Stephen Paavola is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at Edward Jones and Northwestern Mutual. He also served eight years in the United States Army. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Leonard Yarnovich is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Huntersville, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and eight years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in the sales of investment-related products and receives compensation for loan product sales and referrals for home security and automation services. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm employs model-delivery strategies created by unaffiliated asset managers and operates at scale with nearly 3,700 advisors and approximately $15.5 billion in assets under management.

Aditya Banerji is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers. He has worked with The Vanguard Group since 2020 and previously held roles at the Better Business Bureau and the University of South Carolina. Vanguard Advisers provides both 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, utilizing proprietary models and mostly Vanguard funds to create personalized portfolios.

Josh Haggard is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation as well as Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2023, he worked for Edward Jones for seven years. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Beltway Home Repair in Gastonia, NC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers financial planning, advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Lesia Marino Brolinson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill. Wells Fargo Clearing specializes in retirement plan consulting for qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, offering a broad range of investment options including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Steven Balerna is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 14 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Fidelity Investments since 2021 and previously worked at TIAA and TIAA-CREF from 2011 to 2020. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and manages INTERIE LLC, a business that sells products on Amazon. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including fund advisory and model portfolio delivery. The firm combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction across a broad range of mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Mark Whelan is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He holds a Series 66 designation and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Clearing, he worked at Lockheed Martin and the University of Central Florida. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. The firm offers investment policy development, performance reporting, participant education, and discretionary investment management grounded in modern portfolio theory.

Garrett Davis is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Outside of advisory roles, he has entrepreneurial experience with event rentals and a fireworks business. Vanguard Advisers provides both automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach utilizing proprietary models and primarily invests in Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering customization options such as ESG preferences and tax-aware strategies.

Krista Icenhour is a Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments. In her role, she helps families organize, develop, and implement financial plans and strategies tailored to their present and future goals. She focuses on simplifying the complexities of investing to ensure clients feel confident and secure in the financial plans they build together. Krista has been with Fidelity Investments since 2019, progressing through various roles including Financial Representative, Relationship Manager, Planning Consultant, and Financial Consultant before her current position. Her experience encompasses client relationship management and financial planning within the firm. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Krista has interests in fitness, food, golf, hiking, spending time at the lake, and caring for pets.

Patrick Traynor is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has been with Vanguard Advisers since 2025 and has concurrent experience with Vanguard Marketing Corporation and 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’s approach uses algorithm-driven, goal-based methodologies to create personalized portfolios predominantly composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, integrating tax-aware strategies and various customization options.

Kenneth Zdziarski is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Charles Schwab Bank and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and has worked at various Vanguard entities since 2026. Outside of finance, he is a freelance musician. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and employer-sponsored retirement plan participants, utilizing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm manages a large client base through a digital platform combined with a team servicing model.

Anthony Williams is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he held various roles in retail and education sectors. He serves on the Board of Directors for the University of North Carolina Greensboro - Bryan School Alumni Association. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm’s advisory model involves extensive use of LPL-sponsored and other third-party programs, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management solutions.

Michael Dugan is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding a ChFC® designation along with Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. He has one year of industry experience, including prior roles at NYLIFE Securities, LLC and New York Life Insurance Company. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice primarily to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach featuring personalized asset allocations, largely implemented through Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Samantha Kingsley is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Bank of America. Kingsley has been with Merrill since 2016. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Shemar Clarke is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and DiSys, as well as roles outside finance such as at the University of Guyana and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo that provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad planning menu and uses Wells Fargo research and planning tools to develop tailored recommendations for clients.

Cody Bussell is a financial advisor with Fisher Investments, holding a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He previously worked at Thompson Private Wealth and Allied Millennial Partners. Fisher Investments serves a global mix of institutional and private clients, providing discretionary portfolio management across equity, fixed-income, and blended mandates using a centralized investment approach that combines quantitative and qualitative research. The firm also offers sub-advisory and retirement plan services alongside managing separate accounts and pooled investment vehicles.

Matthew Johnson is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to develop personalized strategies that align with their financial goals. His client focus areas include college education planning, equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, and retirement income. Matthew holds a Bachelor's Degree from St Edward's University and has earned professional designations as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He emphasizes understanding what matters to each client to help them pursue their financial objectives effectively. Outside of his professional role, Matthew enjoys baseball, cooking, golfing, spending time with his family, and traveling. He is also involved in the community through participation in events such as the Belize Lighthouse Ride.

Bryan Edwards is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Pinnacle Financial Partners and First Citizens Bank. He is also employed as a Licensed Bank Advisor at Pinnacle Asset Management, where he refers potential investment clients to Raymond James advisors. 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, pension plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using advanced analytical tools and supports both advisory programs and institutional consulting.

Michael Doyle is a Series 66 credentialed advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Vanguard since 2025 and has prior experience working in marketing and creative industries, including roles at Hi-Rez Studios and the Savannah College of Art and Design. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its digital and personal advisor services, serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach, combining proprietary models with Vanguard funds and ETFs, and manages a large client base through a scalable, technology-enabled platform.

Ariel Murchison is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Vanguard Advisers, Ariel worked at Better Mortgage and Wells Fargo Inc. Outside of advising, Ariel owns and operates Ariel Evon Photography LLC. Vanguard Advisers delivers automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and employer-sponsored retirement plan participants. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach with personalized asset allocations primarily constructed from Vanguard funds and ETFs.