Jay Smith is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 25 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for 22 years before joining Raymond James in 2024. Raymond James & Associates oversees approximately $501 billion in assets and serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory services with an emphasis on tailored, non-discretionary consulting supported by extensive research and multiple portfolio management styles.

Sara Richard is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Shelby, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked in healthcare roles including medical technologist positions at Kings Mountain Hospital and various health organizations from 2016 to 2024. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, operates under a fiduciary standard, and manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets.

Christopher Pridnia is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 38 years of industry experience, currently with Raymond James Financial in Gastonia, NC. He has been associated with Raymond James and its affiliates since 2004 and is also an owner of Bluestone Financial Advisors Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he has a 50% ownership stake in VP Properties LLC. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and employs analytical tools to model potential outcomes, supporting a broad client base through an extensive network of advisors.

David Best is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Rutherfordton, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. 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 services. The firm’s process is IPS-driven and incorporates a broad range of financial products, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Richard Sheehan is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 designations and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and RBC Capital Markets. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides retirement-income planning through written recommendation reports and ongoing advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Nathaniel Peoples is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with four years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with LPL Financial and Harbor Financial Group. Prior to that, he worked at Edward Jones for four years. Outside of his financial advisory career, he served as a student pastor at City Church, where he taught and mentored students. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and corporations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs supported by various model portfolios, research, and technology solutions.

Stephen Price is a ChFC® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with Edward Jones, located in Shelby, NC. He has 19 years of industry experience, all with Edward Jones since 2007. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of more than 23,700 advisors, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies along with tax-efficient services under a fiduciary standard.

Michael Roman is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Gastonia, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2015. Roman also serves as the upcoming Vice President of the local chapter of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) in Gastonia. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm that serves more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and provides a range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Samuel Gault is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Elefante Corp and Family Home Buyers. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Andrew Osborne is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. in Gastonia, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, Osborne serves as treasurer on the advisory board of Crisis Assistance Ministry for Christians and Jews, where he reviews monthly financial statements. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored, non-discretionary planning using risk profiling and modeling tools and supports municipal and public finance work through a unique affiliation with a municipal advisor.

Hayden Watkins is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Merrill, based in Lake Wylie, SC. He has been with Merrill since 2024 and has prior experience at Bank of America, N.A., Wilson Air Center, Trolley Barn Brewery LLC, and several other firms. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Wade Hartman is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience currently with Mass Mutual Investors Services. He has previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. and MassMutual Life Insurance Company. Mass Mutual Investors Services operates as a subsidiary of MassMutual, providing financial planning, asset management, and educational services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers structured, collaborative financial planning engagements without investment discretion, along with event-driven planning programs such as divorce planning and estate settlement.

Jack Buchanan Jr. is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Kings Mountain, NC, where he has worked since 2007, accumulating 18 years of industry experience. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a supply minister, speaking at local churches when needed. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Lopez Davis is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 35 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation along with Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, he worked at CUSO Financial Services, LP and Truliant Federal Credit Union, where he has also maintained a long-term affiliation. 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 financial planning, advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by various model portfolios and research resources.

Connor Pridnia is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Bluestone Financial Advisors and Raymond James Financial Services Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is associated with Bluestone Financial, a non-investment-related business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored, non-discretionary planning using analytical tools to support client goals and is noted for its municipal advisory affiliation and specialized SIMPLE IRA consulting services.

Leslie Wilson is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2015. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management through a nationwide network of more than 23,700 advisors, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies alongside affiliated mutual funds and tax-efficient services.

Charles McClure is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2019, he worked for Ameriprise Financial Services for 14 years. He is also involved with McClure Investment Company, a real estate investment business. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management supported by research and technology tools.

Jennifer Pelon is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, bringing seven years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Fountain Group and the 6th Judicial Circuit of Pinellas County. She has been with Raymond James & Associates since 2018. Raymond James & Associates is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse clientele including individuals, institutional and pension plans, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, advisory programs, and institutional consulting through multiple portfolio management strategies.

Jennifer Smith is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 17 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Traverse Partners, Greerwalker Wealth, and Thrivent Financial. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as a council member for Restoring Hope Foursquare Church. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors. The firm provides holistic, goal-based financial analyses and planning without discretionary trading authority, focusing on topics such as retirement, tax, estate, and special needs planning.

Steven Studebaker is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He previously worked for IC Advisory Services Inc. and The Investment Center Inc. for 15 years each. 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 and financial planning services, including discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.