James Koester is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials. His prior roles include positions at JDM Financial, Secure Asset Management, Capital Financial Services, and Concorde Asset Management. Outside of Brookstone, he is also a financial professional involved in the sale of annuities and life insurance through JD Mellberg Financial. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

Brandon Rogers is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Prime Capital Financial. He has held roles at firms including United Planners' Financial Services of America and Cambridge Investment Research. Rogers is also involved as a regular volunteer with Salisbury Civitan and is president of Weswurth Strategies LLC, an entity unrelated to investment services. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm that serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans with a wide range of services including asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan, and family office offerings. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and oversees accounts on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Kevin Spence is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 26 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. His prior roles include positions at TIAA CREF Individual & Institutional Services, Cary Street Partners, Luxon Asset Management, and HSBC Technology & Services USA. He serves as a FINRA arbitrator, contributes scholarly articles on regulatory compliance, participates as a speaker at financial services industry conferences, and is a council member of the Securities Industry Continuing Education Programs. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as certain retail clients. The firm offers integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan sponsor-chosen investment lineups.

Corie Basham is an advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and no prior industry experience. She has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2020 and previously held roles at Randstad and Enterprise Rent a Car. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage channels, offering a variety of managed account programs via the Passageway platform. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and provides services that include mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed accounts, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

Karen Hough is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Thrivent Financial For Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2006. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based analyses and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan,” while keeping planning and portfolio management services separate.

Boyd Hough is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Salisbury, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 44 years of industry experience and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a broad, goal-based planning approach. The firm’s planning services address various financial topics and can be combined with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option, while keeping planning and asset management separate.

David Nifong is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial and Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC for nine years each. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of an architecture committee in Bryson City, NC. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals, providing tailored strategies across multiple custody and platform options.

Alan Burke is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He is also the owner of Alan F. Burke, CPA, PA, an accounting firm he has operated since 1989, and serves as treasurer for the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he manages a real estate business, Hole-in-One Properties, LLC, and owns Studio512, LLC, a business involved in band activities. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm uses detailed risk profiling and modeling tools to tailor non-discretionary planning and encourages implementation through its advisory programs or other providers.

Lexter Fennell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Concord, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth households, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Jesse Riley is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has one year of industry experience and has been with Wells Fargo Bank and its affiliates since 2012. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options in its investment menus.

Patrick Foley is a CFP® with 33 years of industry experience and has been with Edward Jones since 2012. He is based in New London, NC. Outside of his advisory role, he is a managing member of a real estate holding company. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving millions of individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, and affiliated investment products, supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Natasha Rufino Da Silva is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving the Suburban Philadelphia market. She is recognized as Merrill’s only African American advisor in the region and collaborates with an award-winning team that includes partners with over 40 years of experience. Drawing upon her athletic background, Natasha applies a disciplined and focused approach to her work with high net worth families and individuals. Her expertise spans advising medical professionals, athletes, business owners, and affluent families on various aspects of financial life, including wealth growth and preservation, retirement planning, managing new wealth, and tax minimization. Natasha emphasizes personalized strategies tailored to each client’s unique financial goals and has a commitment to educating her community on financial literacy, especially empowering Philadelphia’s youth. Natasha holds a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University and completed an Accredited Certificate Program at Temple University. She carries several professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). She is involved with community organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Tri State Black Men in Medicine. Fluent in English and Yoruba, Natasha focuses on clear communication to help clients understand financial strategies and market conditions.

Stephen Abercrombie is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for 17 years. Fidelity’s affiliate Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients using a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm also manages multiple registered investment companies and utilizes systematic methodologies and long-term asset allocation benchmarks.

Mary Michael is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. She has worked at Edward Jones since 2018 and previously held roles at Storr Office Environments and Palm Avenue. Outside of her advisory work, she is a co-owner of Hill Lane Home and Embroidery, an online retail business specializing in embroidery and design. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including both non‑high‑net‑worth and high‑net‑worth households. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non‑discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Bruce Sanborn is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2001, including its predecessor firm LINSCO/PRIVATE LEDGER CORP. Sanborn is also involved in selling fixed insurance products through F&M Insurance Agency in Granite Quarry, NC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual clients, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including model portfolios and retirement plan consulting, supported by research from internal and third-party sources.

John Euchner Jr. is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Salisbury, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 29 years of industry experience, including over two decades at Metlife Securities Inc. and has been with Mass Mutual and its affiliates since 2016. Outside of advisory work, he owns and manages a tax entity that handles 1099 income. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, and charitable organizations with financial planning and asset management. The firm offers collaborative, annual financial planning using firm-approved analytical tools and provides a range of investment and planning services including recent additions like standalone Divorce Planning.

Donald Osborne is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. since 2002 and has also worked with Alan F. Burke, CPA, PA during his career. Outside of advising, Osborne is involved as a partner in a tax preparation business and holds a power of attorney role for family investment accounts. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual, high-net-worth, pension, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers non-discretionary planning and consulting tailored to client goals, using analytical tools and risk profiling, and supports a broad advisor network with specialized municipal and public finance capabilities.

Hannah Lee is a financial advisor at Merrill in Concord, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. She previously worked at Wells Fargo & Co. for 14 years before joining Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, where she has been since 2019. 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 and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Douglas Weltz is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Bank of America, Merrill, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC, where Weltz is based, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm uses a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage portfolios, with a focus on systematic methodologies and long-term asset allocation.

Andrew Ricciarelli is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Mt Pleasant, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and joined Edward Jones in 2025. Prior to his current role, he worked at American Cedar & Millwork and Pella Carolina Inc. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including managed solutions and separately managed accounts, and manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets across a nationwide network of over 23,000 advisors.