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, holding a Series 66 credential and five years of industry experience. He has worked with StillGreen Partners, LLC, WWM Group, LLC, and Hargett Hunter Capital Management LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the finance and investment committee of the Frankie Lemmon School and Foundation and acts as trustee for an irrevocable trust focused on asset protection strategies. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs tailored, non-discretionary planning and analytical tools to support client goals and maintains specialized offerings in municipal finance and SIMPLE IRA consulting.

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.

Christopher Koppen is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with firms including Susan Phares-Aldrich, CPA, and Waddell & Reed, Inc. Outside of advising, he is involved with a tax preparation and accounting business affiliated with Susan Phares-Aldrich CPA, PLLC. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside model portfolios and research from various sources.

Tyler Parker is a financial advisor at Cetera with four years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. His prior roles include positions at Minnesota Life Insurance, Securian Financial Services, and North Star Resource Group. Outside of advisory work, he is involved as an agent/broker offering fixed insurance and group benefits through North Star Consultants and North Star Brokerage Group. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm provides a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform with various program structures and access to third-party money managers.

Noah Zaiser is a financial advisor with Fidelity in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Southern National LLC and Crossroads Sexual Assault Response & Resource Center. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, offers investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, emphasizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages model portfolios constructed from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs and serves as an advisor to multiple registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Thomas Mcgowen Jr. is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors for 18 years and is a partner at the CPA firm Stout Stuart Mcgowen & King LLP, where he has served since 1984. Mcgowen is a volunteer board member and endowment committee chair of the Old North State Council Boy Scouts of America. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and charitable organizations through a broad network of affiliated advisers and multiple advisory platforms. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money managers using asset-allocation tools and automated rebalancing.

Zachary Sholtz is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Save-A-Lot Inc. and Publix. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients using a combination of proprietary fundamental research and quantitative analysis. The firm is noted for its use of algorithmic portfolio construction, management of registered investment companies, and advisory services that include model portfolios and fund-of-funds structures.

Garrett Ellinger is a financial advisor with Fidelity Investments in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Minnesota Life Insurance Co, Securian Financial Services, and a position with the District Attorney for Catawba County. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, offers 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 discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios, with specialized advisory roles in fund structures and model portfolio delivery.

Henry Newton is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 27 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Edward Jones since 1998, with a two-year period at Wells Fargo Clearing from 2018 to 2020. Newton holds the CFP® designation as well as Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. 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 financial advisors and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, including separately managed accounts and affiliated mutual funds.

Joseph Hagen is a financial advisor at Stifel in Chapel Hill, NC, with 43 years of industry experience. He has held his current position at Stifel Nicolaus since 2008. Hagen holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Stifel serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutional clients, charitable organizations, and municipal entities. The firm offers brokerage and investment advisory services supported by a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

James Sessoms is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and possessing 40 years of industry experience. His career includes long tenures at Merrill and Bank of America prior to joining Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a broad range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery conversations and firm-approved planning tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and serves clients both directly and through Corporate Financial Planning agreements with employers.

Ronald Davis is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017, following eight years at Metlife Securities Inc. In addition to his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent specializing in annuities and various insurance products. MassMutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that offers financial planning, asset management, and educational services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes collaborative, annual financial planning engagements that use advanced analytical tools and offers specialized planning programs including divorce and estate-settlement services.

Lashawnda Crouch is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at OE Enterprises and Richmond Community Support. She is affiliated with Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company that provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a combination of proprietary research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction in its investment approach.

Adrian Marshall is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been affiliated with various Fidelity brokerage services roles since 2006. He works within Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company that 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 deliver model portfolios and manages multiple registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Craig Esposito is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Morrisville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he spent several years in academic roles at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and Cornell University. Esposito has also worked with Major League Baseball Network and the National Hockey League. Outside of advising, he has experience as a camp instructor teaching golf and hockey at Cornell University youth camps. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm operates under a fiduciary standard and manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

James Nowak is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial and its predecessor firm since 2006. Outside of his advisory work, Nowak is the president of a construction business and an adjunct instructor at Wake Technical Community College. LPL Financial is a national investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, with access to model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

William Gahagan is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. His career includes roles at several firms, including Compass Securities Corporation and independent consulting. Gahagan is also an independent contractor providing financial planning services with Williamson Wealth Group, Inc. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm utilizes tailored, non-discretionary planning and risk profiling tools and supports municipal and public-finance advisory services.

Roseena Hardcastle is a financial advisor at Fidelity with two years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Her prior work includes positions at Maxim Healthcare Staffing, Wake County Public Schools, and the University of Central Florida. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund and registered investment companies. The firm combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, offering discretionary and non-discretionary advisory services along with fund advisory and model portfolio delivery.

John Murray is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at TD Ameritrade Investment Management and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, he has been with J.P. Morgan Securities since 2021. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through a team of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines institutional advisory operations with brokerage and investment management capabilities, delivering recommendations on a non-discretionary basis while clients retain final decision-making authority.