Donald Bartol is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Ellison, Kibler & Associates (Merrill Lynch) since 2022 and previously was employed by The Vanguard Group, Inc. outside of the advisory field. 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 strategies supported by internal and third-party managers for a range of individual and institutional clients.

Mary Gaul is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 63 designation with 17 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Merrill and The Vanguard Group. 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 advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a broader set of financial product offerings than typical institutional advisers.

Robert Swartz is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with four years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. He previously worked at UBS and has experience in academic roles at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Chapel Hill. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Douglas Towsey, CRPC™, serves as a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor in the Naperville/Lisle office of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With over 32 years of experience in the finance industry, his career spans roles as a wealth management advisor, corporate executive, and professor. He focuses on providing clients with a comprehensive wealth management strategy tailored to their unique financial situations and goals. His approach emphasizes five key principles: financial guidance, legacy implementation, estate coordination, risk management, and tax minimization strategies. Doug holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Indiana University and an MBA from Northwestern University. In addition to his advisory role, he teaches evening finance classes at DePaul University. His professional designations include Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Doug and his team prioritize building ongoing relationships with clients to adapt strategies in response to changing needs and market conditions. Outside of his professional life, Doug is involved in community service through organizations such as United Way and Feed My Starving People. He resides in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife Jennifer and their two children, Grace and Ben. His personal interests include golfing, hiking, music, reading, soccer, softball, tennis, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with his family.

Jorey Blake is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at firms including Bank of America, Merrill, Charles Schwab, and Albert Corporation. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to both retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios, and is noted for its role in fund advisory, model portfolio delivery, and its use of AI and algorithmic methods in investment research.

James Sherrill IV is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Dallas, NC, with six years at the firm and a total of four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Edward Jones, Sherrill worked in the consumer service industry, including a role at Pressure Washing Plus. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Shawn Polk is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Nuveen Asset Management, Nuveen Securities, CI Logistics, and TIAA. 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 manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.

Luca Ayotte is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and began his career in the financial industry in 2022 after working in several other sectors. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2026, he worked at Wells Fargo Bank, Home Depot, Village Inn Pizza, and McCombs Steel. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm with over 14,000 financial advisors and approximately $671 billion in assets under management. The firm offers investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a range of brokerage and advisory solutions to individual, corporate, and institutional clients.

Sean Blatcher is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at BlackHawk Industrial and has experience in healthcare and hospitality sectors. Merrill, together 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 a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Nicholas St George is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently with LPL Financial since 2023. His prior experience includes roles at Woodbury Financial Services, Raymond James Financial Services, and Merrill Lynch. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker‑dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers financial planning, advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

Jennifer Maccannon is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at various Edelman Financial Engines affiliates since 2011. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm uses a committee-driven modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary advice across diversified portfolios and a range of product exposures.

Amy Lowe is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding a Series 66 credential and 14 years of industry experience. She worked at UBS Financial Services from 2011 to 2021 before joining Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, where she has been since 2021. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individuals and institutional clients with a wide range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning. The firm employs structured discovery conversations and proprietary planning tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Nico Beasley is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors who holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 26 years of industry experience. He has worked within various Wells Fargo entities since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he works as an Uber driver and serves as a notary public in Charlotte, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network provides investment and fee-based financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients, offering a broad range of planning options including niche areas like business-owner transition and special-needs analysis. The firm integrates advisory services with banking and other financial products through a network of advisors.

Thomas Robinson is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Ameriprise, where he spent two years, as well as self-employment and positions outside the financial industry. 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 tailored to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

John Halley is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor at Fidelity with 15 years of industry experience. He has held roles within various Fidelity subsidiaries since 2010, including Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to both retail and institutional clients, employing a blend of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction across a variety of mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs. The firm is noted for its use of systematic methodologies, AI in research, and advisory roles to multiple registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Jacob Alexander is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works one-on-one with clients to define their financial goals and develop strategies to pursue them. His approach includes ongoing advice and portfolio adjustments as clients' situations change. He also provides access to specialists for banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions through Bank of America. Jacob's expertise includes college education planning, personal retirement planning, and portfolio management services. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from Davidson College. His professional philosophy centers on helping clients uncover what matters most to them and their families to create effective financial strategies. Outside of his professional work, Jacob has interests in cooking, football, and golfing.

Rebekah Schemahorn is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with 27 years of industry experience. She has held her current roles at Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 1999. Outside of her advisory work, she owns and manages a mountain home used for short-term rentals. Primerica Advisors provides a wrap-fee asset management program primarily serving individual investors, including non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and charitable clients. The firm uses model-delivery strategies developed by unaffiliated asset managers and supports trade execution and custody through BNY Mellon Advisors and Pershing.

Donald Johnson Jr. is a financial advisor with OSAIC in Huntersville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 35 years of industry experience. He worked at FSC Securities Corporation for 29 years before joining OSAIC in 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he operates as an insurance agent marketing annuities. OSAIC serves a broad client base including retail and institutional investors through a large network of advisers, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and access to various investment platforms and third-party money managers. The firm utilizes asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios.

Karen Mccanless is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in investment-related consulting through ownership of KPTM Corp and McTeden, LLC. Ameriprise serves individuals approaching or in retirement, typically with at least $1 million in net investable assets, offering retirement-income planning through a centralized consulting team that provides tailored, algorithm-assisted Recommendation Reports. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to support clients’ retirement strategies while emphasizing products from affiliated firms.

Zoran Smiljanic serves as a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been active in the financial services industry since 2004, beginning his career at HSBC before joining Merrill and the Utz Keller Wealth Management Group in 2017. In his current role, Zoran works closely with clients and their families to provide integrated financial advice and both short- and long-term wealth planning. His approach emphasizes understanding each client’s goals to develop tailored strategies that offer clarity and control over their financial lives. He leverages the investment insights of Merrill and the banking services of Bank of America to address various financial needs. Zoran’s areas of expertise include college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and retirement income. He employs a holistic wealth management process that considers seven key life priorities: family, finances, health, home, leisure, work, and giving. This goal-based approach helps clients navigate changing life circumstances and evolving priorities. Zoran earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and is fluent in English and Serbo-Croatian. Originally from upstate New York, he now resides in Huntersville, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and children and exploring the Lake Norman and Charlotte areas. His personal interests include basketball, boating, cooking, golfing, hiking, skiing, and tennis.