David Balok is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Denver, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and offering 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Linsco/Private Ledger Corp., now part of LPL Financial, since 2006. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions with a range of financial planning and investment management solutions.

Jake Rothert is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has been with Vanguard since 2021, including roles at Vanguard Advisers, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, and The Vanguard Group. Outside of advising, he has been involved with CharBar7 since 2015. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans through a combination of automated and human-supported investment advice, utilizing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with personalized asset allocations primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm manages a large client base with over 2,200 advisors, emphasizing digital delivery and a team servicing model.

Thomas Druckenbrod is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management who specializes in retirement income and wealth management planning. With over 19 years of experience in the financial services industry, he focuses on helping individuals set realistic financial goals and develop outcome-oriented strategies using Merrill's customized advice and Bank of America Global Research. Thomas holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has earned multiple professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). His client focus areas include college education planning, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, special needs planning strategies, women and wealth, and retirement income. In addition to his professional work, Thomas is involved in his community as a church volunteer. Outside of work, his personal interests include adventure sports, chess, fishing, ice skating, table tennis, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Gordon Hasslinger is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and various mortgage and resource companies. 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, primarily constructing portfolios from Vanguard funds and ETFs, and manages a large client base through its digital platform and team servicing model.

Jaime Bell is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Brookstone Capital Management and H.E. Scheil & Associates, Inc. Bell is based in Charlotte, NC. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its Vanguard Digital Advisor and Vanguard Personal Advisor services, primarily serving 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, emphasizing customization and tax-aware strategies.

Joel Burris is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 27 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Osaic in 2024, he worked at Woodbury Financial Services, PaxMentis Advisors, Questar Capital Corporation, and has been involved with GCG Wealth Management since 2010. Outside of his advisory roles, he is a partner in Burris Skyfall Ranch, a family-owned land operation transitioning from timber to agricultural use. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm offers integrated brokerage, advisory services, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers, employing asset-allocation tools, risk assessment, and automated rebalancing across various investment vehicles.

Natasha Rufino Da Silva is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving the Suburban Philadelphia market. She is recognized as Merrill’s only African American advisor in the region and collaborates with an award-winning team that includes partners with over 40 years of experience. Drawing upon her athletic background, Natasha applies a disciplined and focused approach to her work with high net worth families and individuals. Her expertise spans advising medical professionals, athletes, business owners, and affluent families on various aspects of financial life, including wealth growth and preservation, retirement planning, managing new wealth, and tax minimization. Natasha emphasizes personalized strategies tailored to each client’s unique financial goals and has a commitment to educating her community on financial literacy, especially empowering Philadelphia’s youth. Natasha holds a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University and completed an Accredited Certificate Program at Temple University. She carries several professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). She is involved with community organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Tri State Black Men in Medicine. Fluent in English and Yoruba, Natasha focuses on clear communication to help clients understand financial strategies and market conditions.

Brian Wallace is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial for eight years before joining Wells Fargo Clearing. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a broader set of financial product offerings that include insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Jean Boutym is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 63 designation and six years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Robert Half Staffing. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, and participant education. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and includes discretionary services, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

David Torres is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at E*TRADE Securities LLC and TIAA-CREF. Outside of his advisory work, he owns an e-commerce business, GroovyCoconut, Inc. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm uses structured planning tools and investment modeling as part of its advisory process.

William Smith is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and four years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank. Before entering the financial industry, he operated the American Army Navy Store under Direct Uniform for six years. 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 provides both brokerage and advisory solutions, leveraging research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party data to support its investment approach.

Alec Acosta is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2017, following a prior role at Bbtis from 2013 to 2017. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Aaron Voss is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC since 2018. Prior to entering the financial industry, he was employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for twelve years. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing annual retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Sonje Moore is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. Previously, she has held roles at Wells Fargo Bank, Winston Salem State University, UPS, Berklee College of Music, and multiple high schools. She is also the owner of an apparel business called Currency of Heaven based in Westerville, Ohio. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and integrates research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources to support its investment approach.

Brent Cline is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been assisting clients since 2004. In his role, Brent helps clients manage their wealth to meet their individual needs by offering a comprehensive approach that begins with listening to each client's goals and priorities. He specializes in areas including education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Brent holds multiple professional designations, including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned his bachelor's degree from the Texas AandM University System. He lives in Cornelius, NC with his wife Tammy, where they are active members of Grace Covenant Church. Outside of his professional work, Brent enjoys baseball, football, golfing, hiking, spending time with family, and traveling.

Douglas Flannagan is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors and holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. He has 25 years of industry experience and has been with Wells Fargo Advisors in various capacities since 2011. Based in Charlotte, NC, he currently works at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo that serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning services and investment strategies, using proprietary research and planning tools to develop tailored client recommendations.

Christian Burns is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with eight years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2017 and previously worked six years at the United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina, Inc. He serves on the Development Committee of the Cornelius Arts Center, where he contributes to training board members on major gifts and may collaborate with board members on donor meetings. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a large network of financial advisors and branch offices. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and affiliated investment products under a fiduciary standard.

Jon Neely is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Outside of his advisory role, he contributes as a blogger providing information for boating enthusiasts and works as a ghostwriter for non-investment topics. Vanguard Advisers offers 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 approach using proprietary models to create personalized asset allocations and manages portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Colby Eckert is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked since 2019 with both Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and Jones Monk and Ranson LLC in an independent contractor capacity. Prior to his advisory roles, his background includes positions at Abercrombie and Fitch and Energy Corp of America. 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 investors. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and uses analytical tools to align investment strategies with client goals, supporting implementation through various advisory programs and partnerships.

Brian Benatovich is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Cetera in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Enterprise, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Bankers Life. He volunteers as a board member and financial committee member of the nonprofit Charlotte Curling Association, assisting with the club’s financial management. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and advisory services through a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party managers, supporting multiple program structures and custodial relationships.