Sharmishtha Prasad is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and with 14 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Coastal Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank, Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo Private Bank. She serves on the boards of the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Community Foundation of North Carolina East. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning services, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Robert Merdes is a financial advisor with Fidelity who holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at various Fidelity affiliates since 1993. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of a real estate investment company and serves as a trustee of a lending trust. Fidelity Strategic Advisers LLC offers investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a blend of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Mike Patti is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 20 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Patti holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools supported by its Global Investment Committee.

E Ostendorff is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has extensive experience in estate and investment planning, serving the financial needs of families, endowments, foundations, and non-profits. E Ostendorff began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1995 as the Estate Planning specialist for multiple Merrill offices. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the College of Charleston and earned his Juris Doctorate from Nashville School of Law. His professional credentials include the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Outside of his professional work, E Ostendorff is a founder of the Continuous Blessings Foundation and has participated on the finance and membership committees for North Ridge Country Club. His personal interests include football, golfing, music, and reading.

Chen Anna Grundland is a financial advisor at Fidelity with four years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Her prior experience includes positions at Bank of America and Amazon WVCS LLC. She serves as the secretary of the Greenway Condominium Association board, where she participates in meeting documentation and approval of community projects. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients using a process that combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages portfolios composed of mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs and offers advisory services including fund management and model portfolio delivery.

Ward Marslender III is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Marslender-West Asset Management, an investment-related business. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services, including retirement, education, risk, and wealth-transfer planning, delivering tailored recommendations supported by proprietary research and planning tools.

Brian Ligett is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Encompass More, Appreciation Financial, Feedtrail, and Weatherby Healthcare. He is based in Durham, NC. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, delivering model portfolios that utilize mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Alex Butler is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where they support clients and their families in achieving financial clarity. In this role, Alex focuses on education, personalized goal setting, and holistic planning to address various aspects of clients' financial goals. Alex's expertise includes retirement lifestyle planning, tax-efficient investing, estate planning considerations, and charitable giving. Their professional experience at Fidelity Investments spans several positions, including Investment Solutions Representative I & II and Customer Relationship Advocate, demonstrating a progression in roles since 2023. Alex holds insurance licenses in Arkansas and California. Outside of work, Alex has interests in baseball, music, parenthood, running, and singing.

Chrisander Crisostomo is a financial advisor at Fidelity with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to his current role at Fidelity, Crisostomo worked at Holly Springs Public Works and Infiniti of Apex. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage diversified model portfolios.

L James is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He leads a team that has over 30 years of experience assisting affluent families with thoughtful investment guidance and comprehensive financial planning. His approach focuses on helping clients simplify their financial lives to support their lifestyle, legacy goals, and retirement income needs. James holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™), and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®). He earned his bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University. Throughout his career, he has been recognized in Barron's America's Top Financial Advisors and Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors. Outside of his professional responsibilities, James enjoys boating, hiking, music, singing, skiing, swimming, watching movies, and spending time with his family. He is committed to staying current on tax and estate planning issues and cutting-edge financial strategies to provide value to the families he serves.

Anna Call is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Greek House/Threadly and St. David's School. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, offers investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including fund advisory and model portfolio delivery. The firm combines proprietary fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, overseeing day-to-day management through affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisers.

Sohan Shah is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has been with Ameriprise since 2023 and has prior work experience in commodities and merchant funding sectors. His background also includes roles in education and hospitality. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides customized retirement planning advice focused on reliable income and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies.

Jeremy Potts is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with LPL Financial since 2019. Prior to joining LPL, he worked for Parata Systems LLC for 11 years. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research from LPL and third-party subadvisors.

Christian Kubista is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo entities since 2009, including seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and ten years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Kubista serves as treasurer for the North Carolina Veterans Business Association. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, 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, relying on research and analytics to guide investment decisions.

Yahir Perez Lora is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with a Series 66 credential and no prior industry experience. His background includes roles in education and multiple business activities unrelated to finance, such as positions at Bartaco and Besi Machining. LPL Enterprise serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients through advisory and brokerage services. The firm provides access to model portfolios, third-party asset management, and a range of financial products, combining advisory programs with insurance sales and lending services.

Alyssa Potts is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors based in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions in the United States Navy and several retail and hospitality companies. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, utilizing extensively LPL-sponsored programs and endorsed third-party managers to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.

Jason Peck is a CFP® and Series 66 license holder with six years of industry experience, currently advising at Raymond James & Associates in Raleigh, NC since 2020. Prior to his current role, he worked seven years at Canvas Solutions, Inc. (d/b/a GoCanvas). Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension plans, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, advisory programs, and institutional consulting with a variety of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Joe Peterson is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he has been serving clients since 2024. He focuses on helping clients achieve financial peace of mind through personalized planning tailored to the unique needs of individuals and families. Prior to his current role, he worked as an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2024 and as an Investment Advisor at PNC Private Bank from 2016 to 2022. Throughout his career, Joe has accumulated experience in investment consulting and advisory roles, collaborating with clients to co-create and maintain financial plans aligned with their goals. He emphasizes maintaining open lines of communication to support ongoing financial planning and adjustments. Outside of his professional work, Joe enjoys board games, football, golf, movies, music, and reading.

Nathan Goulet is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. 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.

Caleb Hudson is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Morgan Stanley and E*TRADE Securities LLC. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs strategic and tactical asset allocation and offers tax-aware versions of strategies for investors with higher tax sensitivity.