Robert Hooks Jr. is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 14 years of industry experience. He has worked with Truist and its predecessor firms since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member of the North Asheville Little League. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing third-party platforms and inter-affiliate resources to implement and oversee investment strategies.

Noelle Smith is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. She has been with Lincoln Investment since 2017 and previously worked for Legend Equities Corporation for 23 years. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as Treasurer of the Broadway Asheville Homeowners Association. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan advice, and both advisor-managed and firm-managed investment programs, using a mix of strategic and tactical approaches supported by proprietary research and technology.

Kyle Boyd is a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Altavista Wealth Management, Inc. for 19 years before joining Beacon Pointe in 2022. Based in Asheville, NC, Boyd holds professional credentials pertinent to his advisory role. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to individual and institutional clients, including charitable organizations and retirement plans. The firm employs a manager-driven investment approach using proprietary due diligence and a mix of active and passive strategies, and it sponsors proprietary investment vehicles and serves as an operating general partner for multiple private funds.

Paul Collins III is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Triad Advisors, Peachtree Wealth Advisors, and Waddell & Reed. Collins has worked at Truist Investment Services since 2019. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform and manager arrangements, to deliver its investment solutions.

Suzanne Bell is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Asheville, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. She has worked with several firms, including Independent Investment Bankers Corp and Ba Securities, LLC. Bell is also involved with SJH Synergy, LLC, an activity she has maintained for 10 years. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and select retail brokerage account holders. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its advisory services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Jeffrey White is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. based in Asheville, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 29 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at First Bancorp, Infinex Investments, Inc., and First Citizens Investor Services. OSAIC Institutions serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans with a range of advisory and brokerage services. The firm employs a network of investment adviser representatives who use a variety of analysis methods and third-party due diligence, with a notable emphasis on non-discretionary assets and integrated lending and alternative investment platforms.

Kathleen King is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with 12 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Oppenheimer since 2012. Oppenheimer serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing strategic and tactical asset allocation alongside manager selection and multiple investment strategies.

Hannah Kennicott is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Thrivent Financial, LPL Enterprise, and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of finance, she has experience working at Culver's Garden Center & Greenhouse. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary manager strategies and integrates advanced tools and inter-affiliate resources to support its investment offerings.

James Shand is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group in Asheville, NC. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2026. His prior work experience includes roles at IngeniousIO, Callminer Inc, and various positions in the restaurant and catering industries. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm offers integrated services connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates.

Barbara Ristow is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. She has previously worked at Buckingham Strategic Wealth, LLC, Focus Wealth Management, Ltd., and Pinnacle Advisory Group, Inc. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth advisory and investment management services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, retirement plans, institutions, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term investment approach emphasizing tax- and fee-sensitivity within an enhanced open architecture framework that combines active and passive strategies, separate account managers, private funds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Jose Velarde Gainza is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he held roles at First Horizon Bank and Northwestern Mutual, among other positions. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering proprietary and third-party planning methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates.

Abraham Johnson is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Brookstone since 2021. Johnson is also a managing director and independent agent at Amerilife, where he sells life and health insurance products and is involved in training and recruiting insurance agents. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

Joshua Dillard is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer in Asheville, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Oppenheimer since 2023. Prior to joining Oppenheimer, he had roles in the brewing and hospitality industries, including at Bhramari Brewing Company and Black Mountain Pizza & Ale House. Oppenheimer serves individuals, corporations, pooled vehicles, and retirement plans, offering a variety of advisory programs and services ranging from discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management to consulting and retirement solutions. The firm employs diverse investment approaches tailored to its programs and advisors and manages approximately $36.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025.

Lewis Akers Jr. is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC since 2022. Prior to this, he worked for 19 years at Altavista Wealth Management, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a separate business focused on limited income tax preparation. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm employs a manager-driven investment approach, utilizing both active and passive strategies, and serves as an operating general partner for multiple private funds.

Douglas Bridges Jr. is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at VALIC Financial Advisors since 2006. He also holds an agent position with Agia, focusing on non-securities insurance products. VALIC Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, and offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services through its broker-dealer operations.

Frederick Stansberry is a financial advisor at Integrity Alliance, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Prudential Insurance Company of America and Questar Capital Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a substitute teacher for Henderson County Public Schools and is involved in fixed insurance product sales through National Agents Alliance. Integrity Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a network of 164 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party manager programs using various portfolio strategies and custodial platforms.

Eric Henry is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and nine years of industry experience. He has been with Bankers Life and its affiliated entities since 2004 and serves as a unit field trainer, recruiting and training new insurance agents. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. primarily serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and manages portfolios across a range of securities based on clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Casey Allison is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and previously worked at Truist Bank for ten years. Outside of his advisory role, Allison serves as a deacon at First Baptist Church Hendersonville, where he participates in monthly meetings addressing church business and stewardship activities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, supported by third-party platform and manager arrangements, and integrates services across its affiliated entities.

Mary Kiser is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC. Her prior experience includes five years at Altavista Wealth Management and roles at Cumberland Trust & Investment Co and Page and Windrow. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a manager-of-managers approach using a proprietary Focus List and offers discretionary wealth management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and outsourced CIO solutions.

Madison Ramella is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with three years of industry experience. She is currently with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisers. Outside of finance, she has experience working with Flour Shop. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning as well as family office services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and utilizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts, implemented through ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, direct indexing, and other options.