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 credentials and offering 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Linsco/Private Ledger Corp., now part of LPL Financial, since 2006. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions with a range of financial planning and investment management solutions.

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.

Jean Boutym is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 63 designation and six years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Robert Half Staffing. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, and participant education. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and includes discretionary services, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

David Torres is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at E*TRADE Securities LLC and TIAA-CREF. Outside of his advisory work, he owns an e-commerce business, GroovyCoconut, Inc. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm uses structured planning tools and investment modeling as part of its advisory process.

Aaron Voss is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC since 2018. Prior to entering the financial industry, he was employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for twelve years. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing annual retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Christian Burns is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with eight years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2017 and previously worked six years at the United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina, Inc. He serves on the Development Committee of the Cornelius Arts Center, where he contributes to training board members on major gifts and may collaborate with board members on donor meetings. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a large network of financial advisors and branch offices. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and affiliated investment products under a fiduciary standard.

Jon Neely is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Outside of his advisory role, he contributes as a blogger providing information for boating enthusiasts and works as a ghostwriter for non-investment topics. Vanguard Advisers offers 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 asset allocations and manages portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Colby Eckert is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked since 2019 with both Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and Jones Monk and Ranson LLC in an independent contractor capacity. Prior to his advisory roles, his background includes positions at Abercrombie and Fitch and Energy Corp of America. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to align investment strategies with client goals, supporting implementation through various advisory programs and partnerships.

Jean Basson is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Vanguard entities since 2013 in various capacities including marketing and advisory roles. Based in Charlotte, NC, Basson’s background includes over a decade at The Vanguard Group and related affiliates. Vanguard Advisers delivers 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 construct personalized portfolios primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs, emphasizing scale and digital delivery through a large team of advisors.

Benjamin Mayo is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles at Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and service positions at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Chick-fil-A. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Timothy Cosby Jr. is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, having five years of industry experience. He has worked at Vanguard since 2021 and has prior experience at Northwestern Mutual and other roles outside finance. Outside of advising, he is also a drummer in a retail/service capacity. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans by providing automated and human-supported investment advice through its digital and personal advisor services. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary models and primarily invests in Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Joseph Lambert is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked with J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, Lambert is a co-owner and investor in a luxury day spa franchise that his wife operates. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients through a select group of wealth advisors. Their advisory process combines quantitative and qualitative research to deliver written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting.

Emily Morgenthaler is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with four years of industry experience, currently with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC. Prior to joining Vanguard in 2022, she worked in various roles at companies including Sona Dermatology and Stuart Weitzman. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans through both automated and human-supported investment advice. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary models to construct portfolios primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a range of customization options and managing a high volume of client relationships through a digital platform.

Ra'shanda Williams is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and having 12 years of industry experience. She has been with The Vanguard Group, Inc. since 2014. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering goal-based, algorithm-driven portfolio management primarily using Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm combines digital delivery with a large advisor team, managing hundreds of thousands of client relationships.

Zachary Stephan is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and six years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group and Bank of America. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.