Stephen Smith is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wachovia Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an umpire in local recreational sports leagues. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes research and analytics to guide investment decisions and offers a wide range of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Raif Todd is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and having 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-president of a family rental property business in Monterey, California. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment options supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Stephanie Houghton is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include work at Kidd Financial Investments with Ameriprise Financial, Morgan Ridge Vineyards, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and East Rowan High School. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and various technology-driven investment strategies.

Caroline Collins is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Edward Jones since 2001. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of investment strategies and advisory services supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Berott Mathnov is a Benefits & Planning Consultant for Executive Services at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2024. In this capacity, Berott assists clients in designing and executing financial plans by utilizing employer-sponsored benefits and adopting a holistic approach to financial planning. Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Berott worked as a Strategic Communications Manager at Robinhood from 2020 to 2022 and as a Client Relationship Consultant at TIAA from 2017 to 2020. These positions contributed to a diverse background in client relations and strategic communication within the financial services industry. Outside of professional pursuits, Berott enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including beach visits, gardening, horseback riding, outdoor adventures, scuba diving, and skiing.

Erik Johnson is a CFP® professional with 27 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with LPL Financial, where he has worked since 2025, and previously spent 20 years at LPL Financial, LLC (formerly LINSCO/PRIVATE LEDGER CORP.), as well as six years at SCF Investment Advisors, Inc. and SCF Securities, Inc. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers various advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, research, and technologies such as machine learning.

Charles Ketner is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 1999 and previously worked with AXA Advisors, LLC for 21 years. 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 third-party asset managers. The firm uses a hybrid referral and implementation model, tailoring services through a client intake process and offering both advisory and brokerage/insurance channels to implement client recommendations.

Cameron Hunt is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase Bank. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework to guide investment recommendations.

Diana Decuir is a financial advisor at Merrill with four years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Bank of America and its affiliate Merrill Lynch since 2022, following a 16-year tenure at Bank of America. 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 individuals, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional investors.

Davis Whitley is a financial advisor with MML Investors Services, LLC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses, with 42 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Metlife Securities Inc. for 40 years before joining MassMutual Life Insurance Company and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of advising, he serves as a North Carolina notary public and operates a health and group insurance sales business. MML Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser affiliated with MassMutual that provides comprehensive financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers collaborative, annual financial planning engagements using firm-approved tools and supports event-driven planning services such as estate settlement and divorce planning.

James Richardson III is a CFP® professional affiliated with Edward Jones, where he has worked since 2000, accumulating 25 years of industry experience. Based in Kannapolis, NC, he holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets with a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies alongside affiliated mutual funds and other services.

Lauren Chandler is a financial advisor with LPL Financial and holds a Series 66 credential. She has four years of industry experience, including roles at F&M Investment Services and Stanly County Schools. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing model portfolios, research, and various management strategies.

Tyler Ervin is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Concord, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial, he has held various positions in retail and service industries and has been involved in small business operations including pavement cleaning and carwash ventures. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, with discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

David Baucom is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Concord, NC, holding the Series 66 designation and having 21 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2007. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, institutions, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options supported by model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Lincoln Miller is a financial advisor with MassMutual Investors Services in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 20 years of industry experience. His work history includes 11 years at MetLife Securities and over a decade at MassMutual Life Insurance Co before joining MassMutual Investors Services in 2017. He is also involved with Hickory Tree Holdings for tax reporting purposes. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars using firm-approved analytical tools, with services structured as annual collaborative engagements.

Michael Wright is a CFP® professional with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ameriprise since 2020. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. from 2009 to 2020. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service designed for individuals with significant investable assets, providing detailed recommendation reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver personalized, non-discretionary retirement income recommendations.

Irene Chandler is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Kannapolis, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and over 22 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at SunTrust Securities and SunTrust Advisory Services. Outside of her advisory work, she owns a small business sewing baby quilts and works as a floral designer. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing model portfolios and research from various sources, and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Jolene Philpott is a CFP® professional with 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has been with Edward Jones since 2008, serving clients from Salisbury, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm that serves individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm operates under a fiduciary standard and manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.

Cheryl Salerno is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 10 years of industry experience. She previously worked at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as an authorized signer for several nutrition-related businesses affiliated with her spouse. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad range of investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services, utilizing research and analytics alongside diversification and modern portfolio theory principles.

Ricky Meeks Jr. is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Kannapolis, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. since 2000 and Raymond James Financial since 2009. Outside of advising, Meeks is involved in property development and management through several real estate ventures, including Carolina Property Holdings LLC and RBM Property Investments. 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 using analytical tools and supports municipal and public finance work through a municipal advisor affiliation.