Katie Goforth is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Newton, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 22 years of industry experience, all with Edward Jones since 2004. She is also a member and owner of an LLC involved in investment property ownership. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Maryann Diamond is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience. She is currently with LPL Financial and previously worked at Thurston Springer Financial and Edward Jones. Outside of her advisory role, she is a limited partner in Diamond Fab LLC, a business unrelated to investment activities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a variety of advisory services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and access to third-party asset management, supported by a broad platform that integrates advisory and non-advisory financial services.

David Wachter Jr. is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at MassMutual Life Insurance Co since 2016 and was previously with Metlife Securities Inc for eight years. Outside of his financial career, he serves as an independent pastor providing pulpit supply and engages in spiritual development projects, including authoring biblical commentary and leading faith trips to Israel. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering financial planning and asset management to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm structures planning as collaborative, annual engagements using firm-approved software, focusing on investment categories and strategies without discretionary authority.

Joshua Fulbright is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management in Claremont, North Carolina. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent, he worked in various roles including at Iconic Roofing and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive written recommendations on topics such as retirement and estate planning. The firm emphasizes holistic, goal-based analyses and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated option called WealthPlan.

Kristofor Essex is a financial advisor at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation and Osaic FS, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of an independent insurance agency, KP Insurance Partners, Inc. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a wide range of individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm operates through thousands of financial professionals and manages a multi-billion dollar asset base across multiple platforms and custodians.

Kimberly Bonini is a financial advisor at Merrill with seven years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Bank of America and Merrill since 2014. 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 plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Alexander Johnson is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Hickory, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2020 and concurrently affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. and Capital Concepts since 2019. Outside of his advisory work, he is the founder and host of a podcast through BGP LLC. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations, by providing financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm supports both discretionary and non-discretionary management and offers proprietary model strategies under the Founders Gate Capital brand.

Susan Singleton is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 25 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Singleton serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for St. Stephens High School Class of 84. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides retirement planning advice focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Mitchell Sayers is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked at The Vanguard Group for one year before joining Ameriprise in 2017. Outside of advising, he owns QC Somm LLC, a private sommelier and wine consulting service. Ameriprise Financial Services is a diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, known for its specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and annual retirement-income planning focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware strategies.

Michele Compton is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 30 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Edward Jones and J.W. Cole Financial. Since 2020, she has also been associated with Signature Wealth Group as a Senior Wealth Advisor. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary advisory services supported by advanced analytical tools and has a notable affiliation supporting municipal and public finance work.

Steven Fisher is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Valdese, NC, with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Woodforest National Bank and the Catawba Valley Baptist Association. Outside of his advisory role, he is a co-owner of a rental property business. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Michael Gerken is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Newton, North Carolina, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Gerken Enterprises, LLC. Thrivent Investment Management serves individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients by providing Dedicated Planning Services that cover a range of financial topics through goal-based analyses. The firm offers these services as standalone or alongside managed accounts under a consolidated billing system called WealthPlan, without discretionary trading authority.

Matthew Starnes is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2019 and previously worked at SagePoint Financial. Starnes also operates Starnes Financial Group and has been a self-employed insurance agent since 2002. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers various financial planning and asset management solutions, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies on discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Mark Teague is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2014. His prior roles include positions at Capital Guardian Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Clearing. He is also appointed as an authorized agent with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina to sell Medicare-related insurance products. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services including financial planning, third-party asset management access, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive advisor tools and a broad spectrum of financial products.

Peter Nelson is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Spectrum Financial Inc. and Securities America Advisors. Outside of finance, Nelson serves as a board member and marketing committee chairperson for Exodus Homes, a nonprofit organization focused on helping individuals reintegrate into society after rehabilitation or incarceration. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, charities, and corporations through a multi-advisor platform offering brokerage and advisory services. The firm employs a model-based investment process emphasizing asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supporting discretionary strategies and third-party managers.

Florance Johnson is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with two years of industry experience. They hold a Series 66 designation and have previously worked at Dollar General, HealthSmart Pharmacy, Kohl's, Avon, and several other organizations. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering one-time or ongoing planning relationships that cover retirement, tax, estate, business continuation, divorce, and special needs planning. The firm uses goal-based analyses and modeling tools, and clients may combine planning with managed-account services under a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan.”

Michael Austin is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Newton, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent, he worked at Wells Fargo for three years and served in the US Army North Carolina National Guard for 13 years. He is the Committee Chair for Shepherds for Sheepdogs, a nonprofit that provides trained service dogs to veterans and law enforcement officers with PTSD. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, focusing on holistic, goal-based planning across various financial topics without managing discretionary trading authority.

Terry Eskind is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 37 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior work includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Wachovia Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is president of Eskind Group LLC, a company involved in managing rental properties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with over $1 trillion in assets under management. The firm provides a range of investment strategies and advisory services through a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

John Watkins is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving clients in Western North Carolina. He focuses on developing personalized financial strategies designed to help clients pursue their long-term goals through tailored wealth management approaches that adapt to changing market conditions. John's expertise encompasses areas such as college education planning, corporate benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, and retirement income. He applies his knowledge to assist clients across various financial aspects, including corporate executive services, divorce transition planning, and employee benefits planning. In addition to his professional work, John is active in his community, volunteering with local organizations. He has personal interests in baseball, fishing, golfing, and hunting, reflecting his engagement with the community and leisure activities. John is committed to partnering with clients one-on-one to develop strategies aligned with their individual goals.

Samuel Dyer is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on understanding clients' individual goals to assist them in developing strategies tailored to their financial objectives. His areas of expertise include general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unexpected financial needs. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Appalachian State University and has earned professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Samuel engages with clients to discuss their goals and concerns, providing ongoing advice as their financial needs evolve. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Samuel has interests in chess, cooking, fishing, golfing, hunting, skiing, and soccer.