Cheryl Salerno is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 10 years of industry experience. She previously worked at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as an authorized signer for several nutrition-related businesses affiliated with her spouse. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad range of investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services, utilizing research and analytics alongside diversification and modern portfolio theory principles.

Roy Boone is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Mooresville, North Carolina, holding a Series 66 designation with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee managing family tree farms in Mooresville. 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 financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions and tax-efficient services.

Joseph Michalski is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2023. His prior experience includes roles at First Citizens Asset Management and First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. He serves as a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters Cabarrus Leadership Council and works as a high school athletics referee. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory solutions. The firm’s IPS-driven process incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a broad range of financial products, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Ricky Meeks Jr. is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Kannapolis, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. since 2000 and Raymond James Financial since 2009. Outside of advising, Meeks is involved in property development and management through several real estate ventures, including Carolina Property Holdings LLC and RBM Property Investments. 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, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting using analytical tools and supports municipal and public finance work through a municipal advisor affiliation.

Kevin Rice Jr. is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Verizon Wireless, White Stag Realty, Liberty University, Central Piedmont Community College, the Social Security Administration, and served in the United States Navy. Vanguard Advisers provides 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 using proprietary methodologies and offers portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, with various customization options and tax-aware features.

Jonathan Crisp is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at BTW Global, DuPont, and various self-employed positions. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and eligible participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans through a combination of automated and human-supported investment advice. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach to construct portfolios primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs, emphasizing personalization, tax-aware features, and customization options.

Douglas Marlow is a CFP® and ChFC® with 33 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cetera, where he has been since 2025. His prior roles include positions at Avantax Investment Services, Stephens Consulting, Ally Invest Advisors, Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors, and TIAA. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a range of clients including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers through a large network of independent advisors.

Aaron Williams is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 10 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at TIAA-CREF and Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he directs Life's Cheat Code, LLC, a self-improvement business focused on musical composition and related marketing activities. Fidelity, through its Strategic Advisers LLC division, provides investment management and advisory services to a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors. The firm combines fundamental research with quantitative and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Steven Harrison is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He has been with The Vanguard Group and its related entities since 2002. Vanguard Advisers provides both automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and eligible participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, employing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach that utilizes proprietary models to create personalized asset allocations primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm is notable for its large scale and digital delivery model, managing a substantial client base through more than 2,200 advisors.

Katheryn Woodruff is a CFP® with 21 years of experience at Vanguard Advisers, where she has worked since 2005. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is also affiliated with Vanguard Marketing Corporation and The Vanguard Group, Inc. She is based in Charlotte, NC. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a range of customization options and serving a large client base through its digital platform.

Elizabeth Hobson is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 14 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, she worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank from 2016 to 2025, and Guardian Life from 2015 to 2016. She also teaches through the National Business Institute. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of investment solutions including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Michael Carter is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Xerox and Canon Business Process Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is contracted with Uber, providing transportation services. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and eligible participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans through a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach. The firm combines automated platforms with human support to manage portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering customization options such as ESG preferences and tax-aware features.

Tracee Schraeder is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 26 years of industry experience. She is currently with Stifel, joining the firm in 2024, and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC for a combined 15 years. Stifel serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and nonprofit organizations, offering both brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group to provide asset allocation and planning analyses, which clients can use to inform their financial decisions.

Noah Spence is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at multiple Vanguard entities since 2024. Prior to his finance career, he held several positions related to campus recreation and wellness at Western Carolina University. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice primarily for retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, using a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach to asset allocation and portfolio construction.

Hseng Hsiang is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience currently serving at Edward Jones since 2022. Prior to this, Hsiang worked at TIAA CREF Individual & Institutional Services LLC for eight years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of advisory services including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Adam Finke is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, based in Charlotte, NC, with four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Freedom Boat Club and various educational and training organizations. Vanguard Advisers provides 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 using proprietary models and primarily invests in Vanguard funds and ETFs.

James Combs is a financial advisor at LPL Financial in Cornelius, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Raymond James Financial Services, Edward Jones, and United Community Bank. Outside of advising, he serves as a board member for Williams Lodge 176, a nonprofit organization. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions through a large network of investment adviser representatives and integrates advanced operational tools to support client strategies.

Randi Derene is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with LPL Financial in Davidson, NC, and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2024, Derene worked at 4Point Wealth Management and had roles at Belk and Weston Town Hall. Outside of advisory work, Derene is a licensed notary. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive operational and research tools.

Charles Stoner is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 35 years of industry experience. He has held previous positions at UBS Financial Services from 2011 to 2021 and has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2021. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and strategies, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Lakeith Bradford is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. His background includes roles at New York Life Insurance Company and NYLife Securities, along with prior experience at Comcast Cable. He serves as a board member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., where he facilitates monthly chapter meetings and supports fraternity growth and community service. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, using a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach. The firm manages a large client base through its digital platform and offers customized portfolios constructed primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs.