David Helgeson is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Asheville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2004 and also holds a position with Agia, offering non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm provides discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

John Mills is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Swannanoa, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked with Primerica Advisors and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2014 and more recently with Park Avenue Securities beginning in 2025. Outside of his advisory work, Mills manages a shared farm property in Kansas and serves as a successor trustee and executor for a family estate. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering brokerage, advisory, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a variety of proprietary and third-party investment strategies across multiple account types, managing roughly $15 billion in regulatory assets under management through an integrated operating model.

Austin Bell is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors, based in Asheville, NC, with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2015 and is currently also affiliated with Agia. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a middle school golf coach at Asheville Christian Academy, teaching and supervising golf practice and matches. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet UMA models and a range of investment options.

Jonathan Gossens is a CFA® charterholder currently with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He has 15 years of prior experience at Northern Trust. Mercer Global Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach featuring globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and offers a range of portfolio management and planning services.

Joseph Kiely is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. holding a Series 65 designation with 28 years of industry experience prior to joining Mercer in 2024. He previously led Kiely Wealth Advisory Group, Inc. There are no additional notable outside activities reported. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services.

Robert Hooks Jr. is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 14 years of industry experience. He has worked with Truist and its predecessor firms since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member of the North Asheville Little League. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing third-party platforms and inter-affiliate resources to implement and oversee investment strategies.

Noelle Smith is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. She has been with Lincoln Investment since 2017 and previously worked for Legend Equities Corporation for 23 years. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as Treasurer of the Broadway Asheville Homeowners Association. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan advice, and both advisor-managed and firm-managed investment programs, using a mix of strategic and tactical approaches supported by proprietary research and technology.

Suzanne Bell is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Asheville, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. She has worked with several firms, including Independent Investment Bankers Corp and Ba Securities, LLC. Bell is also involved with SJH Synergy, LLC, an activity she has maintained for 10 years. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and select retail brokerage account holders. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its advisory services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Kathleen King is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with 12 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Oppenheimer since 2012. Oppenheimer serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing strategic and tactical asset allocation alongside manager selection and multiple investment strategies.

Hannah Kennicott is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Thrivent Financial, LPL Enterprise, and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of finance, she has experience working at Culver's Garden Center & Greenhouse. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary manager strategies and integrates advanced tools and inter-affiliate resources to support its investment offerings.

James Shand is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group in Asheville, NC. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2026. His prior work experience includes roles at IngeniousIO, Callminer Inc, and various positions in the restaurant and catering industries. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm offers integrated services connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates.

Barbara Ristow is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. She has previously worked at Buckingham Strategic Wealth, LLC, Focus Wealth Management, Ltd., and Pinnacle Advisory Group, Inc. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth advisory and investment management services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, retirement plans, institutions, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term investment approach emphasizing tax- and fee-sensitivity within an enhanced open architecture framework that combines active and passive strategies, separate account managers, private funds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Jose Velarde Gainza is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he held roles at First Horizon Bank and Northwestern Mutual, among other positions. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering proprietary and third-party planning methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates.

Joshua Dillard is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer in Asheville, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Oppenheimer since 2023. Prior to joining Oppenheimer, he had roles in the brewing and hospitality industries, including at Bhramari Brewing Company and Black Mountain Pizza & Ale House. Oppenheimer serves individuals, corporations, pooled vehicles, and retirement plans, offering a variety of advisory programs and services ranging from discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management to consulting and retirement solutions. The firm employs diverse investment approaches tailored to its programs and advisors and manages approximately $36.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025.

Douglas Bridges Jr. is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at VALIC Financial Advisors since 2006. He also holds an agent position with Agia, focusing on non-securities insurance products. VALIC Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, and offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services through its broker-dealer operations.

Linda Puryear is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. in Asheville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. She has worked at Hometrust Bank since 2020 and previously held roles at BB&T and its affiliated entities from 2011 to 2019. Puryear serves on the finance committee for Children’s First/Communities in Schools and is the board treasurer for RiverLink, a nonprofit focused on the French Broad River’s environmental and economic vitality. OSAIC Institutions serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans with a range of advisory and brokerage services, emphasizing customized advisory engagements and access to alternative investments through platforms like CAIS. The firm notably manages a majority of assets on a non-discretionary basis and combines broker-dealer and adviser functions to deliver its services.

Jordan Williams is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. in Weaverville, NC, and has one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at HomeTrust Bank and NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients by providing customized advisory services, financial planning, and access to alternative investments. The firm operates a hybrid adviser and broker-dealer structure and emphasizes delegated investment analysis and client-controlled transaction authority.

Eric Hauser is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Kestra Advisory since 2017 and previously spent seven years with Williams Financial Group. Hauser also operates KB Elliot Financial Advisors, conducting registered representative and independent insurance agent activities through Kestra entities under a DBA. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers fiduciary consulting, plan design, investment advice, and employee education, serving large institutional investors including sovereign wealth funds and managing approximately $79.8 billion in assets.

Donald Weidemann is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Oppenheimer since 2010. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Oppenheimer serves individuals, corporations, pooled vehicles, and retirement plans, offering a variety of advisory programs including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, consulting, and retirement services. The firm employs a range of investment approaches varying by program, with assets under management totaling approximately $36.7 billion as of year-end 2025.

James Novello is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 registrations and previously worked at John Hancock in various roles from 2019 to 2023. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of Glassmine Publishing LLC, an editing and publishing business. Oppenheimer serves individuals, corporations, pooled vehicles, and retirement plans, offering a range of advisory programs including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, consulting, and retirement services. The firm’s investment approach varies by program and advisor, encompassing strategic and tactical asset allocation across multiple asset classes.