Jacqueline Salazar is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, she worked for Todd Greene CPA PLLC and held roles in education and retail. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, offers managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, providing model-based and discretionary strategies for a range of individual and institutional clients.

Jose Holguin is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America and Merrill since 2014. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies managed by internal and third-party teams.

Nasera Kaouss is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James, she worked at Morgan Stanley and its affiliated entities in various roles from 2018 to 2024. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, and offers a range of financial planning and advisory services with a primarily non-discretionary approach.

Ryan Lopez is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Charlotte, NC, with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2019, he worked at Brooks International for one year and was affiliated with the University of Alabama for five years. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and serves clients through both direct and corporate financial planning arrangements.

William Giddens is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and has worked primarily within Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he has a 50% ownership interest in Wing Management, LLC, an investment-related business. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients, offering investment and fee-based financial planning services. The firm provides a broad range of planning options including retirement, education, risk management, and specialized services such as business-owner transition and special-needs analysis.

Micah Cooke is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been in the financial industry since 2021, previously working seven years at Red Lobster. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages roughly $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Tracee Pearson is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan and Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in 2025, she had brief tenure at Morgan Stanley in 2023. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting within a non-discretionary advisory program.

Chirag Patel is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously with First Clearing starting in 2013. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap‑fee programs, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third parties.

Kimberly Ann Loughlin is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as executor and power of attorney for her parents. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Katlin Moran is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has been with Wells Fargo Bank NA since 2011 and Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Matthew Alexander is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and has been with The Rutherford Group since 2018. In his role, he helps clients create and track strategies toward financial success. Prior to joining The Rutherford Group, Alexander specialized in retirement income planning, partnering with financial advisors to provide income and protection solutions through MetLife Investors and Brighthouse Financial. Alexander holds a Bachelor's Degree from Appalachian State University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. He takes a holistic approach when working with clients to create, execute, and monitor wealth management plans. His areas of expertise include employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, and retirement income. Outside of his professional duties, Alexander has personal interests such as boating, camping, football, golfing, music, pickleball, skiing, tennis, and spending time with his family. He has also served as a former board member of the Appalachian State University Alumni Board (Charlotte Chapter).

Olga Guin is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a co-trustee of a private trust entity. 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. The firm offers both model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Melissa McGrath is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 23 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Provenance Wealth Advisors, Raymond James Financial Services, Financial Resources Group, LPL Financial, and AXA Advisors. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, providing detailed written recommendation reports that incorporate income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines algorithmic automation with personalized review to deliver these recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Ashley Alexander is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at The Vanguard Group since 2017. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of Alexanders BBQ LLC, a restaurant based in Charlotte, NC. Vanguard Advisers provides 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 to asset allocation, utilizing proprietary models and offering portfolios largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Michael Ruland is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works with individuals, families, and businesses to pursue their short-, mid-, and long-term financial objectives by developing custom financial and retirement plans supported by active investment and risk management strategies. He focuses on building deep relationships based on trust and transparency to create tailored solutions that address clients’ retirement planning, business exit planning, portfolio diversification, cash flow management, and tax considerations. Michael’s areas of expertise include college education planning, equity compensation services, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. He collaborates with Bank of America specialists to provide clients with access to banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions as needed, ensuring comprehensive financial guidance aligned with each client’s goals. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina System and has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Michael is bilingual in Spanish and English. Outside of work, he enjoys boating, fishing, golfing, reading, running, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Lee Willaford is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously held roles at TIAA-CREF and Ameriprise Advisor Services. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.

Steven Sutton is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Thomas Atkinson, Waddell & Reed, and various insurance carriers. He has also been self-employed during part of his career. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Elizabeth Panos is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and has worked at Wells Fargo Bank NA since 2015. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.

Karen Dunphy is a financial advisor at Merrill with 33 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Merrill since 1993. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

David Mc Donald is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Gastonia, NC, where he has worked since 2019. He has seven years of industry experience. Outside of advising, he has been affiliated with the Gastonia Grizzlies since 2014 and has occasionally driven for Uber. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.