Betty King is a CFP® professional with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. King is a finance committee member at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Southern Pines, NC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm includes insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options as part of its investment menu.

Thomas Sharp is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 42 years of industry experience. His career includes multiple roles within Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., spanning over a decade. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s planning process utilizes structured discovery conversations and firm-approved tools, and it provides services through both direct client relationships and corporate financial planning agreements.

Hailey Garcia is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2021 and previously worked at Sam's Club and Walmart. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Joseph Vaughan Jr. is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at Stifel since 2017 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Treasurer and Vice President of Compliance for the Patriot Foundation, a nonprofit providing scholarships to children and spouses of service members affected by the Global War on Terrorism. Stifel serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and nonprofit organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services supported by proprietary investment analysis and asset allocation methodologies.

Philip Bailey is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Southern Pines, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Pottle Financial Services for 10 years before joining Charles Schwab in 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Tomwin Ventures LLC, a business involved in financial services. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combination of non-discretionary advisory relationships and access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by centralized custody and operational infrastructure.

Barbara Lutke is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She focuses on creating personalized financial strategies that align with her clients’ individual goals, adapting to changing market conditions while leveraging investment insights from Merrill and banking services from Bank of America. Barbara holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and completed her high school education at Ridgewood High School. In addition to her professional role, she actively participates in community volunteer work, reflecting Merrill’s tradition of community involvement.

James Tucker is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience, currently associated with Cetera. He has held roles at Commonwealth Financial Network and co-owns Tucker Bria Wealth Strategies, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is an author of a book titled *Family, Legacy, Wealth: How to Nurture and Grow your Family Orchard* and is involved as a deal finder for college athletes. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform with options spanning from automated allocations to bespoke strategies, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Gregory Grimshaw is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Pinehurst, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1998. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management, supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Chason Arrington is a Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill, serving as part of the MacDonald Arrington team since 2018. In this role, he focuses on business management, investment management, and comprehensive financial planning for clients navigating various stages of life. He works with clients on family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, retirement income, philanthropic planning, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. Chason holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) certification. He earned both his Bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics and his Master of Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University. He is also involved with the Hendersonville Connections Center, contributing to his community. Outside of his professional work, Chason enjoys spending time with his wife and son, playing golf, attending sporting events, and engaging in activities such as baseball, basketball, fishing, football, and reading.

Henry Caldwell is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has worked with Pinnacle Financial Partners and Wells Fargo Advisors, among other firms. Caldwell also serves as a financial consultant at Pinnacle Asset Management and as a financial advisor for Pinnacle Financial Partners. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and employs advanced analytical tools to support client goals, with specialized services in municipal and public finance.

James Bullard Jr. is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2009, including its predecessor Axa Advisors, LLC. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by offering financial planning, retirement plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm operates a hybrid referral and implementation model, providing both advisory and brokerage/insurance services tailored through a client intake process that documents goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Matthew Gleisner is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab since 2012, including seven years at Charles Schwab Bank. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by a large-scale, integrated operational structure.

Nathan Cherry is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has previously worked at OneAscent Financial Solutions, Fidelis Financial, Hicks & Associates WealthManagement, WealthShield Partners, Ameriprise Financial Services, and M&T Securities. Outside of advising, he maintains a personal blog unrelated to investment matters. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, various advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, employing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research from in-house and third-party sources.

Christopher Hunt is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Truist Investment Services and BB&T. 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 investment process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a broader range of financial product offerings including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Richard Palmer Jr. is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Stifel since 2023 and previously held roles at Edward Jones and Peter Millar. He holds a Series 66 license. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional investors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and advisory services supported by proprietary investment analysis and allocation methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Troy Puchalski is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Edward Jones since 2016. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked for Washington National Insurance Company for six years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Justin Bradford is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 26 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Prudential Securities, First Allied Advisory Services, and Sigma Financial Corporation. Bradford operates an independent advisory business alongside his role at LPL Financial. LPL Financial is a national investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by LPL Research and third-party subadvisors.

Ira Yermish is a financial advisor at Cetera with 39 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 63 designations and has worked previously with VOYA Financial Advisors and Cetera Wealth Services, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he operates an independent insurance agency and is involved with Physicians Financial Partners, focusing on insurance products for physicians. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and retirement services, utilizing a multi-manager platform with various program structures and custodial relationships.

Kevin Ley is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with Series 66 credentials and three years of industry experience. His background includes 22 years of service in the U.S. Army and a prior role at Surefox North America Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and manages a rental property in Niceville, Florida. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of investment strategies and affiliated financial services. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

William Eastman is a CFP® with 33 years of industry experience and has been with Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc since 2009. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Pinehurst, NC. Stifel serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach relies on a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group, which uses forward‑looking capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling to guide asset allocation and planning analyses.