Natalie Raatz is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes five years at Vanguard and roles at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering goal-based, holistic financial planning without discretionary trading authority and periodic reviews of recommendations.

Robert Fincher is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Hickory, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Sagepoint Financial, Resource Partners, Raymond James Financial Services, and UBS Financial Services. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of services including financial planning, wrap and model portfolio programs, third-party asset management access, and institutional platforms, supported by a network of investment adviser representatives who utilize various investment strategies and operational tools.

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 at LPL Financial with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at firms including SagePoint Financial and WFG Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Southeast Tax & Consulting Services LLC, focusing on tax preparation and accounting. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, and institutions. The firm offers a range of investment solutions, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

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 financial advisor at LPL Financial with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at SunTrust Advisory Services, SUNTRUST INVESTMENT SERVICES, Inc., and Wells Fargo Clearing. Geoghegan also operates an insurance agency as part of his business activities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

John Fitch III is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. His prior firms include PNC Investments and NYLife Securities, where he worked before joining LPL Financial in 2018. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives, providing a range of solutions including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms.

John Chidwick is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 27 years of industry experience. He has worked with multiple firms, including Signature Wealth Group and Stonestreet Wealth Management. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner at Signature Wealth Group and serves as CEO of 4 Life Investments. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using analytical tools and supports municipal and public-finance work through unique affiliations.

Michael Woods is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management in Conover, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has prior experience at Catawba Valley Health System and Iredell Health System, as well as community involvement through a decade of work at Newton Recreation Center. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, providing comprehensive, goal-based financial planning without portfolio management or institutional advisory services.

Christopher Cannon is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He previously worked at MassMutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Company before joining Raymond James in 2019. Cannon serves on the board and investment task force of the Hickory Museum of Art. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides tailored financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs analytical tools and risk profiling to support non-discretionary consulting and offers specialized programs such as municipal advisory services and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

William Bell is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Hickory, NC, with 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 1994. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad 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.