Tyjah Johnson is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edelman Financial Engines, Johnson worked as an independent licensed life insurance agent for five years and served at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for five years. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm combines a proprietary modeling process with planner delivery and online tools, offering a range of management services and emphasizing diversified portfolios, periodic rebalancing, and a long-term investment approach.

Megan Tate is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Fayetteville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with six years of industry experience. She previously worked at Ashley Collins State Farm for four years before joining Edward Jones in 2020. 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 and investment strategies, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices across the United States.

Barbara Smith is a Series 66 licensed advisor with Merrill in Fayetteville, NC, where she has worked since 2013, totaling 12 years of industry experience. She also serves as an independent contractor consultant for Scentsy, selling their products part-time. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts.

Dylon May is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, Credit Suisse Group, Northwestern Mutual, and several academic institutions. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm uses a committee-driven proprietary modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, offering diversified portfolios and a long-term investment approach.

Denise O'dell is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Morgan Stanley and its affiliated entities since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in property management as a partner in a rental property business in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a variety of advisory programs including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and methodologies. The firm manages a significant amount of client assets and provides services through a broad range of investment and financial planning offerings.

Steven Canali is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked for FSC Securities Corporation for 17 years before joining OSAIC in 2023. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in selling life, health, and disability insurance as well as annuities. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides integrated brokerage and investment advisory services, employing various tools and platforms to construct portfolios that include a wide range of asset classes and investment strategies.

James Melvin is a CFP® and ChFC® with 46 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently serving at Wells Fargo Advisors since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. He teaches the 13-week Financial Peace University course at Northwood Temple Church in Fayetteville, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network offers investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutions, providing a broad range of planning solutions supported by Wells Fargo research and tools.

Ryan Plentzas is a financial advisor at LPL Financial holding a Series 66 designation, with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, he served three years in the United States Army and worked in roles at the University of Tampa, Derryfield Country Club, Bridgton Academy, and Manchester High School. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing model portfolios, research, and technology-driven approaches across discretionary and non-discretionary management.

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 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and market simulations.

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 40 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, and charitable organizations—offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach uses proprietary analysis and probabilistic modeling to support asset allocation, retirement, insurance, and estate planning decisions.

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 financial advisor at Edward Jones in Raeford, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with nine years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in several family real estate holdings and manages pine straw sales on family land. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs, 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 through an extensive network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

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 16 years of industry experience, currently with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors from 2012 to 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in a family-owned LLC related to rental property management. 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 IPS-driven approach incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a broad range of financial products such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

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.