Thomas Freisen is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience, currently practicing at LPL Financial in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, RHI General Group, and Triton Financial Planning Group. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a broad network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting services, utilizing model portfolios and research from both internal and third-party sources.

Philip Suggs is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and six years of industry experience. His career includes over two decades at OneMain Financial and his current tenure at The Vanguard Group beginning in 2020. Vanguard Advisers combines automated and human-supported investment advice to serve retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach that employs proprietary methodologies to personalize asset allocations, primarily utilizing Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Ryan Leaf is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at UBS Financial Services, Merrill, and Bank of America. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA 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 notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Christopher Overby is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, he worked at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life, following a decade-long career at T-Mobile. 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 employs over 14,000 financial advisors, offering brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

William Windley is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member on the finance committee for the Warlick Family YMCA in Gastonia, NC. 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, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

James Liddington is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Gladstone Wealth Partners, LPL Financial, and Northwestern Mutual Investment Services. Vanguard Advisers offers both automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a proprietary, goal-based, algorithm-driven approach to portfolio construction, primarily utilizing Vanguard funds and ETFs, and manages a large client base through its digital platform and extensive advisor team.

Richard Sterling is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He assists clients by focusing on what truly matters in their financial lives, providing guidance on a range of topics including tax-efficient investment strategies, retirement income, estate planning coordination, insurance evaluation, and lending options. Richard emphasizes building evolving financial plans tailored to clients' unique circumstances, family priorities, and market conditions. He specializes in areas such as college education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, LGBT wealth planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Richard is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the University of North Carolina System. Outside of his professional work, Richard enjoys basketball, biking, cooking, football, hiking, music, skiing, soccer, spending time with his family, and watching movies. He is a member of the Metrolina Business Council and participates in community activities such as the 24 Hours of Booty event.

Brian Schroeder is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC. He has been affiliated with The Vanguard Group since 2008 and concurrently holds a role at Interface Promotions since 2009. Vanguard Advisers offers both automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach, primarily constructing portfolios from Vanguard funds and ETFs while providing tax-aware features and customization options.

Carolyn Weaver is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently working with Vanguard Advisers since 2021. Prior to joining Vanguard, she spent six years at Aventus Investment Advisors, Inc. She holds fiduciary roles including power of attorney and trustee for immediate family members. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm combines goal-based, algorithm-driven portfolio construction with a large-scale digital platform, managing extensive client relationships through more than 2,400 advisors.

Bobby Saunders Jr. is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has a background that includes 11 years of service in the U.S. Army, followed by roles at GoHealth and the U.S. Census Bureau. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in project management through Ocupacion LLC, where he contributes to big picture planning. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates a broad range of financial product options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Dana Gooch is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2019, Dana worked at Wells Fargo Bank NA for 23 years. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Amy Matthews is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Lincolnton, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked for Lincoln County Schools for 12 years before joining Edward Jones in 2025. Edward Jones is a wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Ryan Lee is a CFP® with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently serving as an advisor at Vanguard Advisers since 2014. He has been affiliated with The Vanguard Group and its related entities since 2000. Outside of his advisory role, he works as a contract driver for a delivery service. 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 approach to portfolio construction, utilizing proprietary models and predominantly Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Brandon Mainz is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior work includes roles at Pfs Investments Inc, automotive sales positions, and as a driver for Uber. He also has involvement in sales of loan products and home-related services through Primerica affiliates. Primerica Advisors manages a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients. The firm uses model-delivery investment strategies managed by third parties and supports accounts through Pershing custody and BNY Mellon Advisors.

Steven Reich is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has prior experience with Avantax Investment Services Inc. and Independent Tax & Financial Planners, PC. Outside of finance, Reich has been involved with the LSAA Basketball Association. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice primarily 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, combining digital delivery with a team servicing model to manage a large client base efficiently.

Curtis Ackerly is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Vanguard Advisers since 2017. Prior to joining Vanguard, he held positions at Ruby Tuesday, the University of South Carolina, and the Moore School of Business. Curtis is also involved as an agent for a family business outside of his advisory role. 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 investment approach and manages portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Blake Mathews is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Deutsche Bank and The Vanguard Group, Inc. prior to his current role. 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 and manages portfolios using mostly Vanguard funds and ETFs, combining digital delivery with personalized service across a broad client base.

Stephen Wang is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Huntersville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and WELLS FARGO Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is a business owner of Without Limit Inc., a non-investment related enterprise. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing model portfolios and research from multiple sources to provide both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Andrew Cheshire is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2022, he spent 16 years at The Vanguard Group. Outside of his advisory role, he works part-time as a sales clerk at a retail store in Matthews, North Carolina. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. The firm’s IPS-driven advisory process incorporates modern portfolio theory and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary services, including investment policy statement preparation, performance reporting, participant education, and plan benchmarking.

Michael Lewis is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has been with The Vanguard Group since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of HTM Development, LLC. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its digital and personal advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach with portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, supported by a large advisor team and advanced digital platform.