James Melvin is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 46 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he teaches a 13-week Financial Peace University course at Northwood Temple Church in Fayetteville, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing investment and fee-based financial planning services. The firm offers a broad range of planning options using proprietary research and tools, with a focus on tailored recommendations across various financial needs.

Ryan Plentzas is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2025. Prior to joining LPL Financial, he served three years in the United States Army and has experience working at the University of Tampa, Derryfield Country Club, Bridgton Academy, and Manchester High School. 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, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Bruce Brown is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Securities America Advisors, Inc., SSN Advisory, Inc., and National Planning Corp. Brown is active in his community as a member of the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville and serves on the finance committee of Hay Street Methodist Church. OSAIC Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base, including retail and institutional investors, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services with a range of investment options and portfolio management tools across multiple platforms.

Michael Stanfield is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009. Prior to that, he was with Citigroup Global Markets from 2001 to 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s planning process uses structured discovery and modeling tools to develop tailored financial plans, operating primarily in an advisory capacity.

Marcos Soltren is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, he focuses on building meaningful client-advisor relationships to understand and address each client's unique financial goals and dreams. He offers personalized wealth management strategies that consider clients' objectives, time horizon, liquidity needs, cost considerations, and risk tolerance, helping clients pursue their goals through a consistent and customized approach. Marcos specializes in areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, tax minimization, and retirement income. He provides access to investment insights from Merrill and banking convenience and lending solutions from Bank of America to manage all aspects of clients' financial lives. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Florida State University and has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Marcos is bilingual in English and Spanish. He participates in his community through volunteer work and enjoys fishing, football, music, soccer, softball, spending time with his family, traveling, and watching movies.

Edwin Purcell is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He leads the Purcell McLean team, which combines the investment capabilities of Merrill Lynch with banking services from Bank of America to deliver personalized wealth management solutions. Edwin and his team prioritize understanding their clients’ financial goals, both short and long-term, to develop strategies tailored to individual needs, including areas such as retirement planning, legacy planning, tax minimization, and liquidity management. With over 60 years of combined experience on his team, Edwin specializes in serving diverse client needs including family wealth management, divorce transition planning, and support for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. He holds professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Edwin earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Campbell University. Edwin is engaged in community activities and supports several organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, Clinton Rotary Club, and his local church, Graves Memorial Presbyterian. He also participates in local athletics boosters and recreation departments, reflecting his commitment to the communities he serves. Outside of work, his interests include baseball, basketball, boating, fishing, football, genealogy, golf, hunting, table tennis, and traveling.

Kristi Hammond is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with Edward Jones, where she has worked since 2000, bringing 25 years of industry experience. She is also the managing member and owner of Patriot Hauling, LLC, a dump truck hauling business based in Hope Mills, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a broad range of investment solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Keith Tilghman is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, a role he has held since 2008. He works closely with clients to understand their specific needs and goals, employing a goals-based approach to navigate the complexities of investments and wealth management. Keith's focus areas include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. Keith holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned both a bachelor's degree in Finance and an M.B.A. from East Carolina University. His education and credentials support his comprehensive and modern approach to wealth management. In addition to his professional career, Keith is actively involved in his community. He is a former president of the Cape Fear Botanical Garden Board of Directors and participates in organizations such as Highland Presbyterian Church, the Sons of the American Revolution, and Methodist University. Keith lives in Fayetteville with his wife and two children and enjoys spending his leisure time engaged in sports, camping, cooking, music, reading, traveling, watching movies, and being with his family.

Thomas Bolton Jr. is a financial advisor at Stifel with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Stifel Nicolaus & Co. Inc. since 2010. Stifel serves a broad range of clients including individuals, institutional clients, charitable organizations, and municipal entities, offering brokerage and advisory services. The firm’s investment approach relies on proprietary methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group, providing analysis and allocation guidance based on forward-looking capital market assumptions.

James Wilson is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 44 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation as well as the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining OSAIC in 2025, he spent 17 years with Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he also works as an insurance agent offering various insurance products including accident, health, disability, and life insurance. OSAIC serves a wide range of clients from individual investors to institutions, providing integrated brokerage and advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm employs asset-allocation tools, automated rebalancing, and offers portfolios including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and alternative investments, with discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

John Wright is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Raeford, NC, where he has worked since 2016. He has 10 years of industry experience. Outside of his advisory role, Wright is involved in family real estate holdings and owns land used for pine straw sales. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs and separately managed accounts. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of more than 23,000 advisors and 15,000 branch offices.

Jonathan Proffitt is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Fayetteville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and with nine years of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he has served in the US Army since 2003 and continues to serve in the US Army Reserve. In addition to his advisory work, he provides business coaching to start-ups and is engaged in self-publishing, including works on finance and a family cookbook. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, and affiliated financial products. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Teresa Elliott is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. She previously worked at Merrill from 2010 to 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she co-owns a rental property management LLC with her spouse in Fayetteville, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Laura Pope is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, she works closely with clients to align their investments, planning strategies, and long-term objectives according to their personal financial goals. She develops personalized financial roadmaps aimed at helping clients pursue their life, income, and legacy goals with confidence. Born and raised in Fayetteville, Laura graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She started her career in financial services in 2011, earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) certification in 2017, and completed a Master's degree in Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning in 2019. Her areas of focus include education planning, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, special needs planning strategies, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Outside of her professional work, Laura participates in community volunteering and spends time with her husband, Ken, and their family. Her client-focused approach emphasizes developing personalized financial strategies through one-on-one collaboration.

Wilton Cross is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Fayetteville, NC, with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with Edward Jones since 2001. Edward Jones is a wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including high- and non-high-net-worth households, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Joy Wicker is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Charles Schwab. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a blend of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction in managing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios.

Jonathan Collins is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Edward Jones with one year of industry experience. His background includes roles at the Army National Guard and Campbell Soup Company, among others. He also serves as Chief Financial Officer of Zero Drag LLC, a manufacturing business, providing financial insights without current compensation. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of investment strategies and affiliated financial services, supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Patrick Banville is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has seven years of industry experience, including roles at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and Fidelity Investments. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network since 2021. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing a range of investment and fee-based financial planning services. The firm offers tailored financial planning solutions using proprietary research and planning tools, supporting clients across various complex needs such as retirement and business-owner transition planning.

Elisha Freeman is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. Prior to Merrill, Elisha worked at First South Bank for three years. Outside of advisory work, Elisha serves as a committee member for the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corp, assisting with grant recommendations to support local small businesses. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients via the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Scott Azzarelli is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with Wells Fargo since 2016, following a prior role at Wachovia Securities in 2002. 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 and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and external sources.