Tawa Saune is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since joining in 2019, he has focused on delivering Goals-Based Wealth Management strategies that begin with understanding each client's family, financial situation, and priorities. Tawa’s expertise includes college education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management, international wealth management, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, and tax minimization. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia International University and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where he concentrated in Investment Finance and Corporate Finance. Tawa is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and is fluent in English and Spanish. He serves on the board of the non-profit Friends of Runa Simi and supports charities focused on art, education, and community development. Outside of work, he has personal interests in boxing, golfing, soccer, and writing.

Krista Thurmond is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with Series 66 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Baird, she worked at Hopewell Academy and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. She has also been involved with Soccer Shots of Greater Charlotte. The DDK Group, part of Baird’s Private Wealth Management department, serves individuals, corporate clients, pensions, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage services. Baird employs a range of strategies including SMA programs, tax management, and unified fee arrangements, supported by internal research and investment professional oversight.

Timothy Cody is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Scottrade, TD Ameritrade, Merrill, and Ally Invest Securities, and has been with Vanguard since 2019. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm combines a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios primarily constructed from Vanguard funds and ETFs, serving a large client base through its digital platform and extensive advisor team.

Brandon Wynn Milton is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and accumulating two years of industry experience. He has been associated with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2014 and co-owns Squared Focus Group, LLC, a printing services and web design business. 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 advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a broader investment menu that includes insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Weston Morgan is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Vanguard Advisers, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. since 2020. Prior to that, he was employed at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank and attended Wake Forest University from 2015 to 2019. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach and primarily invests in Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a range of customization options and managing hundreds of thousands of client relationships through a digital and team servicing model.

Charlee Shadoan is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 13 years of industry experience. Shadoan has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, 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, utilizing research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and other sources to guide its diversified investment approach.

Timothy Heilferty is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, Edward Jones, and Integrity Viking Funds. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement-income planning with written recommendations and ongoing advice.

Andrew Ortiz is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, he worked at The Vanguard Group and has been co-owner of Rooted Hearts LLC, a holistic health coaching business, since 2018. He also works as an independent contractor for Amazon Flex. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory solutions. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a broader investment menu that includes insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options.

Lisa Roche Berlage is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving at Vanguard Advisers since 2014. Her prior experience includes roles at Wipfli Financial Advisors and LCV Wealth Management. She serves as a finance committee board member for Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Denver, NC. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary models and primarily constructs portfolios from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Amanda Murdza is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Bank NA since 2013 and worked at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC from 2013 to 2017 before joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2024. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Caleb Cheyney is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial plans that align with their unique goals and priorities, focusing on areas such as retirement planning, portfolio management, tax minimization, and special needs planning strategies. Caleb leverages the resources of Merrill and Bank of America to assist federal employees, medical professionals, and business leaders in preparing for well-structured retirements. Caleb holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina System and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) as well as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His approach emphasizes understanding clients' individual circumstances and providing clear, disciplined guidance to help them manage their financial futures confidently. Outside of his professional work, Caleb enjoys basketball, football, music, pickleball, and spending time with his family. He is also involved in the community through his participation with Niner United at UNC Charlotte.

David Benevento is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity Investments, Edward Jones, Capital Group, and Robert W. Baird. He maintains a life and health insurance license. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and retirement plan participants, employing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios primarily constructed from Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm manages a large client base through a digital platform supported by a substantial team of advisors.

Robert Carrington II is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Primerica Advisors since 2020. Prior to this, he was employed at Medi Weightloss and ECPI University, among other roles. Outside of advising, he is involved in sales of loan products and home-related services through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and a limited selection of separately managed accounts. The firm uses third-party asset managers and offers a tiered wrap-fee structure, focusing on curated investment models rather than institutional portfolio management.

Donald Cook Jr. is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles with Vanguard Marketing Corporation and The Vanguard Group, Inc., as well as entrepreneurial experience with SBH BBQ Co. Outside of advisory work, he is engaged in e-commerce sales and provides transportation services through contracts with Lyft and Uber. Vanguard Advisers delivers automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, utilizing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with proprietary asset allocation models. The firm emphasizes scale and digital delivery, managing a high volume of client relationships primarily with Vanguard funds and ETFs, and offers multiple customization options including ESG exposures.

Julia Happel is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with five years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and TD Ameritrade. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and combines research-driven investment strategies with a broad range of financial products and services.

Andrey Shchegolev is a CFA® charterholder with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. He has been with Wells Fargo Bank since 2006. Outside of his financial advisory work, he serves as treasurer for the Brooks Homeowners Association in Monroe, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients, utilizing research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party databases to support its investment approach.

Charles Thompson is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has been affiliated with Raymond James Financial and its services since 2000. Thompson also owns and operates a real estate brokerage license in North Carolina. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting using analytical tools and supports both retail and institutional clients through a broad network of advisors.

Mitchell Stewart is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Principal Securities, Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Company. Outside of finance, he has experience in event planning and was involved with Show Stopping Event Planning from 2020 to 2022. 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 supported by internal and third-party managers for a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Taylor Smith is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and having seven years of industry experience. Prior to Merrill, Smith worked at Bank of America, Credit Union Investment Services, SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union. Outside of advisory work, Smith serves as a power of attorney for a private entity based in Charlotte. 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, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Beverly Montgomery is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 38 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network since 2026. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo that serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of investment and financial planning services, including specialized planning for business-owner transitions, sports and entertainment, special needs, and divorce.