William Fondo is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors based in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has less than one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he has worked with Ameriprise Financial in multiple periods and has held various roles outside the financial sector. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and nonprofit organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and third-party program sponsors.

Robert Mcgowan Jr. is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning services, including retirement income, portfolio management, and tax minimization strategies. His client focus encompasses college education planning, family wealth management strategies, employee financial health, legacy planning, and liquidity management. Robert holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has earned several professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). These credentials reflect his commitment to maintaining high standards of expertise and professionalism in financial advising. In his personal time, Robert enjoys various outdoor and recreational activities, such as boating, cooking, fishing, football, hunting, skiing, and surfing.

Kenneth Altman is a financial advisor with MassMutual Investors Services in Charlotte, NC, holding the ChFC®, Series 63, and Series 65 designations. He has 29 years of industry experience, including roles at MetLife Resources and MassMutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales and owns SRS Financial Group, LLC. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, structuring planning engagements as ongoing, collaborative relationships with a focus on written recommendations and a variety of event-driven planning services.

Joseph Murtagh Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Matthews, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. He has 54 years of industry experience, including long tenures at Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. and Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of The Dream Speaker Inc., a business entity focused on tax and investment matters. 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 financial planning and investment management solutions through a large network of advisors, utilizing a variety of model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies.

Gary Blount Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2018 and runs Gary Blount Jr. LLC, which he established in 2014. He also worked at Foresters Advisory Services and Foresters Financial Services over a combined period beginning in 2010. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services including financial planning, model portfolios, and institutional platforms, supporting over 22,800 advisors and overseeing more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

John Lipe is a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Robert Baird & Co. since 2013. He is part of The DDK Group, a team within Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management practice that serves individuals, families, pensions, corporations, and institutional clients. The group offers customized financial planning and portfolio management services using a range of strategies, including traditional and non-traditional investments, with both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches.

Sophie Lorenzo is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds a Series 66 designation. She has two years of industry experience, including roles at MassMutual Life Insurance Co and McLawhorn and Russel, PLLC. Prior to her financial services career, she worked in various positions including at UNC Chapel Hill and the NC Youth Conservation Corps. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers collaborative, annual financial planning engagements using firm-approved software and emphasizes event-driven planning programs such as divorce and estate-settlement planning.

Mason Hancock is an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments. In this role, he works directly with clients to develop tailored financial plans aimed at providing direction and security for their financial futures. He utilizes Fidelity's resources and expertise to support and educate clients throughout the financial planning process. Mason joined Fidelity Investments in 2024 as a Customer Relationship Advocate, progressed to the role of Investment Solutions Representative in 2025, and became an Investment Consultant in 2026. His experience within the company has equipped him with comprehensive knowledge of investment solutions and client relationship management. Outside of his professional career, Mason has personal interests that include cars, golf, outdoor adventures, running, and snowboarding.

Tim Bartolomeo is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Mass Mutual Investors Services and Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company since 2016. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, utilizing firm-approved software and collaborative annual planning engagements.

Christopher Castleman is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior career includes roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Primerica Advisors, Honeywell, and GE Aviation. Outside of his advisory work, he serves in the United States Navy Reserve, volunteers as a US Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officer, and coaches youth soccer. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a range of brokerage and investment advisory services, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management. The firm utilizes proprietary capital market assumptions, model-based asset allocations, and global research to tailor financial plans and portfolio management to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Charles Long is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining UBS in 2025, he worked at The Vanguard Group and has diverse experience including roles outside of finance. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing proprietary capital market assumptions and research to tailor financial plans and portfolio management strategies. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and offers a broad range of capital markets and advisory solutions.

Brian Parrish is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2010 and has been in the financial services industry since 1998. Brian follows a disciplined process that begins with taking time to fully understand each client's particular needs, concerns, and priorities. He offers access to Merrill's investment resources and Bank of America's banking services to help clients address various aspects of their financial lives. Brian's areas of expertise include college education planning, family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds a bachelor's degree in Applied Economics with a minor in Finance from East Carolina University. Additionally, he holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) professional designations. Brian lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife Jennifer and their three children. They spend much of their free time watching their children participate in various sports. Brian's personal interests include cooking, fishing, golfing, hunting, music, reading, and traveling.

John Moore is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, and BB&T Securities. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs to individuals and institutions, including tailored financial planning and management of approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm employs a structured planning process supported by firm-approved tools and offers both retail and institutional investment services.

Katie Scott is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Bank of America, N.A. and 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, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Evan Gould is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Bankers Life and Medi Weightloss Clinics. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a range of brokerage and investment advisory services, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management offerings supported by proprietary research and model-based asset allocation.

Cynthia Galvan is a financial advisor at Merrill with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Her prior experience includes roles at Fidelity Investments and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors before joining Merrill in 2021. 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 individual and institutional clients.

Charles Ibach IV is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 27 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Raymond James and its subsidiaries for over 18 years and is the owner and branch manager of Allen Wealth Advisors, as well as president of Ibach Allen Cornerstone, LLC, a satellite office he established to support his work across multiple locations. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using analytical tools and supports a broad network of advisors, with specialized services such as municipal advising and SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory programs.

Thomas Donahue is a CFP® and ChFC® with 33 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with LPL Financial and has held roles at The Pinnacle Financial Group and Commonwealth Financial Network, among others. Donahue is also the treasurer and part-owner of Elite Benefits Group, Inc., a company involved in fixed insurance sales. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that serves individual and institutional clients through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, and institutional platforms.

Cory Mc Cleaf is a financial advisor with LPL Financial holding a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. Before joining LPL Financial in 2026, he was with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. for one year. He is also involved with CrossFit Pineville, where he has been active since 2015. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, supported by extensive advisor tools and partnerships.

Archie Martin is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience, currently with Wells Fargo Advisors since 2021. He previously worked for Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2021. Martin serves as a board member of the Academy of Finance at Williams High School and is a finance committee member for the North Carolina Grand Lodge. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo that provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients, offering a broad range of planning options including retirement, education, risk, and wealth-transfer planning.