Ernest Williams is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth, holding a Series 66 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, and PRUCO Securities. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in retirement income and estate planning services, as well as insurance and benefits through Griffin Distribution Partners. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage and advisory programs featuring model-based asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and access to both proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

Steven Kocher is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 38 years of experience, currently serving at UBS Financial Services since 1987. He is based in Troy, MI, and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services that include proprietary research and tailored financial planning.

Liliane Pascalis is a financial advisor with Merrill in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2013. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Kerry Goodman is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 21 years of industry experience and holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining OSAIC in 2026, Goodman worked at several firms including Founders Financial Alliance, LLC, Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, LPL Financial, LLC, Invest Financial Corporation, and Truist Investment Services, Inc. Goodman serves as an at-large board member of the Abecedarian Education Foundation, a nonprofit focused on early childhood education. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform with an investment process centered on model-based asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and a suite of advisory strategies.

Austin Poythress is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked with Equitable Advisors since 2016 and was previously with AXA Advisors, LLC. He also operates a business under the name Legacy Wealth Strategies. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and various asset-management programs, utilizing both proprietary and third-party investment solutions delivered through a large network of Investment Adviser Representatives.

Meralyn Ratnasekera is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Her prior work includes roles at First Citizens Investor Services, First Horizon Bank, and SunTrust Bank. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and employs over 14,000 financial advisors, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Mikel Chalmers is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he currently assists clients and their families in understanding and achieving their financial goals. He collaborates with clients to analyze all aspects of their financial lives and develops plans to work towards meeting those goals. Mikel has held several roles in the financial services industry, including Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023, and Paraplanner at Ameriprise Financial during 2020 and 2021. Prior to that, he was an Associate Advisor at Millennium Advisory Services from 2018 to 2020. He holds insurance licenses in both Arkansas and California.

Matthew Wallace is a Benefits & Planning Consultant with the Executive Services team at Fidelity Investments. In his current role, he supports Executive Planning Consultants by meeting with clients to help them understand and maximize their employer-sponsored benefits, including 401(k) plans, pension benefits, and company stock programs. Matthew has been with Fidelity Investments since 2022, beginning his tenure as a Workplace Planning Consultant III before transitioning to his current position in 2026. His work focuses on providing education and guidance regarding available benefits, answering client questions, and assisting clients in making informed decisions to maximize the value of their benefits. Outside of his professional role, Matthew enjoys bowling, spending time with pets, snowboarding, and traveling.

Jovana Romero Hernandez is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill. 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 combines brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.

Seth Ellington is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he worked at Fidelity Investments and has a background that includes roles at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and involvement with several church organizations. He serves as a power of attorney for his wife. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm utilizes a range of advisory programs, including third-party model portfolios and discretionary management, offering access to mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and select alternative investments.

Manish Mehta is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Cary, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill and Morgan Stanley before joining UBS in 2008. Outside of his advisory work, Mehta is involved in real estate investment and management through his ownership and decision-making roles in several related businesses. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing proprietary capital market assumptions, model-based asset allocations, and research from its Chief Investment Office and UBS Global Research to tailor client plans. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and offers a broad range of financial products and capital markets services.

Sandra Gunnels is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, she held positions at various companies including Henson Novelties and Trophy Brewing and Pizza. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a systematic investment process that integrates proprietary research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm serves a diverse client base and is noted for its use of algorithmic methods, formal advisory roles to registered investment companies, and established governance procedures.

Christopher Griffith is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2007 and previously spent four years at Ameriprise. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in non-variable insurance products including life, health, disability, and fixed annuities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies, supported by advanced advisor tools.

Cory Wessel is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Baird since 2018 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2018. Wessel holds the Series 66 designation. He is part of The DDK Group, a team within Baird’s Private Wealth Management department that serves individuals, corporate clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management, separately managed account programs, and custody and brokerage services, supported by internal research and ongoing manager monitoring.

Michael Kaplan is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, Kaplan serves as president of his condominium owners association. Ameriprise is a large institutional firm that offers a retirement-income planning service for clients generally holding at least $1 million in investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies to provide tailored written recommendations.

Robert Roepke is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has worked for over 28 years. He holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He works with individuals, families, professionals, and small businesses, employing a consistent methodology focused on understanding each client's specific needs and concerns. Robert's approach begins with a disciplined process to establish explicit objectives and achieve financial goals while minimizing unnecessary risk. He utilizes Merrill Lynch's resources to develop tailored strategies and emphasizes regular reviews to ensure alignment with clients' objectives. His commitment to effective communication and ongoing monitoring allows strategies to be adjusted in response to changes in clients' lives or lifestyles. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1983, Robert and his wife settled in Raleigh, North Carolina, where they have raised their three children. He is an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys playing golf. Robert also participates in community volunteer activities as part of Merrill's tradition of service.

Kenneth Nelson is a financial advisor with Cetera in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Investors Capital Corp. and Morgan Keegan & Company, LLC. Nelson also serves as a guest lecturer at Duke University and NC State University, where he teaches a weekly class, and he is an economic commentator and author involved in various media activities. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered advisor serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, supporting discretionary and non-discretionary strategies across multiple program structures.

Aaron Schmidt is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2021 and previously was employed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Relias Learning. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios and is noted for its use of systematic methodologies, AI-driven research, and its advisory roles with registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Trang Pham is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2024, Pham worked at Truist, Citibank, and HD Bank. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment menu offerings.

Sam Ahmed is an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2023. Prior to this position, Sam advanced through roles as Investment Solutions Representative II (2022-2023) and Investment Solutions Representative I (2021-2022) at Fidelity Investments. Earlier professional experience includes serving as a Relationship Manager at Wells Fargo from 2016 to 2021 and as a Teller at Wells Fargo from 2015 to 2016. Sam holds insurance licenses in Arkansas and California. He focuses on assisting clients in working towards their financial goals by being attentive to detail and an active listener, emphasizing long-term relationship building. Outside of his professional work, Sam engages in family activities, fitness, movies, parenthood, and traveling.