Joseph Neal is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience. He is currently with Wells Fargo Clearing, where he has worked since 2016. Prior to that, he held positions at Raymond James Financial from 2008 to 2016 and Merrill from 2004 to 2008. 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 offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Lacey Beam is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Davidson, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2019, she worked at HomeTrust Bank for two years and spent four years in homemaking. Outside of her advisory work, Beam owns and operates Lacey Cakes & Beam Photography, a business specializing in baking and family portrait photography. 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 integrates research and analytics to offer diversified investment solutions and distributes various financial products through affiliated banks and insurance entities.

Steve Englebert Jr. is a financial advisor specializing in trust and wealth management. With over 23 years of experience as a trust officer, he offers clients a perspective on preserving, insulating, and passing along wealth in a tax-efficient manner. His client base includes business owners, younger couples accumulating wealth, individuals nearing retirement, and retirees across the United States. Steve focuses on helping clients clarify their financial goals by discussing short- and long-term plans, family responsibilities, alignment with other advisors such as CPAs and attorneys, legacy considerations including wills and trusts, and assessing assets and liabilities to minimize debt and enhance cash flow. His approach aims to support clients in making informed decisions that reflect their values and visions for the future. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Campbell University in Trust & Wealth Management and holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Steve is active in his community through volunteering with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont, United Way of Iredell County, and the Iredell Council on Aging, and is a member of Rotary Club of Statesville. He enjoys spending time with his wife Katherine and their three daughters, engaging in activities such as hiking and camping.

Benjamin Johnson is a CFP® professional with 15 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. and previously worked at Edward Jones for 14 years. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in agricultural activities through a family limited partnership. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm utilizes risk profiling and analytical tools to tailor non-discretionary planning and supports municipal and public-finance work through a unique affiliation, along with specialized programs like SIMPLE IRA Employer Advisory & Consulting Services.

Ryan Bloom is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. He holds the CFP® designation and has 19 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Edward Jones, Cenacle Partners, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. Bloom is also a board member and head of the finance committee for The Christian Mission, a nonprofit organization. Raymond James provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and institutions. The firm offers non-discretionary planning tailored to client goals using risk profiling and modeling tools, and supports municipal and public finance work through a unique affiliation with a municipal advisor.

Kurt Engelhardt is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank, TIAA-CREF, and PNC Investments. Kurt is also a commissioned notary in Mooresville. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions through a large network of advisors, offering a range of financial planning, portfolio management, and institutional services.

Ethan Buysse is affiliated with Wells Fargo Clearing and holds a Series 66 designation. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2021 and has prior experience at Domino’s, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale Club. Outside of his advisory role, he works as a delivery driver for Amazon Flex and a rideshare driver for Uber. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary services, including investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, and participant education, with an advisory process grounded in modern portfolio theory.

Angela Childers is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Merrill from 2001 to 2020 before joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2020. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary investment services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with an expanded investment menu that includes insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Bryan Stanfill is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 39 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and is licensed with Series 63, 65, and 66. Prior to joining OSAIC in 2024, he spent 22 years at Triad Advisors, Inc. He is president of Financial Strategies of Lake Norman Inc., a family business focused on retirement and estate planning, asset protection, and tax planning. OSAIC Wealth serves a broad range of retail and institutional clients through a multi-advisor platform offering brokerage and advisory services, including comprehensive financial planning and various managed portfolio programs. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization supported by risk tolerance and rebalancing tools.

Brandon Whelan is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience, currently with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC since 2022. He previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley from 2018 to 2022, and at LPL Financial from 2016 to 2018. 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 combines research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute with third-party analytics to support its investment solutions.

Jay Malick is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and bringing 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include long-term positions at Bank of America and Merrill as well as work as a self-employed author and lecturer. He is also currently affiliated with Costco. Mass Mutual Investors Services operates as a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers, offering financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars.

Gregory Powell is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management with experience beginning in 2026. Prior to joining Thrivent, he worked in motorsports, including positions at Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering one-time or ongoing financial planning without discretionary trading authority. The firm focuses on holistic, goal-based analyses and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan.”

Chase Weichman is the Vice President and Executive Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2023. He works closely with executive clients to optimize their benefits and develop comprehensive wealth planning strategies across multiple areas. Chase has been with Fidelity Investments since 2019, progressing through roles including Workplace Planning Consultant and Benefits Planning Consultant. Prior to that, he was a Financial Professional at AXA Advisors from 2017 to 2019. He holds a California Insurance License to support his work. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Chase engages in camping, fitness, football, social events with friends, and traveling.

Michael Sowers is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Davidson, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wachovia Securities, Inc. in 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is a 25% owner of a rental business in Hickory, NC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering 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 provides a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party data.

Jackson Webber is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2025. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, he worked at The Vanguard Group for four years and held brief roles at New York Life and as a self-employed advisor. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to a broad client base including individuals, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers a combination of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Steven Harder is a CFP® professional with 23 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with LPL Financial and also has a role at United Federal Credit Union. His prior work includes positions at The Vanguard Group, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Merrill, and TIAA-CREF. 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 provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to model portfolios and third-party asset managers.

Brennan Settle is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He has held positions at Fidelity Investments since 2022. Outside of finance, he has experience working with the Boys and Girls Club of America and has been involved in hospitality and recreation businesses. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and a Charitable Gift Fund. The firm combines proprietary fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage diversified model portfolios.

Phillip Contacos is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 35 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for 10 years before joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2026. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing investment and fee-based financial planning services, offering a broad range of planning options that address various client needs. The firm integrates advisory services with other financial product sales and referral channels, utilizing proprietary research and planning tools to tailor recommendations.

Nicolas Gilliam is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise since 2006 and manages practice operations as COO of Brightstead Management LLC. Outside of finance, he is also engaged in art through a side business called Creative Dimensions. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning through its Premier Retirement Income service, which emphasizes dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Jesse Burns is a Financial Consultant currently working at Fidelity, a position he has held since 2026. He has accumulated extensive experience in financial advisory and investment management roles, including previous positions as an Investment Management Consultant I, II, and III at Fidelity Investments from 2021 to 2026. Prior to that, Jesse worked as a Financial Advisor at PNC from 2019 to 2021 and as a Private Client Banker at Chase from 2017 to 2019. He began his career in the financial services industry as a Retirement Service Representative at Charles Schwab from 2016 to 2017. Jesse's approach to financial planning emphasizes tailoring strategies to meet individual client needs and fostering understanding and comfort throughout the process. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys boating, camping, football, golf, and traveling.