Nicholas Cicci is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously spent time at Federated Securities Corp. and Federated Investment Counseling in 2010. 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 manages approximately $671 billion in assets through more than 14,000 financial advisors and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Damien Supple is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 11 years of industry experience, all spent at UBS. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor strategies to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

William Purgason Jr. is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Olde Providence Civic Association in Charlotte, NC. Ameriprise provides a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations. As a large institutional firm, Ameriprise offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated companies.

Jacob Allen is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with LPL Enterprise in Charlotte, NC. He has one year of industry experience, joining LPL Enterprise in 2025 after roles with local government entities in North Carolina. Outside of advising, he is involved in a non-variable insurance business. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm employs model-driven investment implementation and offers access to third-party asset managers and insurance products through affiliated entities.

Ileana Musmanni is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. with three years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Baird since 2019. Prior to joining Baird, she operated a business under the name Ili Musmanni for eight years. She is part of The DDK Group, a team within Baird’s Private Wealth Management practice that serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The group provides tailored consulting and portfolio management services using a variety of strategies and investment options.

Andrew Surla is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he partners with individuals, families, and business owners to help navigate financial decisions with clarity and confidence. His role involves providing steady guidance and thoughtful planning tailored to clients' evolving goals and circumstances. Andrew's expertise includes education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, and tax minimization. He leverages his experience as an investment professional to develop comprehensive strategies that bring structure and clarity to complex financial situations. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has earned professional designations including Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Andrew is active in several professional organizations such as the Bank of America Employee Networks, Charlotte Coffee Club, Kingdom Kickbacks, and Mercy Church. His community involvement includes participation in the ADP Peer Mentor Program, Beds for Kids, Better Money Habits, Charlotte Coffee Club, Habitat for Humanity, and Kingdom Kickbacks.

Philip Dusek is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2024, he worked at UBS Wealth Advice Center and Principal Securities, among other firms. He serves as a board member of HubClub Inc., a technology company based in Charlotte, focusing on fundraising and business development. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutions, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and analysis from the Global Investment Committee. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers both direct and employer-based financial planning services.

Mark Orton is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 24 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and with Wachovia Bank, N.A. since 2004. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad planning menu, including niche services like business-owner transition and special-needs analysis, and uses Wells Fargo research and tools to develop tailored client recommendations.

Megan Hern is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with four years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2023, Hern worked at The Vanguard Group and has a background that includes positions in law and public relations. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, offering a variety of advisory programs and tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process using firm-approved tools and market modeling techniques.

Evan Ferguson is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he was involved in various hospitality and service businesses, including Castaways Raw Bar & Grill and RuRu's Taco's & Tequila. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base ranging from individuals to institutional clients, providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm employs a variety of third-party and proprietary programs to tailor investment solutions.

Brian Green is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Morgan Stanley in Washington, DC, where he has worked since 2019 across the Private Bank and Smith Barney divisions. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he spent sixteen years at Wells Fargo Private Bank. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a variety of advisory programs including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved processes and tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides a broad range of investment and planning services.

Helen Amelia Fritsche is a financial advisor at Merrill with 37 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Merrill since 2009 and Bank of America, N.A. since 2011. She is a member of TBBR LLC, a group formed to co-own a condominium in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. 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 investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Robert Wells is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation along with Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, he worked at Wells Fargo from 2004 to 2022. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and a structured discovery process. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and delivers plans both directly and through Corporate Financial Planning agreements.

Grace Kristofic is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Heritage Financial LLC and Duquesne University. Her background also includes roles outside of finance, such as involvement with the Virginia Volleyball Academy. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a combination of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning, portfolio management, and distribution of mutual funds and alternative products. The firm integrates institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor strategies to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Connor Kitson is an advisor at UBS Financial Services with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work background includes roles at LPL Enterprise LLC, Align Technology, and Lightwave Dental, among others, as well as educational positions at Wake Forest High School and Heritage Middle School. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a blend of brokerage and investment advisory services, offering fee-based financial planning, portfolio management, and access to mutual funds and alternative products. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, supported by proprietary research and a wide range of capital markets solutions.

Jeffrey Gautier is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo clearing Services LLC and Wells Fargo Bank NA since 2018, and previously with W&S Brokerage Services, Western & Southern Life, and Fonville Morisey Realty. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as executor for his grandmother’s estate. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning services using proprietary research and tools, with planning engagements tailored to client needs and optional implementation through brokerage or advisory programs.

Matthew Mc Donough is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. His background includes roles in various sectors, including entrepreneurship with Perplexed Clothing Company LLC and experience in sales through Realty Benefit Services. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm utilizes both proprietary and third-party investment solutions and provides ERISA fiduciary services to qualified plans.

Thomas Brown is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked for Edward Jones for 15 years before joining Raymond James in 2025. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional investors, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting supported by a range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Hassan Kaouss is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney from 2011 to 2023. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, institutional investors, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary solutions.

Luke Stapleton is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Shanty Creek Resorts. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with brokerage and investment advisory services, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm leverages proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor investment strategies and combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management offerings.