Angela Mackinnon is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and seven years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Equitable Advisors, W&S Brokerage Services, Inc., and Omnistar Financial Group, as well as periods of self-employment. She serves as Vice President on the executive board of a Child Development Center in Wilmington, NC. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual, high-net-worth, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm provides financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs, operating through a range of sponsored programs and endorsed third-party managers.

Colleen Lyons is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2019. Prior to her current role, she worked at McGraw Hill Education for eleven years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Rachel Betzwieser is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She previously worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services for three years and has been with LPL Financial since 2020. Outside of her advisory role, she is a Notary Public. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, combining discretionary and non-discretionary management with model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Derek Sox is a CFP® professional with 30 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Robert Mccarthy Jr. is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 31 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with RBC Capital Markets since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the finance committee of the nonprofit Emily K Center. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves individual investors, institutional clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs with tailored portfolio management and financial planning services, utilizing both in-house and third-party investment managers.

John Gammons is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been in the financial services industry since 2004 and brings over 18 years of experience working with individuals and families to create personalized wealth management strategies. John focuses on client needs in liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income, helping clients plan effectively for financial obligations across different stages of life. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from East Carolina University. His professional designations include CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). John’s approach centers on collaborating with clients to define what matters most to them, addressing key life priorities such as family, finances, health, home, leisure, work, and giving, and helping navigate the financial complexities that arise through life’s changes. Outside of his professional role, John enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. His personal interests include traveling, golfing, tennis, camping, scuba diving, skiing, and other outdoor activities.

Franklin Dunn III is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2010 and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a volunteer firefighter with the Bayleaf Volunteer Fire Department and is a board member of Western Wake Fire and Rescue. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets through tailored strategies and firm‑approved planning tools.

Philip Johnson is a Senior Financial Advisor with the Bono & Kline Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he collaborates with team members to pursue optimal asset allocations tailored to clients’ objectives, cash-flow needs, and timeframes. He applies his quantitative skills to evaluate external investment managers and research market themes. His client focus areas include Family Wealth Management Strategies, Services for Endowments, Foundations, and Non-profits, Liquidity Management, Sports & Entertainment, and Tax Minimization. Philip holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Mercyhurst University and an M.S. in Finance from The Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certificant. He is an active member of the CFA Society of Washington, DC, and participates in the Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council. Philip resides in Raleigh, NC. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, camping, football, reading, and spending time outdoors with his dog.

Simran Dhaliwal is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including SunTrust Investment Services and Pinnacle Bank. In addition to her advisory role, she is an associate with Pinnacle Asset Management, where she assists in client services and business development. 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 offers non-discretionary planning tailored to client goals, supported by advanced analytical tools, and maintains specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA employer consulting.

Klair Conant is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 21 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Merrill. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and market simulation models.

Richard Black Jr. is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in aiding business owners, successful individuals, and families in managing, preserving, and growing their wealth through personalized and strategic financial guidance. His areas of expertise include college education planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. Richard holds several professional designations, including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of his professional work, Richard enjoys gardening, genealogy, hunting, skiing, surfing, tennis, and spending time with his family.

Andrew Applequist is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Osaic and Steward Wealth Strategies, as well as experience outside the financial sector at FlyExclusive, Bass Pro Shops, and Liberty University. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves individual and institutional clients through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and brokerage services with discretionary and non-discretionary management options supported by research and model portfolios.

Thomas Whitehead is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously was with Wachovia Bank and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the finance committee of Mt Olive Baptist Church and coaches high school football at Hillside High School. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory solutions. The firm’s IPS-driven approach incorporates a broad range of investment options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs, tailored to plan objectives and risk tolerances.

Sharmishtha Prasad is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and with 14 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Coastal Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo Private Bank. She serves on the boards of the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Community Foundation of North Carolina East. 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, financial planning services, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

David Mc Dowell is a financial advisor at Osaic in Raleigh, NC, with two years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Osaic, he held roles at James River Insurance, First Citizens Bank, and Appalachian State University. His other business activities include serving as a financial advisor at Capitol Financial Solutions and working as an insurance broker with Carter McDowell. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base ranging from individual investors to institutional clients, offering integrated brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs various asset-allocation tools and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, with access to multiple third-party money managers and advisory platforms.

Mike Patti is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 20 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Patti holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools supported by its Global Investment Committee.

E Ostendorff is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has extensive experience in estate and investment planning, serving the financial needs of families, endowments, foundations, and non-profits. E Ostendorff began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1995 as the Estate Planning specialist for multiple Merrill offices. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the College of Charleston and earned his Juris Doctorate from Nashville School of Law. His professional credentials include the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Outside of his professional work, E Ostendorff is a founder of the Continuous Blessings Foundation and has participated on the finance and membership committees for North Ridge Country Club. His personal interests include football, golfing, music, and reading.

Ward Marslender III is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Marslender-West Asset Management, an investment-related business. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services, including retirement, education, risk, and wealth-transfer planning, delivering tailored recommendations supported by proprietary research and planning tools.

L James is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He leads a team that has over 30 years of experience assisting affluent families with thoughtful investment guidance and comprehensive financial planning. His approach focuses on helping clients simplify their financial lives to support their lifestyle, legacy goals, and retirement income needs. James holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™), and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®). He earned his bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University. Throughout his career, he has been recognized in Barron's America's Top Financial Advisors and Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors. Outside of his professional responsibilities, James enjoys boating, hiking, music, singing, skiing, swimming, watching movies, and spending time with his family. He is committed to staying current on tax and estate planning issues and cutting-edge financial strategies to provide value to the families he serves.

Sohan Shah is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has been with Ameriprise since 2023 and has prior work experience in commodities and merchant funding sectors. His background also includes roles in education and hospitality. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides customized retirement planning advice focused on reliable income and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies.