omid gained experience at Fidelity Investments as a Workplace Planning Consultant from 2022 to 2024, progressing through multiple levels in that capacity. Before joining Fidelity, he worked at Guidehouse in 2021 as a PPP Loan Analyst and ERAP Manager. Outside of his professional career, Omid has interests that include the beach, cooking and baking, movies, music, snowboarding, and traveling.

Robert Frye is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Prior to this, he worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2010 to 2016. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Raleigh, NC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Shelley Bennett is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 14 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Morgan Stanley since 2014, including a role with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients by providing a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and comprehensive investment resources as part of its services.

Wallace Suggs II is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, NYLIFE Securities LLC, Thrivent Financial, and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a Branch Launch Manager for Grameen America, a nonprofit providing businesswomen in poverty with access to microloans and education. 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 a range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Jonathan Waterman is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2002, previously affiliated with Axa Advisors, LLC from 2002 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in guardianship and healthcare power of attorney responsibilities for his family. 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 LPL programs and a broad range of third-party asset managers. The firm uses a hybrid referral and implementation model, tailoring services based on client goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Daniel Griffith is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has just over one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Osaic and Samaritan's Purse, as well as experience in education and corporate settings. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing model portfolios and research to support diversified investment strategies.

Donald Monroe is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 42 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2009. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, leveraging proprietary capital market research and model-based asset allocations to tailor client plans. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, including futures commission merchant activities and principal trading.

Kent Thompson is a financial advisor at OSAIC based in Raleigh, NC, with 40 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at OSAIC since 2018, following five years at Jhfn Sii. Thompson serves as secretary on the board of the Wake County Estate Planning Council, a charitable organization. OSAIC serves a broad mix of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisors and offers integrated brokerage and investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money managers and wrap programs. The firm uses asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance questionnaires, and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios, and supports a wide range of account types and investment strategies.

Gregory Wesley Shanks is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley based in Raleigh, NC, with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at First Citizens Investor Services, TIAA-CREF, Captrust, and Fidelity Investment. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and a structured discovery process. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services that combine retail and institutional solutions.

Kristiana Dowling is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Raleigh, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 12 years of industry experience, all with Wells Fargo Advisors since 2010. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo, offering investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm provides a broad range of planning services supported by proprietary research and tools, serving clients who meet specific net-worth criteria.

Parker Tanner is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience and joined Equitable Advisors in 2025. Prior to his advisory role, Tanner worked in various positions including at Lowe's Home Improvement and other service roles. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model combining advisory and brokerage services tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Joshua De Leon is an International Wealth Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He provides wealth management strategies to individuals, families, and businesses, focusing on legacy planning and addressing the complexities of the global financial environment. Joshua works to develop comprehensive strategies aligned with clients’ short- and long-term financial objectives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Joshua is fluent in English and Spanish and holds professional designations including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Through his role, he leverages the investment resources of Merrill and the banking capabilities of Bank of America to help clients manage various aspects of their financial futures.

Philip Nation is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 39 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has worked at LPL Financial since 2024, previously spending 19 years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He is involved with Phil Nation Wealth Management LLC, a business related to his LPL activities. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary management and model portfolios supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Andrew Rose is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at OSAIC since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at SII and multiple divisions of Northwestern Mutual from 2007 to 2017. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Vice President of a homeowners association and is involved with several insurance brokerage activities. OSAIC Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory services and uses various tools and third-party platforms to construct and manage portfolios tailored to clients’ needs.

William Durkin is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Charles Schwab Bank, Charles Schwab & Co., Bank of America, Merrill, and Peapack Gladstone Bank. He also has a background at Cornell University. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary multi-asset investment solutions combined with integrated brokerage, custody, and financial planning services.

Calvin Dunham is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he held various positions in the hospitality sector and worked at educational institutions. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporations, charities, and institutions. The firm offers financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs through a dual registration as an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer.

Kimberly Blaes is a financial advisor with Merrill in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. She previously worked at UBS Financial Services for 11 years before joining Merrill in 2026. 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.

Thomas Lappin is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, Inc., Madison Street Capital, and held multiple roles at Brown University. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor advice to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.