Chirag Patel is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously with First Clearing starting in 2013. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap‑fee programs, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third parties.

Ashley Alexander is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at The Vanguard Group since 2017. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of Alexanders BBQ LLC, a restaurant based in Charlotte, NC. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice primarily to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach to asset allocation, utilizing proprietary models and offering portfolios largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

David Mc Donald is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Gastonia, NC, where he has worked since 2019. He has seven years of industry experience. Outside of advising, he has been affiliated with the Gastonia Grizzlies since 2014 and has occasionally driven for Uber. 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 solutions, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Matthew Foster is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at MML Investors Services, LLC since 2020. Prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co, Advantage Waypoint, and Cabarrus County Schools. He is also the owner of Elite Equity LLC, an entity used for pass-through compensation. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers collaborative, annual financial planning engagements supported by firm-approved analytical tools, along with various specialized planning programs.

Anna Hale is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Fortegra and held various roles at Florida State University, including Facilities Supervisor and Student Affairs employee. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and offices.

Patrick Wittekind is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 38 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC for 22 years and has been self-employed for over two decades. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for his own defined benefit and 401(k) retirement plans. 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 investors. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary advisory services and supports its large network with advanced planning tools and specialized programs such as municipal advisory and SIMPLE IRA Employer Consulting Services.

Garrett Wilson is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with three years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and also operates Wilson Financial Group, LLC. His background includes roles at Heister Wholesale Parts, Campbell University, and Gaston Christian School. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals, providing a range of portfolio management options and institutional resources.

David Weaver is a CFA® charterholder and Series 63 licensee with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2022 and has prior experience with marine services and boat sales firms. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and third-party asset management, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Robert Tancredi is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services mainly to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Lucas Beatty is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with nine years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management since 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for the Dallas, NC Boys and Girls Club and as a trustee for Venture Church. Thrivent Investment Management offers dedicated planning services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients. The firm provides holistic, goal-based analyses addressing a broad range of financial planning topics, with opportunities to combine planning and managed-account services under a consolidated billing option.

Carrie Jones is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Woodbury Financial Services and Cambridge Investment Research. Jones serves as a board member for Serenity Pastoral Counseling, a nonprofit organization. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of advisors. The firm utilizes a range of advisory platforms and investment strategies, offering integrated brokerage, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Adrian Smigiel is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Belmont, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2018 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Bank, NA from 2015 to 2018. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and 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 offerings.

David Balok is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Denver, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and offering 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Linsco/Private Ledger Corp., now part of LPL Financial, since 2006. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions with a range of financial planning and investment management solutions.

Ryan Welsh is a financial advisor at Merrill with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill since 2022, previously holding roles at Bank of America and several other organizations. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a power of attorney for his parents in cases where they are unable to make decisions for themselves. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Walter Greenwald is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, he worked at IC Advisory Services Inc. and The Investment Center Inc. for 15 years, as well as at Next Financial Group, Inc. and FFP Advisory Services Inc. Greenwald's other business activities include roles related to non-variable insurance products. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Joshua Shelton is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Kings Mountain, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2018, he worked for Broad River Retail dba Ashley HomeStore from 2016 to 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he is vice president of C J Farms Inc in Shelby, NC. 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, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices across the country.

Calvin Lougassy is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his financial services career, he was involved with Study Hall LLC from 2019 to 2021. 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 both model-based and discretionary investment strategies and serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Leah Flores is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and having 25 years of industry experience. She has spent the majority of her career with Wells Fargo entities, including Wells Fargo Bank, NA, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Charlene Hall is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. She has been with Primerica Advisors since 1992 and with Primerica Financial Services since 1990. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in sales of loan products and home security and automation services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management primarily through its Lifetime Investment Program, which offers model-delivery strategies and a limited number of discretionary separately managed account options to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses third-party asset managers and BNY Mellon Advisors for model implementation, with a wrap-fee structure and a focus on curated investment models.

Joseph Reimels is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 46 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp for 16 years and Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC for six years. He holds a Series 63 designation. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in non-variable insurance activities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, utilizing a large network of advisors and advanced operational tools.