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.

Katie Goforth is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Newton, North Carolina, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and having 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2004. Outside her advisory role, she is a member-owner of an LLC for investment property ownership. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with over $1 trillion in assets under management. The firm provides a range of investment advisory programs and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors.

David Wachter Jr. is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at MassMutual Life Insurance Co since 2016 and was previously with Metlife Securities Inc for eight years. Outside of his financial career, he serves as an independent pastor providing pulpit supply and engages in spiritual development projects, including authoring biblical commentary and leading faith trips to Israel. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering financial planning and asset management to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm structures planning as collaborative, annual engagements using firm-approved software, focusing on investment categories and strategies without discretionary authority.

Joshua Fulbright is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management in Claremont, North Carolina. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Thrivent, he worked in various roles including at Iconic Roofing and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive written recommendations on topics such as retirement and estate planning. The firm emphasizes holistic, goal-based analyses and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated option called WealthPlan.

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.

Kristofor Essex is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation for 13 years before joining Cambridge in 2021. Outside of his advisory role, Essex serves as president of an independent insurance agency. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals, utilizing a variety of portfolio management strategies and platform arrangements.

Robert Chester is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with 40 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior roles include seven years at Allstate Financial Advisors, LLC and over a decade operating The Chester Agency. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an insurance broker for Sentinel Health Solutions Inc., focusing on health and Medicare. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm uses detailed client data and analytical tools to deliver written recommendations within annual planning engagements, offering a range of event-driven and specialized planning programs.

Kimberly Bonini is a financial advisor at Merrill with seven years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Bank of America and Merrill since 2014. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Alexander Johnson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with six years of experience, currently affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. He has worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2019 and operates Capital Concepts Financial Group. Outside of advising, he is the owner and host of a podcast through BGP LLC. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals across wealth segments, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory services and investment solutions delivered by independent financial professionals with access to proprietary and third-party strategies.

Michael Klenck is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 32 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at VOYA Financial Advisors and Retirement Income Advisors, Inc. He also operates REH Wealth, a financial services business, and works as an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad client base including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a multi-manager platform supporting various investment strategies and program structures.

Susan Singleton is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 25 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2005. Singleton serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for St. Stephens High School Class of 84. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides retirement planning advice focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Ryan Hillary is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. in Mooresville, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2020, he worked at FS2 Investment Solutions, LLC for four years. He also serves as CEO of RTH Wealth Management LLC, a financial advisory support business. 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 employs analytical tools such as risk profiling and probability modeling, with unique offerings in municipal advisory and SIMPLE IRA employer consulting services.

Kaleb Covington is a financial advisor at Cetera with nine years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. Covington also sells life insurance, fixed annuities, and long-term care insurance as an insurance agent. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and retirement services, utilizing a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

Monika Moore is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Mooresville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2013 in various roles. 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 under management through a large network of advisors and branch offices, offering a range of investment strategies and affiliated products under a fiduciary standard.

William Dixon is a ChFC® with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2017. Prior to Edward Jones, he worked at Advisors Financial Group and ProEquities. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, operating under a fiduciary standard and maintaining a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Mitchell Sayers is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Hickory, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and having 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for one year before joining Ameriprise in 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he owns QC Somm LLC, a private sommelier and wine consulting business. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning through its Ameriprise Premier Retirement Income service. The firm’s approach combines proprietary investment research and algorithmic tools to provide ongoing, tax-aware retirement-income recommendations within a defined investment universe influenced by affiliated product relationships.

Michele Compton is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 30 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Edward Jones and J.W. Cole Financial. Since 2020, she has also been associated with Signature Wealth Group as a Senior Wealth Advisor. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary advisory services supported by advanced analytical tools and has a notable affiliation supporting municipal and public finance work.

Michael Gerken is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Newton, North Carolina, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Gerken Enterprises, LLC. Thrivent Investment Management serves individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients by providing Dedicated Planning Services that cover a range of financial topics through goal-based analyses. The firm offers these services as standalone or alongside managed accounts under a consolidated billing system called WealthPlan, without discretionary trading authority.

Matthew Starnes is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2019 and previously worked at SagePoint Financial. Starnes also operates Starnes Financial Group and has been a self-employed insurance agent since 2002. 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 other institutions. The firm offers various financial planning and asset management solutions, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies on discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Mark Teague is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2014. His prior roles include positions at Capital Guardian Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Clearing. He is also appointed as an authorized agent with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina to sell Medicare-related insurance products. 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, third-party asset management access, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive advisor tools and a broad spectrum of financial products.