Robert Brockland is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2013 and has worked within affiliated entities since 2006. Brockland also serves as a board member of the Western Piedmont Home Builders Association. 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 delivers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals using various investment platforms and proprietary and third-party strategies.

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.

John Black Jr. is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 39 years of industry experience, currently with LPL Financial since 2004. Prior to joining LPL, he worked at WS Griffith Securities, Inc. from 2001 to 2004. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, supported by a network of over 22,800 advisors.

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.

Joseph Anderson is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at NC Farm Bureau and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. Anderson is based in Morganton, NC. 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 and provides a range of advisory programs and investment options through a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Allison Weaver is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has held various roles including positions at educational institutions and family businesses. Outside of her advisory work, she is employed as a nanny. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions through a large network of advisors, utilizing strategic and tactical allocations, model portfolios, and third-party asset managers.

Myron Stephens is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Morganton, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He worked at Blue Ridge HealthCare from 2007 to 2019 before joining Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory role, Stephens is the owner of M & K Collectibles, a business focused on buying and selling sports memorabilia and trading cards, and serves a six-year term as a trustee at First Baptist Church of Morganton. 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 and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors and over 15,000 branch offices.

Mitchell Sayers is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group for one year before joining Ameriprise in 2017. Outside of his advising role, he owns QC Somm LLC, providing private sommelier services and wine consulting. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, notable for its specialized Premier Retirement Income service, which offers retirement planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

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.

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.

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.

John Watkins is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving clients in Western North Carolina. He focuses on developing personalized financial strategies designed to help clients pursue their long-term goals through tailored wealth management approaches that adapt to changing market conditions. John's expertise encompasses areas such as college education planning, corporate benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, and retirement income. He applies his knowledge to assist clients across various financial aspects, including corporate executive services, divorce transition planning, and employee benefits planning. In addition to his professional work, John is active in his community, volunteering with local organizations. He has personal interests in baseball, fishing, golfing, and hunting, reflecting his engagement with the community and leisure activities. John is committed to partnering with clients one-on-one to develop strategies aligned with their individual goals.

Scott Brooks is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Prudential Insurance, LoyaltyEdge LLC, and American Express. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-owner of rental properties in Morganton, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving a broad range of individual and institutional clients. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers a variety of investment strategies and affiliated services through a large network of advisors and branch offices.

Samuel Dyer is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works with clients to develop strategies to pursue their financial goals by understanding what matters most to them and their families. His approach encompasses general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unexpected financial needs. Samuel holds a Bachelor's Degree from Appalachian State University and has earned professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He provides ongoing advice and guidance tailored to clients' evolving needs.