Christiana Lovelace is a Series 66–licensed financial advisor at LPL Financial with nine years of industry experience. She previously worked at Edward Jones and Bank of America before joining LPL Financial in 2021. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in social media content creation related to investments. 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 wide range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, supporting more than 22,800 advisors and overseeing over $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Charles Rogers Jr. is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 28 years of industry experience and has been with Cambridge since 2016, alongside longstanding involvement with Capital Concepts dating back to 2004. Outside of his advisory roles, he has been a partner in Capital Concepts Properties LLC since 2000 and has acted as an independent insurance agent. 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 advisory services through a network of independent professionals, providing customized strategies across multiple platforms and a range of proprietary and third-party model portfolios.

Katie Goforth is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Newton, North Carolina, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and having 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2004. Outside her advisory role, she is a member-owner of an LLC for investment property ownership. 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 advisory programs and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors.

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 with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation for 13 years before joining Cambridge in 2021. Outside of his advisory role, Essex serves as president of an independent insurance agency. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals, utilizing a variety of portfolio management strategies and platform arrangements.

Chasty Bailey is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 16 years of industry experience. They hold Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and have worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing Services, FTB Advisors, and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a process that combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm supports model portfolios using systematic methodologies and serves as an advisor to multiple registered investment companies and fund‑of‑funds.

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 Series 66-licensed financial advisor with six years of experience, currently affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. He has worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2019 and operates Capital Concepts Financial Group. Outside of advising, he is the owner and host of a podcast through BGP LLC. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals across wealth segments, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory services and investment solutions delivered by independent financial professionals with access to proprietary and third-party strategies.

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 with Ameriprise in Hickory, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and having 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for one year before joining Ameriprise in 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he owns QC Somm LLC, a private sommelier and wine consulting business. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning through its Ameriprise Premier Retirement Income service. The firm’s approach combines proprietary investment research and algorithmic tools to provide ongoing, tax-aware retirement-income recommendations within a defined investment universe influenced by affiliated product relationships.

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 Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with OSAIC and has previously worked at Spectrum Financial Inc. and Securities America Advisors. Outside his advisory role, Nelson serves on the board of Exodus Homes, a local nonprofit assisting individuals transitioning from rehab, jail, and prison, where he also chairs the marketing committee. OSAIC serves a wide range of retail and institutional clients, offering integrated brokerage and investment advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm employs asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios and provides access to third-party money managers and wrap programs.

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.