Denise Clay is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2011. Based in Hickory, NC, she works within a firm that serves a diverse client base. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm with over 23,700 advisors serving more than four million clients, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies and separately managed accounts, and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Ryan Spleet is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers as a football coach. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on holistic, goal-based financial planning without discretionary portfolio management. The firm offers planning as a one-time or ongoing service, addressing a wide range of topics and allowing clients to integrate planning with managed-account programs through a consolidated billing option.

Tim Wepner is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 35 years of industry experience. He has worked at various Wells Fargo entities since 2009, including Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad planning menu using proprietary research and tools, delivering tailored recommendations through meetings and written summaries, with optional implementation through brokerage or advisory programs.

Michael Baker is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at OSAIC since 2024. He previously worked for Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. for 12 years. Outside of his advisory role, Baker is president of Michael R Baker Insurance Agency Inc., which provides insurance sales and services. OSAIC Wealth, Inc. serves a wide range of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisers and multiple advisory platforms. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services with tools for asset allocation, risk assessment, and portfolio management that include various investment vehicles and allow for discretionary or non-discretionary account management.

Jeffery Franklin is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in Family Wealth Management Strategies, Personal Retirement Planning, Small Business Strategies, and Retirement Income. He works with clients, families, and businesses to develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their long-term goals. Jeffery holds a Bachelor's Degree from Western Carolina University and an MBA from Lenoir-Rhyne University. He carries the Professional Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. His approach involves providing detailed analysis and appropriate solutions while nurturing long-term relationships to help clients navigate key financial moments. Outside of his professional role, Jeffery is involved in community organizations such as Samaritan's Purse - Helene Recovery and Speedway Children's Charities. He enjoys fishing, hunting, pickleball, spending time with his family, maintaining classic Ford vehicles, and attending car shows.

Natalie Raatz is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Vanguard for five years. Her background also includes roles at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and EDU Healthcare. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive, goal-based analyses on topics such as retirement and estate planning. The firm allows clients to integrate planning with managed-account services under a consolidated billing option while keeping these services separate.

Robert Fincher is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. Before joining LPL Financial in 2019, he worked at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. from 2016 to 2019. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, institutions, 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, supported by research from LPL and third-party subadvisors.

William Bracken is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 30 years of industry experience, including over 10 years with Cambridge and more than three decades operating Bracken Financial, Inc., where he is also an independent insurance agent selling fixed annuity and long-term care products. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a wide range of clients such as individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through independent Financial Professionals using various portfolio management strategies and platform arrangements tailored to client objectives.

Tara Hicks is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and having eight years of industry experience. She has been with Thrivent Investment Management since 2016 and at Thrivent Financial since 2017. Outside of her advisory role, she manages rental properties. 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 planning across various financial topics, with services available on a one-time or ongoing basis, separate from managed-account programs.

Amanda York is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. She has worked at multiple Cetera entities since 2025 and previously held roles at U.S. Bank, Merrill, Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, and State Farm. Outside of finance, she works part-time as a server at a restaurant. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that supports a nationwide network of independent advisors serving individual investors, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through multiple program structures, with access to affiliated and third-party managers.

Barbara Witteborn is a financial advisor at Cetera with 10 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Her prior roles include positions at Yadkin Wealth, Securities America, Inc., First National Bank of PA, and Cetera Investment Services LLC. She is also involved in fixed life insurance sales outside of Cetera. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management and consulting services, utilizing multiple program structures and a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary options.

Scarlett Chapman is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She works with business owners, executives, families, and individuals to help them reach their financial goals. Scarlett manages complex financial needs to help clients regain their most important asset—time. Her areas of expertise include education planning, family wealth management strategies, services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, women and wealth, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Scarlett is committed to understanding her clients' investment objectives and creating personalized strategies that align with their unique ambitions. Scarlett holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Mississippi and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. She is actively involved in her community through the Rotary Club of Greater Statesville and serves as the Volunteerism Chairwoman for the Merrill Lynch Charlotte Women's Exchange. Outside of her professional and community commitments, she enjoys cooking, gardening, golfing, horseback riding, interior decorating, music, reading, singing, spending time with her family, and watching movies.

Katherine Waters is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. She has been associated with Raymond James and its affiliated entities since 2015. Outside of advising, she is co-owner of Innergized Eats, a local vending machine business operating in Statesville, NC. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary advisory services supported by analytical tools and has unique capabilities in municipal and public finance as well as specialized SIMPLE IRA consulting programs.

Russell Winthrop serves as an Associate Resident Director at Merrill, where he focuses on connecting clients with the people, plans, and processes that align with their individual financial objectives. In his role, he supports clients in addressing a variety of personal goals, including education funding, retirement planning, and managing potential health care costs. Russell holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina System. He emphasizes simplicity and transparency in wealth planning to help clients navigate investment complexities and work toward their long-term family goals.

Deneen Wells serves as a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at addressing their unique goals and adapting to changing market conditions. Her approach centers on gaining a comprehensive understanding of each client's full financial picture to provide tailored wealth management solutions. Deneen's expertise spans personal retirement planning, small business strategies, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. She holds several professional designations, including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree from Appalachian State University. In addition to her professional work, Deneen participates actively in community organizations such as Circle of Giving, North Iredell Raiders Capital Improvements Club, Performing Arts Live Iredell, Statesville Woman's Club, and Trinity Fire and Rescue. Her personal interests include cooking, football, hiking, reading, soccer, spending time with family, and traveling.

Tim Bryson is a ChFC® and Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with nine years of experience, currently serving clients at Edward Jones since 2016. Before joining Edward Jones, he worked for fourteen years at Bed Bath and Beyond. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Samuel Edwards is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at SagePoint Financial for six years before joining LPL Financial in 2019. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Thomas North II is a CFP® professional with 31 years of experience currently serving at Ameriprise. He has been with Ameriprise and its related entities since 2005 and has also operated T.M. North & Nco. since 1994. He serves on the board of directors for Invest in Others, a nonprofit organization. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services for clients generally holding at least $1,000,000 in investable assets, offering written recommendation reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and algorithmic tools to deliver tailored retirement advice through a centralized consulting team.

Richard Rand III is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Chapel Hill, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, Rand is involved with a small real estate investment company incorporated with his wife, although it has not conducted business to date. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a range of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services. The firm’s advisory approach includes proprietary capital market assumptions and research to tailor portfolios to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Christopher Geoghegan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2024. He previously worked at SunTrust Advisory Services and SUNTRUST INVESTMENT SERVICES, Inc. for eight and nine years, respectively. Outside of his advisory role, Geoghegan is involved in several business entities, including an insurance agency and private wealth management under the MG Partners brand. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of financial planning and advisory programs, as well as access to model portfolios, research, and institutional investment solutions.