Jason Lail serves as an Associate Resident Director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he works closely with families to identify their financial goals, strategically allocate assets, and monitor progress toward achieving those objectives over time. His approach centers on creating personalized plans that address retirement planning, retirement income, and family wealth management strategies. Jason brings extensive experience to his practice, having been in the financial services industry since 1999. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2009, he spent nine years with another Wall Street firm. He holds several professional designations, including the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Jason earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of his professional work, Jason dedicates time to volunteering as a youth athletics coach and is active in his church. He resides in Granite Falls, North Carolina, with his wife Jennifer and their two sons. His personal interests include adventure sports, baseball, cooking, football, golfing, hunting, running, and traveling.

Daniel Whitener is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2024, he worked at Lowe’s Home Improvement Corporation for six years and Transportation Insight for three years. He serves as Treasurer and Secretary for BNI - Catawba Valley Business Builders in Hickory, North Carolina. Edward Jones is a full-service 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 offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Denise Clay is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2011. Based in Hickory, NC, she works within a firm that serves a diverse client base. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm with over 23,700 advisors serving more than four million clients, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies and separately managed accounts, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Ryan Spleet is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers as a football coach. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on holistic, goal-based financial planning without discretionary portfolio management. The firm offers planning as a one-time or ongoing service, addressing a wide range of topics and allowing clients to integrate planning with managed-account programs through a consolidated billing option.

Tim Wepner is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 35 years of industry experience. He has worked at various Wells Fargo entities since 2009, including Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad planning menu using proprietary research and tools, delivering tailored recommendations through meetings and written summaries, with optional implementation through brokerage or advisory programs.

Jeffery Franklin is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in Family Wealth Management Strategies, Personal Retirement Planning, Small Business Strategies, and Retirement Income. He works with clients, families, and businesses to develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their long-term goals. Jeffery holds a Bachelor's Degree from Western Carolina University and an MBA from Lenoir-Rhyne University. He carries the Professional Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. His approach involves providing detailed analysis and appropriate solutions while nurturing long-term relationships to help clients navigate key financial moments. Outside of his professional role, Jeffery is involved in community organizations such as Samaritan's Purse - Helene Recovery and Speedway Children's Charities. He enjoys fishing, hunting, pickleball, spending time with his family, maintaining classic Ford vehicles, and attending car shows.

John Arney IV is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2018. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked for Klingspor Abrasives Inc for three years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million 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 one of the largest nationwide networks of financial advisors and branch offices.

Natalie Raatz is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Vanguard for five years. Her background also includes roles at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and EDU Healthcare. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive, goal-based analyses on topics such as retirement and estate planning. The firm allows clients to integrate planning with managed-account services under a consolidated billing option while keeping these services separate.

Robert Fincher is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. Before joining LPL Financial in 2019, he worked at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. from 2016 to 2019. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, institutions, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, supported by research from LPL and third-party subadvisors.

John Davis is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Lenoir, North Carolina, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Signature Wealth Group, Raymond James Financial Services, and Suntrust Investment Services. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, combining discretionary and non-discretionary management with model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Tara Hicks is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and having eight years of industry experience. She has been with Thrivent Investment Management since 2016 and at Thrivent Financial since 2017. Outside of her advisory role, she manages rental properties. 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 planning across various financial topics, with services available on a one-time or ongoing basis, separate from managed-account programs.

Toni Anderson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Lenoir, NC, with 17 years of industry experience, all of which have been with Edward Jones since 2009. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of investment strategies and affiliated products. The firm is notable for its large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices and provides services under a fiduciary standard.

Chadwick Henderson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 20 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2010. Outside of advising, he established a general contractor’s license through a construction business he formed but has not actively used. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning and advisory programs, combining discretionary and non-discretionary management with research from internal and third-party sources.

Samuel Edwards is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at SagePoint Financial for six years before joining LPL Financial in 2019. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Franklin Anderson II is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Granite Falls, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in several real estate ventures, including ownership and financing interests in real estate construction and rental properties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Christopher Geoghegan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2024. He previously worked at SunTrust Advisory Services and SUNTRUST INVESTMENT SERVICES, Inc. for eight and nine years, respectively. Outside of his advisory role, Geoghegan is involved in several business entities, including an insurance agency and private wealth management under the MG Partners brand. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of financial planning and advisory programs, as well as access to model portfolios, research, and institutional investment solutions.

Michael Woods is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management in Conover, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has prior experience at Catawba Valley Health System and Iredell Health System, as well as community involvement through a decade of work at Newton Recreation Center. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, providing comprehensive, goal-based financial planning without portfolio management or institutional advisory services.

Christopher Cannon is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He previously worked at MassMutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Company before joining Raymond James in 2019. Cannon serves on the board and investment task force of the Hickory Museum of Art. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides tailored financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs analytical tools and risk profiling to support non-discretionary consulting and offers specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Rachel Gilley is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Morganton, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. She previously worked at Bank of America for nine years before joining Edward Jones. Gilley serves as the finance chair and a board member of Thrive (formerly Caldwell Senior Center) in Lenoir, NC, where she helps organize events, manage sponsorships, and oversee financial operations. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and charitable organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies under a fiduciary standard.

William Bell is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Hickory, North Carolina, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones and its affiliated entity since 1994. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.