Justin Howard is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2022 and previously held positions at Northwestern Mutual and NC State Employees Credit Union. Outside of his advisory role, Howard is the sole proprietor of Howard & Co, a financial counseling and therapy practice based in Charlotte, NC. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients. The firm uses a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage portfolios, and it serves as an advisor to multiple registered investment companies.

Thomas Francomano is a financial advisor at Merrill with the Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill and Bank of America since 2018 and also works as a coach for True Lacrosse. Merrill provides managed account services through its Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individual investors, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional accounts using model-based and discretionary strategies developed by internal and third-party teams.

John Sontag is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. He previously worked at Merrill from 2007 to 2015. 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 supported by research and analytics from Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

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.

Taylor Stevens is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, joining the firm in 2016 as part of the Wright Beach & Associates team. He focuses on assisting individuals, families, and business owners in navigating financial complexities related to career shifts, business transitions, retirement, family growth, and evolving goals by providing personalized and adaptable wealth strategies. Taylor holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) certification and the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) designation, which provide him with specialized knowledge in financial planning and business transition strategies. His expertise includes areas such as education planning, executive compensation, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Taylor graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Finance. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife Laine, their son Russ, and their pets. His personal interests include golfing, music, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Mitchell Hutula is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Raymond James, he worked at TIAA and TEK Systems. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, institutions, pension plans, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting across a range of portfolio management styles.

Paul Jackson is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley and its Private Bank division since 2009. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored financial planning and a range of advisory programs, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Annette Patterson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has been associated with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and Wachovia Bank, N.A. since 2002. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as executor for her mother’s estate. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that offers investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning using proprietary research and tools, with a broad menu of services that include retirement, education, and niche planning areas such as business-owner transition and special-needs analysis.

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.

Njeri Henderson is a financial advisor at Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials with five years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Bank of America. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, utilizing model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party teams.

Eileen Stoner is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 29 years of industry experience. She has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2021, following a decade at UBS Financial Services. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and emphasizes a structured financial planning process supported by firm-approved tools and scenario modeling.

Luke Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he held various roles including positions associated with the University of Notre Dame and Southwest Diabetic Foundation Inc. He has also been involved with St. Matthew Catholic Church and operated TLC Cleaners for several years. 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 investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Leah Flores is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Belmont, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and totaling 25 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing in various roles since 2000. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Edie Kijesky is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. Her work history includes multiple roles at Primerica Advisors since 2018 and prior experience at Sourcepoint/ISGN and Ocwen. She is involved in part-time activities related to sales of loan products, home security referrals, and other home services outside her advisory role. Primerica Advisors sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients, employing model-delivery strategies managed by third-party asset managers. The firm supports a large network of advisors and focuses on discretionary portfolio management without serving institutional pension or profit-sharing plans.

Ben Pavlish is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management based in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Thrivent since 2025. Prior to his advisory role, his experience includes positions at Builders First Source and work related to Queen City Hauling. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors. Their approach includes holistic, goal-based analyses and separates planning services from managed accounts, focusing on comprehensive written recommendations without discretionary trading authority.

Christine Sowell is currently the Vice President and Wealth Planner at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2024. In this role, she engages with clients to develop, support, and advise them throughout their financial journeys, aiming to provide confidence, insight, and direction to their financial health. Prior to her current role, Christine served as a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2019 to 2024. She also has experience as a Senior Manager in Assurance at Ernst & Young LLP from 2005 to 2013. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Christine's interests include family activities, hiking, military service, parenthood, soccer, and traveling.

Ayanna Johnson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 63 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, she worked at firms including LPL Financial and Lincoln Financial Group. Outside of advisory work, she also works as an Amazon Flex driver. Wells Fargo Advisors provides investment advisory services and financial planning to individual, corporate, and institutional clients, managing approximately $671 billion in assets with over 14,000 financial advisors nationwide.

Brian O’Regan is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 15 years of experience in financial advisory services. He began his career in financial services in June 1998 and has spent his entire career with Bank of America and its related companies. Brian focuses on the planning aspects of client relationships and works primarily with ultra affluent families and institutions. His expertise includes investment management, retirement planning and distribution, estate planning, debt and cash flow management, banking services, and college education planning. Brian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has earned several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). These credentials support his approach to integrating comprehensive financial planning strategies across all aspects of a client’s financial picture. Outside of his professional work, Brian is involved in his local community in Gaston County, North Carolina. He is a member of a local Rotary Club, has served on the Board of the Highland School of Technology, and was a board member for The Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson. Brian lives in Charlotte with his wife, Alyson, and their two sons, Liam and Gavin. His personal interests include biking, fishing, golfing, reading, and running.

Ryan Ash is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Robert Half Inc and involvement with Local Lunchbox. He works at Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company that provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base, including retail and institutional investors. The firm employs a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios and manages multiple registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

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.