James Sessoms is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Capitol Comics of Raleigh and was involved with Knightdale Baptist Church for ten years. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and charitable funds. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage portfolios and offers a distinctive advisory role with various registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Jenna Diehl is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She specializes in customized wealth planning and implementation, employing a goals-based wealth management approach. Jenna is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) professional, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and also holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Jenna joined Merrill in 2015, bringing over a decade of experience in financial services. She focuses on connecting clients' lives with their finances, serving client needs in areas such as college education planning, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible investing, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Along with her team, the GOLDS Group, Jenna helps families and businesses develop customized financial strategies designed to last for generations. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management/Finance. In her personal time, Jenna enjoys football, golfing, reading, soccer, and spending time with her family. She also participates in community volunteer activities aligned with the Merrill tradition of community involvement.

William Cunningham is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2026. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2023, progressing through positions including Workplace Planning Associate, Workplace Planning Consultant, and Workplace Planning Consultant II. In his current position, William focuses on understanding clients' priorities and helping translate them into clear, workable financial plans. He emphasizes building strong, trusting relationships to provide a planning experience that is supportive, transparent, and tailored to each client's unique situation. William's approach centers on empathy and recognizing the individuality of every client. Outside of his professional work, he has interests in baseball, football, and pets.

John Short is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 39 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 63 license. Prior to joining OSAIC in 2024, he worked at Securities America Advisors, Inc. and SSN Advisory, Inc. Among his other business activities, he owns a tax preparation service and is involved in life insurance and long-term care product sales. OSAIC serves a diverse range of retail and institutional clients, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to multiple investment platforms. The firm employs firm-provided asset-allocation tools and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary account management across various investment types.

Michael Moore is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wachovia Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory role, Moore is involved in managing a rental property jointly owned with his spouse. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, using an IPS-driven approach grounded in modern portfolio theory and offering both discretionary and non-discretionary options.

Shawn Wilson is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with Edward Jones, based in Cary, NC. He has six years of industry experience, including six years with Greater Kinston Credit Union before joining Edward Jones in 2019. 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 through a nationwide network of more than 23,700 advisors and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies under a fiduciary standard.

Dillon Burdette is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2015 and previously worked at Axa Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is a guest lecturer at NC State University’s Poole College of Management and is the owner and managing member of Oakbridge Financial Group, LLC. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party asset managers.

Ericka Archie Conner is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009, following a one-year tenure at Citigroup Global Markets. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a variety of advisory programs and tailored financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses a structured planning process involving firm-approved tools and scenario modeling.

Lindsay Elliott is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She previously worked for ten years at State Employees' Credit Union before joining Merrill in 2022. 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. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party teams.

Gregory Seamster is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Stifel since 2022. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner and owner of Buckfins and Feathers LLC, a hunting farm in North Carolina. Stifel serves a diverse client base ranging from individuals to institutional investors, offering brokerage and investment advisory services with a focus on fee-based financial planning and proprietary investment analysis developed by its Investment Strategy Group.

Muhmad Alzpair is a financial advisor at Fidelity with three years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. His prior work includes roles at Bio-Diesel Productions and DeSimone Research Group, as well as a five-year period at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs. The firm also serves as an adviser to multiple registered investment companies and develops model portfolios for Fidelity Institutional Wealth Adviser.

Patrick Hartley is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2011, including time with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. He serves on the advisory board of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, focusing on education-related business development and fundraising. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and estate strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and supports clients through structured planning tools while acting primarily in an advisory capacity.

Claren Englebreth is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience, currently with Edward Jones in Raleigh, NC. Their career includes previous roles at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing. Edward Jones serves more than four million individual and institutional clients with a wide range of wealth management services. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, access to separately managed accounts, and maintains affiliated capabilities including a trust company and securities-based lending.

Andrew Shapiro is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Liberty Mutual Insurance and Plymouth Rock Assurance before joining Fidelity. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base, including retail and institutional investors, using a blend of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm also offers discretionary and non-discretionary advisory services, manages fund-of-funds structures, and employs systematic methodologies in portfolio management.

Scott Markel is a financial advisor at Fidelity with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for five years and Standard Furniture for seven years. Fidelity, through its Strategic Advisers LLC affiliate, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm combines proprietary fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios and actively manages oversight of delegated investment strategies.

Stephen Murray is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Before joining Equitable Advisors, he worked at Oakbridge Financial Group and has a background that includes roles in education and community services in the Raleigh area. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives, utilizing a range of firm-offered and third-party advisory solutions.

Samuel Harris is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at Drakes and SpotOn, among other roles. Outside of financial advising, he is a partner in an online clothing store and a hobby game shop in Durham, North Carolina. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients using a process that combines fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm is notable for its management of registered investment companies, use of AI in research, and delivery of model portfolios for Fidelity Institutional Wealth Adviser.

Holly Ashby is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Durham, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and having 27 years of industry experience. She has worked with Raymond James & Associates since 2013 and was previously involved with CrossFit Durham. 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, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning and investment consulting through various advisory programs and institutional solutions.

Ryan Bachmann is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, part of the Bank of America and Merrill family since 2018. He provides a comprehensive approach to financial management, focusing on bringing clarity and transparency to each client meeting through a personalized process. Ryan works with high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals and families to simplify complex financial matters and develop strategies tailored to their goals and long-term visions. His expertise includes areas such as college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, tax minimization, and retirement income. Ryan holds professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Pennsylvania State University. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Ryan is involved as a Bank of America Community Volunteer. His personal interests include chess, golfing, music, painting, and woodworking.

Eliot Barton is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Morrisville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2012. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including a wide range of households, pension plans, corporate clients, and charities. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, access to separately managed accounts and affiliated mutual funds, and operates under a fiduciary standard.