Will Hornbeck is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding a Series 66 designation and based in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Vanguard Advisers and affiliated Vanguard entities since 2026. Previously, he worked at Bogart Wealth and has experience outside finance, including a role at Coastal Cravings Steak and Seafood. 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 investment approach using proprietary models and offers portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Joseph Di Lauro is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 63 designation and beginning his industry career in 2026. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Clearing, his work experience includes roles at DiSys and Granby Fitness, as well as employment at Walmart and involvement with the YMCA of Upper Palmetto. 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 combines brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research and diversification principles in its investment approach.

Garrett Snyder is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has less than one year of industry experience, previously working at Merrill and several other organizations including Skybrook Golf Club and Asset Living. 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 supported by research and analytics from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Brad Brady is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Salisbury, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and over 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Brady serves on the board of the Rowan Medical Foundation, which supports community involvement and fundraising for Novant Medical Center. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority. The firm’s approach includes holistic analyses and a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan” that integrates planning with managed accounts while keeping the services distinct.

Amanda Rachau is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Pfs Investments Inc. since 2010 and involvement with Pfs University from 2012 to 2018. She also engages in sales of investment-related products and receives compensation for referrals of home security, automation, and loan products through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and discretionary separately managed account options. The firm curates third-party asset managers and utilizes a tiered wrap-fee structure, focusing on personalized portfolio management rather than institutional pension or profit-sharing plan services.

Sherman Spears is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has held positions at Wells Fargo Bank and United Parcel Service and served in the United States Army. Spears has approximately one year of experience in the financial advisory industry. 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 roughly $671 billion in assets and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.

Haynes Owen is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at various Vanguard entities since 2021. He also has experience related to a parking management company and was affiliated with UNC Charlotte before joining Vanguard. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its digital and personal advisor services, serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios constructed primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a range of customization options and tax-aware features.

Joseph Parsons is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 10 years of industry experience. Parsons has worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. since 2016 and previously spent a year with BDC Capital Management, Inc. Vanguard Advisers provides both automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and eligible participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, supporting a large client base through a digital platform and extensive advisor team.

Patty Hanna is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, with prior experience at Citigroup Global Markets and UBS Financial Services. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a notary public and works as a retail sales associate. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage solutions to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers a range of services including discretionary and non-discretionary retirement plan consulting supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Douglas Towsey, CRPC™, serves as a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor in the Naperville/Lisle office of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With over 32 years of experience in the finance industry, his career spans roles as a wealth management advisor, corporate executive, and professor. He focuses on providing clients with a comprehensive wealth management strategy tailored to their unique financial situations and goals. His approach emphasizes five key principles: financial guidance, legacy implementation, estate coordination, risk management, and tax minimization strategies. Doug holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Indiana University and an MBA from Northwestern University. In addition to his advisory role, he teaches evening finance classes at DePaul University. His professional designations include Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Doug and his team prioritize building ongoing relationships with clients to adapt strategies in response to changing needs and market conditions. Outside of his professional life, Doug is involved in community service through organizations such as United Way and Feed My Starving People. He resides in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife Jennifer and their two children, Grace and Ben. His personal interests include golfing, hiking, music, reading, soccer, softball, tennis, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with his family.

Karla Hicks is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers. Her background includes roles in healthcare as an attendant care program worker and home healthcare worker prior to joining Vanguard. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and employer-sponsored retirement plan participants. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach and manages portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a range of customization options and tax-aware features.

Tiara Leggett is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding a Series 66 credential and beginning her industry career in 2026. Her prior work includes roles at Vanguard Marketing Corporation, The Vanguard Group, Liberty University, MKS2 Technologies, and Navy Federal Credit Union. She is also the owner of Tiara DeShay, LLC, an insurance-related business. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice primarily to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach with portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, supported by its proprietary glide-path methodology and advanced tax-aware features.

Bryan Raithel is a CFP® with 25 years of experience currently serving at Vanguard Advisers since 2019. He has been associated with The Vanguard Group, Inc. and Vanguard Marketing Corporation since 2010. Raithel also serves as a fiduciary agent and custodian for an immediate family member's investments. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through platforms serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary models to construct personalized portfolios primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Carlos Stennis is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wachovia Bank, N.A. and MSI Financial Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an assistant chaplain for Trail Life USA, where he teaches biblical lessons. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of investment advisory services and financial planning solutions, supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party databases.

Bridget Sullivan is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding a Series 66 designation and based in Charlotte, NC. She has been with Vanguard and its affiliated firms since 2026. Prior to her current role, her work history includes various positions across multiple industries, including education and retail. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice primarily to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with personalized asset allocations and portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Ethan Mcduffie is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 63 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at DYSIS and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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 combines extensive research and analytics with a broad range of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Amy Lowe is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding a Series 66 credential and 14 years of industry experience. She worked at UBS Financial Services from 2011 to 2021 before joining Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, where she has been since 2021. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individuals and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm employs structured discovery conversations and proprietary planning tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Rebekah Schemahorn is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with 27 years of industry experience. She has held her current roles at Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 1999. Outside of her advisory work, she owns and manages a mountain home used for short-term rentals. Primerica Advisors provides a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm uses model-delivery strategies developed by unaffiliated asset managers and supports trade execution and custody through BNY Mellon Advisors and Pershing.

Donald Johnson Jr. is a financial advisor with OSAIC in Huntersville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 35 years of industry experience. He worked at FSC Securities Corporation for 29 years before joining OSAIC in 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he operates as an insurance agent marketing annuities. OSAIC serves a broad client base including retail and institutional investors through a large network of advisers, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and access to various investment platforms and third-party money managers. The firm utilizes asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios.

Zoran Smiljanic serves as a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been active in the financial services industry since 2004, beginning his career at HSBC before joining Merrill and the Utz Keller Wealth Management Group in 2017. In his current role, Zoran works closely with clients and their families to provide integrated financial advice and both short- and long-term wealth planning. His approach emphasizes understanding each client’s goals to develop tailored strategies that offer clarity and control over their financial lives. He leverages the investment insights of Merrill and the banking services of Bank of America to address various financial needs. Zoran’s areas of expertise include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. He employs a holistic wealth management process that considers seven key life priorities: family, finances, health, home, leisure, work, and giving. This goal-based approach helps clients navigate changing life circumstances and evolving priorities. Zoran earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and is fluent in English and Serbo-Croatian. Originally from upstate New York, he now resides in Huntersville, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and children and exploring the Lake Norman and Charlotte areas. His personal interests include basketball, boating, cooking, golfing, hiking, skiing, and tennis.