Charles Utz is the Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch, leading the Lake Norman office since 2006. He has more than 20 years of experience in financial services and wealth management, having started his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000 after two years with The Hartford. Charles and his team of six professionals focus on delivering tailored financial advice and comprehensive service to high-net-worth individuals and business owners. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Charles emphasizes understanding his clients’ financial priorities by listening closely to their current situations, future objectives, and concerns, then designing customized portfolio strategies. His approach is based on disciplined wealth management principles that are adaptable to changing economic conditions, enabling clients to focus on their priorities throughout different stages of life. Residing in the Lake Norman area with his wife and three children, Charles enjoys an active lifestyle that includes triathlons, golf, running, tennis, and lake activities.

Kevin Key is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 20 years of experience in assisting individuals and businesses in achieving their financial objectives. He specializes in wealth management strategies, investment consulting for defined contribution plans, legacy planning, retirement income, and tax minimization. Kevin's approach focuses on understanding clients' personal perspectives and priorities to create customized strategies that align with their financial goals. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has earned professional designations including the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Kevin is committed to working collaboratively with clients to develop action plans that address their unique ambitions. Outside of his professional role, Kevin’s personal interests include music, reading, spending time with his family, and traveling. He is also involved with several organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association, Autism Speaks, Inc., and the Humane Society of Charlotte, Inc.

Charles Buysse is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience, including prior work at Wells Fargo Bank NA from 2001 to 2017. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides 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 from the Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Luke Savage is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at UBS Financial Services, Hausmann Insurance and Financial Services, and Aflac. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on a committee for the United Way of Greater Charlotte, participating in the grantmaking process. Merrill, along 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 serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Alexander Bishop is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Davidson, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting clients with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide non-discretionary, written recommendations. The firm serves individuals approaching or in retirement and provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated companies.

Reid Whitehurst is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016, with a career beginning at Wachovia Bank, N.A. in 2007. 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 based on modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Stephanie Kahl is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2005. Kahl serves as a board member of the Wingate University Alumni Advisory Board, where she advises on alumni engagement and participates in guest speaking and event activities. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts.

Jason Wilson is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cetera and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC since 2023 and was previously with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 12 years. He is also the owner of JT Wilson Capital Management, a financial services business. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base that includes individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management options, servicing over 800,000 clients through more than 10,000 advisors.

Anne Wilson is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill since 2026. Her prior experience includes roles in various industries such as landscaping, realty, and parks and recreation. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Joseph Reimels is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 63 designation and 46 years of industry experience. He worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp for 16 years before joining LPL Financial in 2024. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in non-variable insurance activities. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and financial planning services with both discretionary and non-discretionary management, supported by research, model portfolios, and various investment technologies.

Jonathon Wagoner is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He partners with individuals and families to develop clear, disciplined wealth strategies aimed at organizing their financial lives, investing with intention, and maintaining progress through changing markets and significant life events. His approach involves understanding clients' priorities, translating them into concrete plans, and managing investments and risk exposure accordingly. This includes expertise in portfolio construction, retirement planning, tax-aware strategies, and guidance on major financial decisions. Jonathon leverages Merrill Lynch's research, planning tools, and investment platform to provide institutional-quality resources alongside a personal, relationship-driven service. Jonathon holds a Bachelor's Degree from Arizona State University and a Master's Degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management. He also holds professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA).

Matthew Armendaris is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at West Financial Services, Inc., Ameritas Investment Corp, Incisive Financial Group, and Business Benefits Group. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm combines a committee-driven proprietary modeling process with planner delivery and online tools, offering diversified model portfolios, discretionary and non-discretionary management, and operates as a fiduciary under ERISA and DOL guidelines.

Scott Robinson is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Huntersville, NC, holding CFP® and Series 66 credentials and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2006. Robinson is also co-owner of RGAA, LLC, which supports his practice operations. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals with significant investable assets, combining research and modeling to provide tailored, non-discretionary recommendations. The firm provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions typical of a large institutional firm.

Ryan Byrns is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he has been involved in entrepreneurial activities, including operating Club West Brewing, LLC. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, with a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that offers written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Benjamin Boaz is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously spent five years with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Boaz serves as chairperson of the board of commissioners for the Lenoir Housing Authority, which provides safe and affordable housing to low-income families and individuals. 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 through a large network of financial advisors.

Kenneth Sagert is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. He has recently transitioned into the financial services industry with experience at several firms, including BCF Professional Services and Cambridge Investment Research. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving individual clients, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through independent Financial Professionals using a range of portfolio management approaches and platform arrangements.

Jiaihdi Turner is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 designations and 16 years of industry experience. Jiaihdi has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Outside of financial advising, Jiaihdi works as a package handler for FedEx. 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 offers both brokerage and advisory solutions and manages approximately $671 billion in assets through a large network of financial advisors.

David Coss is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. since 2002. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting using analytical tools and supports municipal and public-finance work through a municipal advisor affiliation.

Thomas Cooley is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Cornelius, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Soft Point Media, JB Office, and Eveleigh. He is also involved with Williamson Wealth Group, a non-investment-related support company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual and institutional clients, offering tailored, non-discretionary planning through analytical tools and supporting a broad advisor network. The firm has notable municipal advisory capabilities and offers specialized programs such as SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Jasmine Mason is a financial advisor at Merrill with 19 years at the firm and 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. Outside of her advisory role, she is a general partner and managing member of Bare Scentials LLC, a candle and craft business based in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 and serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.