Deborah Ash is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2017 and was previously with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. starting in 2015. In addition to her advisory role, she operates Ashbridge Financial Solutions, LLC, where she works as an independent insurance agent specializing in life insurance products. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, retirement plan advisory, and financial wellness services through a network of independent professionals and employs a range of portfolio management strategies tailored to client objectives.

Ipcit Shah is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of advising, he is involved in business ownership through Sohan Properties, LLC, which manages an office condominium. Ameriprise is a large institutional firm offering a retirement-income planning service designed for clients with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency strategies to provide written, non-discretionary recommendation reports. The firm delivers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through affiliated entities.

Michelle White is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Charles Schwab, and Hilton Worldwide. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including fund advisory and model portfolio delivery. The firm employs a proprietary approach that combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction.

John Messina is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2021. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a blend of proprietary fundamental research and quantitative analysis to construct model portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs. The firm is noted for its use of algorithmic methods and AI in research and serves as an advisor to multiple registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Evan Barnes is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2022. Prior to his current role, he worked at W&S Brokerage Services, Western & Southern Life, and has experience in roles outside finance, including service in the United States Army and work in technical and entrepreneurial ventures. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. It offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written Recommendation Reports and ongoing retirement income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Terrell Berry is a financial advisor at Fidelity with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has prior work experience at Truist Bank and Target. Outside of advisory work, he continues to work one shift per month at a retail store. 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 employs a combination of proprietary research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction, and it is noted for its use of AI-driven methodologies and formal advisory roles to multiple registered investment companies.

Michael Leotsakos is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Club Worx and The Heart Fitness, among others. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including discretionary portfolio management and fund advisory. The firm’s investment process combines proprietary fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, delivering model portfolios across a range of investment vehicles.

Nicholas Honeycutt is a financial advisor with Fidelity Investments in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Before joining Fidelity, he worked for Uber as a rideshare driver and has held positions in the food and service industries. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients through a process that combines fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm also serves multiple registered investment companies and utilizes systematic methodologies in portfolio management.

Nga Pho is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley in Chapel Hill, NC, with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Morgan Stanley and Edward Jones, among other firms. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and provides services through both direct client engagements and corporate financial planning agreements.

Florence Smith is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently advising clients at Raymond James & Associates in Chapel Hill, NC. Prior to joining Raymond James, she worked briefly at Amphora Wealth Management and spent time focused on CFP education and exams. Smith serves as Treasurer and board member of the Hillsborough Arts Council, a nonprofit organization. Raymond James & Associates 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, and municipal entities, offering non-discretionary financial planning and consulting supported by extensive research and multiple portfolio management styles.

Kailee Vanderlinden is a financial advisor with Fidelity in Cary, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, she worked in various roles including positions at Marriott Vacation Club, Alfred University, and Nordstrom. Outside of her advisory role, she works as an independent contractor for DoorDash. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a broad client base, utilizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and systematic methodologies to construct model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs. The firm serves retail and institutional investors, alongside registered investment companies and charitable funds.

Robert Massey is a financial advisor with Fidelity Investments in Durham, NC. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has 24 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at VALIC Financial Advisors Inc and BB&T Investment Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Massey serves as the executor of his late father's estate. Robert Massey is affiliated with Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company that provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients. The firm employs a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage a broad range of portfolios, including fund-of-funds and model portfolios.

Aaron Ingram is a financial advisor with Fidelity in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked in various roles including at Customer HD and Neonova Network Services. He is also a mentor for ClimbHire, where he helps individuals understand financial concepts and prepare for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base, utilizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios, including model portfolios delivered to intermediary platforms.

Matthew Murphy is a financial advisor with Ameriprise, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise since 2002, serving in various capacities within the firm. Outside of his advisory role, Murphy owns and serves as president of Catherine Henry Co. and operates a Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids franchise. He also plans to serve as chair of the Generosity Committee at Saint Francis United Methodist Church beginning in 2026. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service tailored for individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency strategies to provide personalized recommendation reports. The firm provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions typical of a large institutional firm.

Luke Pelletier is a financial advisor at Fidelity with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Virtual Service Operations and Nexu Partners. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including IRS-qualified charitable funds and registered investment companies. The firm uses a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver systematic, long-term asset allocation-based model portfolios.

Suneed Ahmed is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and four years of industry experience. He has held roles at Fidelity since 2021 and has worked in educational and retail settings early in his career. Outside of his advisory work, Ahmed coaches running and volunteers as a scorekeeper and referee for a local ball hockey league. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to both retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios from a broad investable universe.

Charles Houston is a CFP® professional with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving at Edward Jones since 2012. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Apex, NC. 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 and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, with a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Michael Esser is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2008, based in Durham, NC. Esser serves on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Investment Committee, where he advises on investments. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm with over 23,700 advisors serving a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions under a fiduciary standard, supported by a large branch network and affiliated financial services.

Henry Stilley III is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has six years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James, he worked at Hargett Hunter Capital Management LLC and WWM Group, LLC. He serves on the finance and investment committee of the Frankie Lemmon School and Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored, non-discretionary planning using risk profiling and modeling tools, supporting clients through a broad network of advisors and specialized programs.

James Cobb is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he collaborates with clients to understand their personal values and financial goals, working together to develop tailored financial plans. He is part of a team dedicated to helping clients build personalized plans that they feel comfortable and confident with. He joined Fidelity Investments in 2021, progressing from Workplace Planning Consultant I to Planning Consultant within the organization. Prior to Fidelity, James worked as an Associate Financial Advisor at Fortress Financial Partners from 2020 to 2021.