Franklin Dunn III is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2010 and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a volunteer firefighter with the Bayleaf Volunteer Fire Department and is a board member of Western Wake Fire and Rescue. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets through tailored strategies and firm‑approved planning tools.

Philip Johnson is a Senior Financial Advisor with the Bono & Kline Group at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he collaborates with team members to pursue optimal asset allocations tailored to clients’ objectives, cash-flow needs, and timeframes. He applies his quantitative skills to evaluate external investment managers and research market themes. His client focus areas include Family Wealth Management Strategies, Services for Endowments, Foundations, and Non-profits, Liquidity Management, Sports & Entertainment, and Tax Minimization. Philip holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Mercyhurst University and an M.S. in Finance from The Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certificant. He is an active member of the CFA Society of Washington, DC, and participates in the Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council. Philip resides in Raleigh, NC. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, camping, football, reading, and spending time outdoors with his dog.

Simran Dhaliwal is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with firms including SunTrust Investment Services and Pinnacle Bank. In addition to her advisory role, she supports Pinnacle Asset Management as a sales assistant, helping to build client relationships and assist with daily service. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base ranging from individuals to institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using advanced analytical tools and maintains specialized programs for municipal finance and SIMPLE IRA employer advisory services.

Emmanuel C Ezike II is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in writing and publishing books and screenplays, creating websites and promotional videos for local businesses, and contributing editorial content to a community newsletter. He is part of Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company that provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios drawn from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Klair Conant is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 21 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Merrill. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a variety of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and market simulation models.

Richard Black Jr. is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in aiding business owners, successful individuals, and families in managing, preserving, and growing their wealth through personalized and strategic financial guidance. His areas of expertise include college education planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. Richard holds several professional designations, including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of his professional work, Richard enjoys gardening, genealogy, hunting, skiing, surfing, tennis, and spending time with his family.

Ryan Towner is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fidelity. His prior roles include positions at TD Ameritrade from 2006 to 2015 and various Fidelity affiliates from 2015 onward. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC offers investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a process that integrates fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm is noted for its use of systematic methodologies, advisory roles to multiple registered investment companies, and incorporation of AI-driven research techniques.

Thomas Whitehead is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wachovia Bank, N.A. since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, Whitehead serves as a committee member on the Mt. Olive Baptist Finance Committee and is an assistant football coach at Hillside High School. 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 uses research and analytics to guide investment decisions, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Robert Merdes is a financial advisor with Fidelity in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked across several Fidelity entities since 1993, including Brokerage Services, Personal and Workplace Advisors, and currently with Strategic Advisers LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a real estate investment LLC and serves as a trustee for a lending trust. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including charitable funds and registered investment companies. The firm combines proprietary research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, delivering model portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

E Ostendorff is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has extensive experience in estate and investment planning, serving the financial needs of families, endowments, foundations, and non-profits. E Ostendorff began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1995 as the Estate Planning specialist for multiple Merrill offices. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the College of Charleston and earned his Juris Doctorate from Nashville School of Law. His professional credentials include the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Outside of his professional work, E Ostendorff is a founder of the Continuous Blessings Foundation and has participated on the finance and membership committees for North Ridge Country Club. His personal interests include football, golfing, music, and reading.

Max Hollingsworth is a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He provides advice and guidance tailored to clients' goals and priorities, focusing on comprehensive financial planning that centers on the individual rather than market conditions. Max works closely with clients to evaluate the potential advantages and drawbacks of various financial decisions and supports maintaining discipline to pursue key financial objectives. His client focus areas include college education planning, divorce transition planning, employee benefits planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, special needs planning strategies, and tax minimization. Max collaborates with clients to organize their financial lives and adjusts plans as needs or market conditions change. Max holds a Bachelor's degree from William Peace University and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, he pursues personal interests such as adventure sports, boating, fishing, pickleball, rock climbing, running, scuba diving, skiing, soccer, and spending time with his family.

Chen Anna Grundland is a financial advisor at Fidelity with four years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Her prior experience includes positions at Bank of America and Amazon WVCS LLC. She serves as the secretary of the Greenway Condominium Association board, where she participates in meeting documentation and approval of community projects. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients using a process that combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages portfolios composed of mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs and offers advisory services including fund management and model portfolio delivery.

Ward Marslender III is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Marslender-West Asset Management, an investment-related business. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services, including retirement, education, risk, and wealth-transfer planning, delivering tailored recommendations supported by proprietary research and planning tools.

Brian Ligett is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Encompass More, Appreciation Financial, Feedtrail, and Weatherby Healthcare. He is based in Durham, NC. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, delivering model portfolios that utilize mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Alex Butler is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where they support clients and their families in achieving financial clarity. In this role, Alex focuses on education, personalized goal setting, and holistic planning to address various aspects of clients' financial goals. Alex's expertise includes retirement lifestyle planning, tax-efficient investing, estate planning considerations, and charitable giving. Their professional experience at Fidelity Investments spans several positions, including Investment Solutions Representative I & II and Customer Relationship Advocate, demonstrating a progression in roles since 2023. Alex holds insurance licenses in Arkansas and California. Outside of work, Alex has interests in baseball, music, parenthood, running, and singing.

Chrisander Crisostomo is a financial advisor at Fidelity with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to his current role at Fidelity, Crisostomo worked at Holly Springs Public Works and Infiniti of Apex. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage diversified model portfolios.

L James is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With a focus on helping families realize their financial goals, L James provides diligent, level-headed advice on building long-term wealth. His expertise encompasses personal retirement planning, family wealth management strategies, philanthropic planning, and socially responsible, values-based investing among other client focus areas. L James holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP) certification, the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation, and other professional credentials including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina State University. Outside his professional work, L James enjoys boating, hiking, music, singing, skiing, swimming, spending time with his family, and watching movies. He aims to simplify clients' financial lives to support their lifestyle, legacy goals, and retirement income needs, maintaining an optimistic outlook on financial markets.

Collin Young is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at FlyExclusive, Weatherby Healthcare, Wells Fargo Clearing, Morgan Stanley, and Randstad Technologies, among others. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based analyses addressing a wide range of financial planning topics, with options to combine planning and managed-account services under a consolidated billing structure called “WealthPlan.”

Anna Call is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Greek House/Threadly and St. David's School. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, offers investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including fund advisory and model portfolio delivery. The firm combines proprietary fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, overseeing day-to-day management through affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisers.

Sohan Shah is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has been with Ameriprise since 2023 and has prior work experience in commodities and merchant funding sectors. His background also includes roles in education and hospitality. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides customized retirement planning advice focused on reliable income and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies.