Samuel Moran is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. Before joining Vanguard in 2026, he worked for 20 years at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. He serves as an executor and holds power of attorney for his father in Prescott, AZ. Vanguard Advisers provides both automated and human-supported investment advice primarily to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary models to create personalized portfolios largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering various customization options and tax-aware features.

Lisa Riter is a CFP® professional with 31 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC. She has worked with Vanguard and its affiliates since 1998. In addition to her advisory role, she is the owner of Blue Sky Properties LLC, a real estate business based in Asheville, 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 investment approach and manages portfolios primarily using Vanguard funds and ETFs, combining scale and digital delivery with personalized asset allocation strategies.

Douglas Robertson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Truliant Federal Credit Union and CUSO Financial Services, among other firms. His business activities include operating under a DBA affiliated with LPL Financial. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by internal and third-party research.

Kristen Thomas is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding CFP® and Series 66 credentials, and has nine years of industry experience. She has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Federated Investment Counseling, and currently operates her own garden consulting business, Southern Rooted Gardens. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving a broad client base including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a range of portfolio management and consulting services, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts through a network of over 10,000 advisors.

Phillip Turner is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with The Vanguard Group since 2013 and was self-employed from 2018 to 2020. Turner holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. 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 portfolios constructed largely from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a range of customization options including ESG preferences.

Nicholas Caropreso is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Mooresville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He joined Edward Jones in 2026 and has prior professional experience at Lowe's Companies Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and Pinnacle Foods. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Jeb Milam is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has seven years of industry experience, including a 30-year tenure at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. 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 featuring proprietary asset allocation models and predominantly constructs portfolios from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Scott Atkinson is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and LPL Financial. He is also an employee of The Vanguard Group, Inc. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its digital and personal advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach to construct portfolios mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering various customization options and managing a large client base through a combination of technology and team support.

Carrie Jones is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Woodbury Financial Services and Cambridge Investment Research. Jones serves as a board member for Serenity Pastoral Counseling, a nonprofit organization. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of advisors. The firm utilizes a range of advisory platforms and investment strategies, offering integrated brokerage, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Adrian Smigiel is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Belmont, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2018 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Bank, NA from 2015 to 2018. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

James Tapp II is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 designations and has been with Wells Fargo firms since 2009. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets through more than 14,000 advisors and offers a combination of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Jesse Riley is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has one year of industry experience and has been with Wells Fargo Bank and its affiliates since 2012. 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 services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options in its investment menus.

Thomas Sparkman is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers. He has worked with The Vanguard Group since 2017 and participates in various focus groups as part of his activities outside of his advisory role. Additionally, he has worked as a test patient for healthcare training webinars. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through digital and personal advisory services, primarily serving retail investors and employer-sponsored retirement plan participants. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach using proprietary methodologies and primarily allocates portfolios with Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Patrick Nielsen is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Mooresville, NC, holding CFP® and Series 66 credentials and seven years of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones in 2018, he worked for twelve years at Lowe's Companies, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a self-publishing business through which he writes fiction. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm is notable for its large network of financial advisors and branch offices, as well as its affiliated capabilities beyond advisory services.

David Balok is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Denver, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and having 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Linsco/Private Ledger Corp. since 2006, totaling 20 years at that firm. He also operates a wealth management business under the name David R. Balok Wealth Management. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals—including both high-net-worth and non-HNW clients—retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research from multiple sources.

Jake Rothert is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has been with Vanguard since 2021, including roles at Vanguard Advisers, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, and The Vanguard Group. Outside of advising, he has been involved with CharBar7 since 2015. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans through a combination of automated and human-supported investment advice, utilizing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with personalized asset allocations primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm manages a large client base with over 2,200 advisors, emphasizing digital delivery and a team servicing model.

Thomas Druckenbrod is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management who specializes in retirement income and wealth management planning. With over 19 years of experience in the financial services industry, he focuses on helping individuals set realistic financial goals and develop outcome-oriented strategies using Merrill's customized advice and Bank of America Global Research. Thomas holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has earned multiple professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). His client focus areas include college education planning, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, special needs planning strategies, women and wealth, and retirement income. In addition to his professional work, Thomas is involved in his community as a church volunteer. Outside of work, his personal interests include adventure sports, chess, fishing, ice skating, table tennis, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Gordon Hasslinger is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and various mortgage and resource companies. 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, primarily constructing portfolios from Vanguard funds and ETFs, and manages a large client base through its digital platform and team servicing model.

Jaime Bell is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Brookstone Capital Management and H.E. Scheil & Associates, Inc. Bell is based in Charlotte, NC. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its Vanguard Digital Advisor and Vanguard Personal Advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, emphasizing customization and tax-aware strategies.

Brian Wallace is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial for eight years before joining Wells Fargo Clearing. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a broader set of financial product offerings that include insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.