Michele Compton is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 30 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Edward Jones and J.W. Cole Financial. Since 2020, she has also been associated with Signature Wealth Group as a Senior Wealth Advisor. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary advisory services supported by advanced analytical tools and has a notable affiliation supporting municipal and public finance work.

Steven Fisher is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Valdese, NC, with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Woodforest National Bank and the Catawba Valley Baptist Association. Outside of his advisory role, he is a co-owner of a rental property business. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Michael Gerken is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Newton, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Gerken Enterprises, LLC. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors, offering holistic, goal-based analyses and planning across a broad range of financial topics. The firm separates planning from managed-account services and does not provide portfolio management for institutional clients.

Matthew Starnes is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2019 and previously worked at SagePoint Financial and runs Starnes Financial Group. He is also a licensed insurance agent with experience in term life and long-term care insurance. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual clients, retirement plans, financial institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Mark Teague is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2014. He is also authorized to sell Medicare supplemental, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Advantage plans to residents of North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a wide range of clients including individuals, retirement plans, and institutions, offering diverse advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services through a national network of investment adviser representatives.

Peter Nelson is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with OSAIC and has previously worked at Spectrum Financial Inc. and Securities America Advisors. Outside his advisory role, Nelson serves on the board of Exodus Homes, a local nonprofit assisting individuals transitioning from rehab, jail, and prison, where he also chairs the marketing committee. OSAIC serves a wide range of retail and institutional clients, offering integrated brokerage and investment advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm employs asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios and provides access to third-party money managers and wrap programs.

Florance Johnson is a Series 66 designated advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Newton, NC, bringing two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent, Johnson held positions at Dollar General and HealthSmart Pharmacy, among other roles. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering goal-based analyses on various financial topics with options for one-time or ongoing planning engagements. The firm separates planning from managed-account services and does not hold discretionary trading authority for its Dedicated Planning Service.

Michael Austin is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Newton, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent, he worked at Wells Fargo for three years and served in the US Army North Carolina National Guard for 13 years. He is the Committee Chair for Shepherds for Sheepdogs, a nonprofit that provides trained service dogs to veterans and law enforcement officers with PTSD. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, focusing on holistic, goal-based planning across various financial topics without managing discretionary trading authority.

Terry Eskind is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Conover, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2010. Outside of advisory work, he is president of Eskind Group LLC, a company involved in owning and maintaining rental properties. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients across a broad range of financial needs, with over $1 trillion in assets under management and a nationwide network of more than 23,000 advisors. The firm offers various advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated investment products, operating under a fiduciary standard.

John Watkins is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving clients in Western North Carolina. He focuses on developing personalized financial strategies designed to help clients pursue their long-term goals through tailored wealth management approaches that adapt to changing market conditions. John's expertise encompasses areas such as college education planning, corporate benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, and retirement income. He applies his knowledge to assist clients across various financial aspects, including corporate executive services, divorce transition planning, and employee benefits planning. In addition to his professional work, John is active in his community, volunteering with local organizations. He has personal interests in baseball, fishing, golfing, and hunting, reflecting his engagement with the community and leisure activities. John is committed to partnering with clients one-on-one to develop strategies aligned with their individual goals.

Samuel Dyer is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works with clients to develop strategies to pursue their financial goals by understanding what matters most to them and their families. His approach encompasses general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unexpected financial needs. Samuel holds a Bachelor's Degree from Appalachian State University and has earned professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He provides ongoing advice and guidance tailored to clients' evolving needs.

Sarah Montgomery is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She previously worked for Truist Investment Services, Inc. for ten years before joining LPL Financial. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Bradford Link is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2020, he worked at Cloninger Ford and NC Farm Bureau Insurance. Outside of his advisory role, he occasionally works as a delivery driver for a local pizza restaurant. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Christopher Mcbride is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been a member of the Lail Watkins Group since joining Merrill in 2014. The team delivers extensive knowledge with combined decades of practical experience, focusing on service and goal-oriented strategies to build and maintain long-term relationships. Leveraging the full enterprise capabilities, they serve clients' investment and banking needs through access to Bank of America. Christopher works as a full-service planner with families possessing $250,000 or more in investible assets, covering areas from asset gathering to legacy planning. He also supports business clients in retirement planning options including 401(k) plans, cash management services, treasury functions, investment management, lending, and business transitions. His client focus areas include education planning, family wealth management strategies, employee financial health, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds a High School Diploma/GED from Summers County and has earned the professional designations Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Outside of his professional work, Christopher enjoys boating, bowling, golfing, pickleball, and spending time with his family.

Anne Abernethy is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 18 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Wells Fargo in various capacities since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a part-time pastor at Bethel United Church of Christ in Hickory, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients, offering a broad menu of planning options tailored to clients meeting specific net-worth thresholds.

Tomohiko Minami is a CFP® and CFA® professional with 10 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2024 and previously held positions at SunTrust Advisory Services and Suntrust Investment Services, Inc. Minami has involvement with a private wealth entity and an insurance agency in addition to his advisory role. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including model portfolios and retirement plan consulting, supported by research from LPL Research and third-party subadvisors.

Douglas Rongo is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. His work history includes multiple roles within Cambridge Investment Research entities and Millennium Investment and Retirement Advisors. He serves as treasurer for the Tarheel Chapter of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals, utilizing a mix of proprietary and third-party model strategies tailored to client objectives.

John Searer is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Lenoir, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. from 2013 to 2021. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and retirement plan consulting.

Jackson Bell is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2021 and has prior experience including self-employment and roles outside the financial industry such as with Andy Popplin Basketball Camps and JEA Design. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, and affiliated financial products. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and operates a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Jeffrey Almond is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Hickory, NC, with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked in the mortgage industry at Movement Mortgage and W R Starkey Mortgage. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and corporate entities. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of financial advisors and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies under a fiduciary standard.