R Stikeleather is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and has been with Bank of America since 2000. He transitioned to financial services after a ten-year career in law enforcement and has accumulated over twenty-four years of experience in the financial industry. His role focuses on developing individualized financial strategies that address comprehensive financial well-being, including asset allocation, education funding, retirement savings, insurance analysis, debt management, and leveraging banking resources to simplify clients' financial lives. Stikeleather completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and previously attended the United States Air Force Academy. He holds several professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA), and others. His expertise emphasizes working with affluent clients to align portfolio management with their risk tolerance and financial objectives through access to Merrill's Investment Advisory Program. He resides in the greater Charlotte area with his wife, and they have three adult children and three grandchildren. Stikeleather is involved with professional organizations such as Back Creek ARP Church, Bonclarken Conference Center, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Athletic Foundation. His community involvement includes work with Forgotten Children Ministries in Honduras. Personal interests include adventure sports, golfing, scuba diving, skydiving, spending time with family, tennis, and yoga.

Nicholas Mason is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving clients at Edward Jones since 2014. Based in Charlotte, NC, he holds the Series 66 license and has spent his entire advisory career with Edward Jones. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm provides a range of advisory solutions, including discretionary and nondiscretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Jacklyn Hernandez Moran is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. Her work history includes multiple roles at Charles Schwab and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved as a consultant promoting clean wellness products through Arbonne. Charles Schwab serves a large client base primarily composed of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts, offering multi-asset model portfolios and alternative investment options.

Drue Garrison is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 25 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Mass Mutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Company since 2001. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in individual life insurance sales. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, with planning engagements structured as collaborative annual relationships.

Kelly Hughes is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2017 and was previously with Voya Financial Advisors from 2014 to 2016. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional investors, offering advisory programs that provide portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services. The firm customizes investment strategies based on clients’ risk profiles and utilizes both in-house and third-party managers to implement portfolios.

Christopher Hess is a CFP® professional at LPL Financial with 32 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, he spent 26 years at Ryan Hess Morais Financial Advisors, Inc. He has also worked with Ic Advisory Services Inc and The Investment Center Inc. Hess engages in insurance sales, including life, long-term care, disability, and health insurance. 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 financial planning and investment management services, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies, supported by technology tools for advisors.

Michael Claiborne is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Raymond James & Associates. Prior to this role, he worked at Equitable and spent several years with the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Raymond James & Associates is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and consulting with a non-discretionary approach supported by extensive research and multiple portfolio management styles.

David Prewette is a financial advisor with Cetera in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Center Street Advisors and Arete Wealth Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a real estate company he uses for family property and occasional referral fees, and is involved in providing brokerage and advisory services through his own DBA. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform enabling advisors to implement a variety of model portfolios, bespoke strategies, and program options across discretionary and non-discretionary accounts, managing over $256 billion in assets through a nationwide network of more than 10,000 advisors.

Kimberly Lafone is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with two years of industry experience. She has been with Raymond James since 2019, following six years at Carolina Asphalt. 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 clients, and charitable organizations, and offers financial planning, investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary services.

Ryan Lindberg is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Charlotte, NC, with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at firms including The Vanguard Group, Linden Thomas and Company Securities LLC, and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory roles, he has experience with Noble Coffee Roasters. 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 and serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Tracy Gates is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 18 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Robert W. Baird since 2018, with prior roles at Johnson Bank and INVEST Financial Corp. Robert W. Baird’s DDK Group serves individuals, corporate and business clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory services including financial planning, portfolio management through separately managed accounts, and custody and brokerage services, supported by in-house research and various investment strategies.

William Sullivan is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and 49 Financial, as well as experience with JPMorgan Chase Bank and JPMorgan Securities since 2022. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting within a non-discretionary program.

Connor Lee is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Charlotte, NC. He has recently begun his advisory career, having worked at UBS and River North Capital since 2023. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. Its advisors utilize proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor plans based on clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Scott Brooks is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo for four years and has been the owner of Brooks and Associates LLC since 2014. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a wide range of clients, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and corporate entities. The firm primarily uses model-driven investment strategies developed by its Research Department and third-party portfolio strategists.

Danny Lopez is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2019 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Bank of America. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies managed by internal and third-party teams for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Todd Rose is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Securities America Advisors, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and TCA Financial Group. Outside of advising, he works as a background actor and serves as an international visitor liaison. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory services including financial planning, model portfolios, and institutional platforms, with advice delivered by investment adviser representatives who may use proprietary research and third-party strategies.

Kyle Shanaberger is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank since 2017, following a year at PNC Investments. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment solutions supported by centralized custody and operational infrastructure.

David Teague is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with RBC Capital Markets since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he holds a 20% ownership in a family real estate business, Happy's Way, LLC, where he manages properties and negotiates sales. RBC Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering tailored portfolio management and financial planning through a variety of advisory programs and a combination of in-house and third-party investment managers.

Bruce Bevins II is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and 27 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory work, he is the CEO and owner of Bdubz Clubs LLC, a golf equipment repair and fitting business in Matthews, NC. 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 a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, with advice delivered primarily by investment adviser representatives using various investment strategies and operational tools.

Peter Levinson is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He leads The L/A Wealth Management Group, which coordinates the financial affairs of medical and legal professionals, business owners, corporate executives, families, retirees, and non-profit organizations. Peter and his team focus on personalized wealth management, emphasizing clients' life priorities, investment personalities, and financial situations to help achieve specific financial objectives. With 30 years of experience, Peter specializes in family wealth management strategies, institutional investment consulting, and services for defined benefit and contribution plans. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Duke University and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Additionally, he has earned professional designations including Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Peter is active in community involvement, having served on boards of non-profit organizations such as Temple Israel, Temple Beth El, The Levine Jewish Community Center, and the 24 Foundation. He has also been Vice Chair of North Carolina Hillel. In his personal time, Peter enjoys cycling, playing golf and guitar, skiing, cooking, spending time with his family, and traveling.