Kirk Messick is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2012. He began his career in the financial services industry in 2006 with Wachovia Securities. Kirk holds professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his high school diploma from West Iredell High School. With over sixteen years of experience, Kirk focuses on goal setting and retirement planning, specializing in consolidation and distribution of retirement and pension plans. He employs Goals Based Wealth Management, creating personalized strategies to help clients pursue their financial goals through a structured process of defining objectives and implementing solutions. His approach emphasizes putting the client's interests first and building trust through integrity and hard work. Outside of his professional role, Kirk participates in community activities such as coaching the All Pro Dads Odell Elementary Chapter and serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America. His personal interests include hiking, spending time with his family, and watching movies.

Justin Marshall is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Vanguard Advisers since 2016. He is also affiliated with The Vanguard Group and Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach and offers a range of customizable portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Adam Mielke is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers and holds a Series 66 designation. He has five years of experience in the industry, including roles at Vanguard Advisers and The Vanguard Group, Inc. Prior to that, he worked at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and was self-employed. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach with portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, supported by a large team of advisors and digital delivery.

Mark Kuznitz is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill from 2009 to 2023. Kuznitz is based in Denver, NC. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeted at individuals approaching or in retirement with substantial investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide customized, non-discretionary recommendations supported by a centralized consulting team.

Matthew Shaw is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Wells Fargo Clearing Services since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, Shaw manages a business providing rental services for residential properties and vehicles in Charlotte, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services, leveraging extensive research and analytics to support its diverse offerings.

Luke Eubank is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 63 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at US Tech Solutions Inc, Stepping Stones Advisory, and Shellback Capital. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a broader set of financial product offerings than is typical for large institutional advisers.

Jonathan Wise is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with three years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. from 2021 to 2024 and has a background that includes nearly a decade at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service designed for individuals near or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to generate tailored recommendations delivered through a centralized consulting team.

Adam Unterseher is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2025, with prior experience at Raymond James Financial and other companies. 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 portfolio construction using proprietary methodologies and offers a range of customization options, managing a large client base through its digital platform and team-based service model.

Christopher Horton is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2025, he worked at Edward Jones for eight years and spent a year with Learfield/NC State Wolfpack Sports. Horton is also the CEO of Horton Wealth, an independent financial advisory business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning and investment consulting services to individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and corporate clients. The firm provides tailored, non-discretionary advice using analytical tools and supports a wide network of advisors, with specialized capabilities in municipal finance and employer retirement plan consulting.

William Haugen is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 56 years of industry experience, currently with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. He previously worked at Wachovia Securities, Inc. from 2001 to 2002. Haugen serves as a board member of the Downtown Development Association of Morganton, NC. 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 offers a broad range of brokerage and advisory solutions backed by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Ken Carlson is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers. He has held roles within The Vanguard Group and Vanguard Marketing Corporation since 2021 and has prior experience at Techtronic Industries and Delta Airlines. Carlson is also the owner of an investment-related rental property business. 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 using proprietary models to deliver personalized asset allocations, with portfolios largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Steven Choo is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with a Series 66 designation and one year of experience at Vanguard and its affiliated entities. His prior work includes positions at WOW Payments and involvement with the Summer Youth Employment Program in Chinatown. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans through a combination of 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 large scale of client relationships.

Robert Fox is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Vanguard entities since 2013 in various capacities. His other business activities include serving as an executor for an immediate family member’s estate. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach with portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, supported by a large advisor team and a digital delivery platform.

Lily Waters is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 63 designation and beginning her advisory career in 2025. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, she worked in healthcare-related roles at Bayada, Autumn Care of Cornelius, and Autism Learning Partners. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm offers a broad range of brokerage and advisory solutions and manages approximately $671 billion in assets.

John Shaffer is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Corpay and Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with investment options that include insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Benton Holbrooks is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Digital Intelligence Systems LLC and prior teaching positions at Appalachian State University and Concord High School. He also operated an Animal Bed and Breakfast for ten years. 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 employs over 14,000 advisors and manages approximately $671 billion in assets, offering a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Christopher Charte is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC. His career includes multiple roles at The Vanguard Group, Inc., along with prior experience at Selective Wealth Management and Barrett-Johnson & Associates. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through services tailored for retail investors and employer-sponsored retirement plan participants. 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 large client base with a combination of digital platforms and advisor support.

Justin Howard is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2022 and previously held positions at Northwestern Mutual and NC State Employees Credit Union. Outside of his advisory role, Howard is the sole proprietor of Howard & Co, a financial counseling and therapy practice based in Charlotte, NC. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients. The firm uses a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage portfolios, and it serves as an advisor to multiple registered investment companies.

Thomas Francomano is a financial advisor at Merrill with the Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill and Bank of America since 2018 and also works as a coach for True Lacrosse. Merrill provides managed account services through its Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individual investors, high-net-worth clients, and various institutional accounts using model-based and discretionary strategies developed by internal and third-party teams.

Nicholas Harris is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. He previously worked at BB&T for three years and has been with The Vanguard Group since 2021. 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 investment approach using proprietary models and primarily Vanguard funds and ETFs, delivering services at scale through a combination of digital platforms and advisor teams.