Matthew Bennage is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 63 designation and 19 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Commonwealth Financial Network and Weller Financial Group. He is also the owner of MDB Wealth Advisory, LLC, a private entity involved in securities, advisory, and insurance services. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting over 22,900 advisors and overseeing more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Bryan Steele is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with UBS since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as the general manager of a property rental business in Charlotte, NC. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including portfolio management and fee-based financial planning. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and delivers advisory work through a network of Financial Advisors utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations.

Melanie Trexler is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 28 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previous experience at LPL Financial, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Truist Investment Services. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a broad client base, including retail and institutional investors, through a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages model portfolios and serves multiple registered investment companies, employing systematic methodologies and oversight controls.

Brian Booe is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Fort Mill, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Fields Auto Group. 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 advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives and extensive operational resources.

Belva Evans is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Asheville, North Carolina. She joined Merrill in 2021 as a Client Associate following a 21-year career in banking management. In 2024, she advanced to the role of Financial Advisor alongside colleague Susan Sorrells. She holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Belva utilizes her experience in banking and wealth management to assist clients in pursuing their financial goals, which may include education planning, real estate purchases, family needs, and retirement security. She emphasizes building relationships by understanding clients' unique circumstances across generations and supports them in making informed decisions through clear communication and attention to detail. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina System. Belva lives in Waynesville, North Carolina, with her husband, two children, and their Boston terrier. She is active in her local church and volunteers with the Tuscola Athletic Club. She also served on the Waynesville Rotary Board as treasurer and president-elect. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and attending Georgia Bulldog football games.

Jennifer Ledford is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Rock Hill, SC, holding a Series 66 designation with 7 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2014. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, affiliated mutual funds, and tax-efficient services, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Landrum Henderson Jr. is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 51 years of industry experience. He has been with Robert W. Baird & Co. since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is an owner and proprietor of a rental property in Pawleys Island, SC. He is part of The DDK Group within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice, which serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The group offers customized financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing a range of strategies including traditional and non-traditional investments.

Stephen Schneider is a financial advisor at LPL Financial in Fort Mill, SC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior roles include five years at Commonwealth Financial Network and work in academic and entrepreneurial settings including the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Deerfield Spirit Shoppe INC. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies.

Benjamin Horn is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and over 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2007, including roles at Morgan Stanley \& Co., Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. He leads a weekly CFP discussion at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory and brokerage services to both individual and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and investment programs supported by firm-approved tools and research.

Mary Chase is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 22 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Merrill for 24 years before joining Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and then Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning, utilizing firm-approved tools and methodologies, and manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Heidi Johnson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, and has 23 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. 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 combines research and analytics with both brokerage and advisory solutions, managing approximately $671 billion in assets through a network of over 14,000 financial advisors.

Daniel Bryant is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Robert W. Baird & Co. since 2018, following prior roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons. The DDK Group, part of Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management department, serves individuals, corporate and business clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing various separately managed account programs and integrating internal research and technology, including artificial intelligence, to support client advice.

Rob Lotz is the Vice President, Wealth Planner at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2021. In this capacity, he partners with clients to develop customized financial plans aimed at helping them achieve their unique goals. His approach centers on being a trusted advisor to assist clients in managing their wealth effectively. Rob has been with Fidelity Investments since 2015, progressing through various roles including Financial Representative, Investment Consultant, Financial Consultant, and currently Vice President, Wealth Planner. This experience has provided him with a broad understanding of financial planning and investment strategies. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Rob enjoys activities such as spending time at the beach, family activities, golf, surfing, and parenthood.

Christian Perry is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining UBS, he worked in various roles including at Top Golf and Tropical Smoothie. Outside of financial services, he is involved in retail service work at Target. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor plans according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and provides a broad range of capital markets and advisory services.

Alexander Travers is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2026, he spent 19 years with Commonwealth Financial Network. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that offers advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions with a variety of financial planning and asset management solutions.

Michael Williams is a Series 66 registered advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, based in Charlotte, NC. He has 21 years of industry experience and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2004. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering holistic, goal-based financial plans that cover various topics such as retirement, tax, estate, and special needs planning. The firm combines planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option while maintaining separate services.

Cameron Chapman is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. and WealthGuard Insurance Services, LLC, where he is also an independent insurance agent. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations, by providing financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs through a large network of financial professionals and multiple platform options.

Gary Collins is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 33 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Global Markets prior to joining LPL Financial in 2009. Outside of his advisory role, Collins is a business owner of SCM Arms, which holds a federal firearms license to buy, sell, and manufacture firearms. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting a broad range of investment strategies implemented through its network of investment adviser representatives.

Peter Senick is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2006, including its predecessor Axa Advisors, LLC, where he also worked starting in 2006. Outside of his advisory role, Senick serves as board chair for the Academy of Finance at Olympic High School and owns Senter Rock Capital LLC. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm’s advisory approach includes matching clients to program models or discretionary managers, utilizing third-party asset managers and LPL-sponsored advisory programs.

Nasera Kaouss is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James, she worked at Morgan Stanley and its affiliated entities in various roles from 2018 to 2024. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, and offers a range of financial planning and advisory services with a primarily non-discretionary approach.