Mary Duffman is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she has worked since 2001. She combines extensive experience in banking and investment with a goals-based wealth management approach to assist high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and families. Mary leverages the resources of Merrill Lynch and the banking services of Bank of America to address the comprehensive financial needs of her clients. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Development and Psychology from Campbell University. Mary possesses FINRA Series 6, 7, 65, and 63 registrations, an Insurance license, and holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® designation. Additionally, she serves as a Retirement Benefits Consultant. Mary resides in Apex, North Carolina. She is a mother and spends time with her seventeen-year-old daughter, family, and friends. Her personal interests include the outdoors, exercise, travel, and music.

Christina Asti is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where she has been serving clients since 2023. In her role, she focuses on building strong client relationships based on trust, transparency, empathy, and compassion, utilizing Fidelity's resources to develop comprehensive investment strategies tailored to clients' short-term and long-term financial goals. Her professional experience includes working as a Financial Consultant I from 2023 to 2024 before advancing to her current position. Christina holds a California Insurance License, which supports her ability to provide informed financial guidance. Outside of her professional work, Christina has interests in art, fitness, food, golf, traveling, and volunteering.

Robin Gardner is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2018 and previously at Wake Forest Charter Academy from 2014 to 2018. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s IPS-driven advisory process incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, and participant education, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options in its investment menus.

Alexander Purcell serves as a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he focuses on understanding clients' financial goals and creating personalized wealth management strategies tailored to their needs. He helps clients navigate various financial areas such as college education planning, retirement planning, legacy planning, and managing new wealth. Alexander emphasizes a one-on-one approach to develop strategies designed to help clients pursue their long-term objectives. Alexander holds a Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina State University and carries the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. He is a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. Outside of his professional work, Alexander participates in community service activities including volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, Feeding America, the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina, and the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department. In his personal time, Alexander enjoys spending time with his family and engaging in a variety of sports such as baseball, football, golfing, hunting, skiing, and swimming. He is a supporter of North Carolina State University and other North Carolina professional sports teams, and he is involved in coaching and attending sporting events in the Triangle area.

Martha Petzold is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently advising clients at Charles Schwab in Raleigh, NC. She has been with Charles Schwab and its affiliated entities since 2018. Outside of her advisory role, she works as an independent consultant helping to introduce the Alphabeta Guide software to universities and educational institutions in Latin America. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program, offering a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment services supported by a centralized operational model.

Carl Bowe is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with individuals and families to help them navigate their financial lives, providing strategies tailored to their unique goals and circumstances. Carl's approach emphasizes understanding what matters most to his clients and aligning their resources to support those priorities. With experience in areas including education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income, Carl delivers comprehensive financial guidance. He holds the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and has earned a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) as well as a Bachelor's Degree from Pensacola Christian College. Carl's personal interests include chess, golfing, music, and reading. Drawing from his background and experiences, he is committed to facilitating thoughtful financial planning that helps clients build opportunities for their future and that of their families.

Jon Lee is a CFP® and Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Raleigh, NC, where he has worked since 2018. He has eight years of industry experience, including prior roles at GuideIT and a brief retirement in 2017. He serves as a board member at Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School in Raleigh. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a comprehensive range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors and 15,000 branch offices.

Ian Dubee is a financial advisor with Merrill in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill and Bank of America, N.A. since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a Power of Attorney for a private entity in Wilson, North Carolina. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients via the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Gloria Kabugo Musoke is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Fidelity Investments from 2014 to 2021 before joining Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank, SSB in 2021. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and related managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines non-discretionary advice with access to discretionary separately managed accounts, delivering multi-asset model portfolios supported by centralized custody and a formal alternative-investment offering.

Melissa Wesley is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management based in Raleigh, North Carolina. With over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, she assists individuals and families in pursuing their financial goals through strategies tailored to their unique needs. Her areas of focus include personal retirement planning, college and education planning, executive compensation, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, portfolio management services, and retirement income. Melissa holds a High School Diploma from Cary High School and a Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina State University. She also holds professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). She works closely with clients of multiple generations to help build wealth, preserve assets, and educate families about financial responsibility. Outside of her professional role, Melissa is involved in community organizations such as the American Legion Auxiliary, Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina, and Triangle Beagle Rescue of North Carolina. Her personal interests include antiquing, boating, cooking, fishing, gardening, music, painting, spending time with her family, traveling, and yoga.

James Gidley is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 25 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory work, he is the treasurer of the Wake Football Club and owns a company that produces spices for fish. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals approaching or in retirement who meet certain asset thresholds, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored recommendations. The firm also offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated companies.

Elizabeth Perry is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2018. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked at Adama from 2009 to 2018. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of over 23,700 advisors and provides affiliated capabilities including trust services and proprietary mutual funds.

Brandon Miller is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. He has four years of industry experience, including five years at Edward Jones and ten years at Mickey Truck Bodies. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management through a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies under a fiduciary standard.

Ricardo Barbosa Ballester is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. His background includes five years of service in the US Army and a combined four years at Fidelity Investments. 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 proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage model portfolios comprised of mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Whitney Walker is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 9 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2011. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, including financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning tools and global investment estimates in its advisory process.

Duff Freeman is a financial advisor with OSAIC based in Raleigh, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 42 years of industry experience, including roles at SagePoint Financial Advisors and his own firm, Freeman Financial Services, which he owns and operates. Freeman Financial Services provides financial planning and consulting, including advising on life insurance, disability income, long-term care, and fixed annuities. OSAIC serves a diverse client base that includes individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services through a broad network of advisors and employs various asset-allocation tools and third-party platforms to construct and manage portfolios.

Richard Ward III is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameriprise Financial Services since 2018 and previously was with The Vanguard Group from 2016 to 2018. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. 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 retirement income planning focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Robert Allen is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2013. He is based in Raleigh, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee options, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Deborah Schulz is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 27 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wachovia Bank, N.A. She is based in Fuquay Varina, NC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering services such as investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, and participant education. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with an emphasis on tailored services and discretionary investment management options.

Rudy Stulc Jr. is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with Series 66 registration and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked for the Wake County Public School System and Dawson County High School. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs and investment solutions. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors across 15,000 branch offices.