Kathryn Beach is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Asheville, NC, with five years of industry experience. She previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors and On Track WNC before joining Mercer Global Advisors. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and related planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach, emphasizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and tax management, and offers a range of implementation options and affiliated service lines.

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.

Charles Smith is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First Bancorp, Fifth Third Securities, SunTrust Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and Merrill. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. serves individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm combines advisory and broker‑dealer registrations, providing customized financial planning, consulting, alternative investments, and lending solutions while allowing clients discretion over transactions.

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.

Jeffrey Howden is a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Beacon Pointe since 2022, following seven years at Altavista Wealth Management. He serves as a trustee for a non-client family trust. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and retirement plans. The firm employs a manager-focused investment approach, utilizing a proprietary “Focus List” and combining active and passive strategies, while sponsoring proprietary investment vehicles and serving as an operating general partner for multiple private funds.

Nathan Garnett is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Arden, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Brookstone Capital Management since 2019 and also engages in insurance sales with Amerilife, focusing on health insurance products for the senior market. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other entities. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through various platforms, including serving as a sub-advisor to other advisory programs.

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.

Kyle Boyd is a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Altavista Wealth Management, Inc. for 19 years before joining Beacon Pointe in 2022. Based in Asheville, NC, Boyd holds professional credentials pertinent to his advisory role. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to individual and institutional clients, including charitable organizations and retirement plans. The firm employs a manager-driven investment approach using proprietary due diligence and a mix of active and passive strategies, and it sponsors proprietary investment vehicles and serves as an operating general partner for multiple private funds.

Paul Collins III is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Triad Advisors, Peachtree Wealth Advisors, and Waddell & Reed. Collins has worked at Truist Investment Services since 2019. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform and manager arrangements, to deliver its investment solutions.

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.

Jeffrey White is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including First Bancorp, Infinex Investments, Inc., and First Citizens Investor Services. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan support, and access to alternative investments, operating a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer model with both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

Kathleen King is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. She has been with Oppenheimer since 2012. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension plans, charitable organizations, and IRAs. The firm offers a range of investment and consulting services using both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, managing equity, balanced, and fixed-income portfolios alongside tailored retirement solutions.

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. She is currently with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and has previously worked at Buckingham Strategic Wealth, LLC, Focus Wealth Management, Ltd., Pinnacle Advisory Group, Inc., Securian Financial Services, Inc., First Horizon Advisors, Inc., and Capitol Securities Management, Inc. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management, financial and tax planning, family office and business management, and employee benefit consulting. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds within an enhanced open architecture framework.

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.

Abraham Johnson is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Brookstone since 2021. Johnson is also a managing director and independent agent at Amerilife, where he sells life and health insurance products and is involved in training and recruiting insurance agents. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.