Christopher Settle is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones Investments before joining UBS in 2018. Outside of finance, he has participated as a rideshare driver for peer-to-peer transportation services. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a combination of brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs model-based asset allocations and proprietary research to tailor financial plans and manages a broad range of capital markets and wealth management activities.

Heather Brountas is a Wealth Management Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2021. In her role, she focuses on collaborating with clients to identify their core values and design financial strategies that align with their priorities. Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, Heather worked as a Project Manager for the Education Team at Alight Financial Solutions from 2020 to 2021. She also served as a Financial Advisor at Alight Financial Solutions from 2017 to 2020 and at Ameriprise Financial from 2014 to 2017, bringing extensive experience in financial advising and planning to her current work. Outside of her professional career, Heather enjoys activities such as art, spending time at the beach, cars, cooking and baking, family activities, and kayaking.

Nora Mankaryos is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 24 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Waddell & Reed, INC., various insurance carriers, and as founder of NMT1, LLC, a business entity for tax and investment purposes unrelated to advisory services. She also worked with Lake Forest Church from 2018 to 2021. 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 portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by research and operational tools.

Brian Blanchard is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor client plans.

James Jones is a financial advisor at Merrill with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Merrill since 1993, alongside a 15-year tenure at Bank of America, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a rental property in Chapel Hill, NC, which he leases to students at UNC. Merrill serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients by offering managed accounts, third-party manager selection, discretionary portfolio management, and brokerage services. The firm’s approach includes multiple program strategies and manager-constructed solutions, supported by oversight from its CIO and integration with Bank of America affiliates.

Edward Watson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Fort Mill, SC. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has 10 years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2026, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Sterling Capital Management and Distributors for a combined 24 years. 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 advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Paige Passerallo is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Charlotte, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses, and has 22 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill. Outside of her advisory work, she assists with a charitable organization, Our Little Roses Foreign Mission Society, supporting an annual fundraiser for at-risk girls in Honduras. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and nonprofit entities, offering financial planning, investment consulting, and specialized municipal advisory services.

Justin Long is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Charlotte, NC, bringing five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors in 2021, he worked at Positec Tool Corporation and Stabilus Inc. Outside of his advisory work, Long manages two residential rental properties as a sole proprietor. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset-management programs. The firm’s advisory approach involves assessing client risk tolerance and matching clients to program models or discretionary managers, often utilizing third-party asset management platforms and offering a variety of investment options including mutual funds, ETFs, and select alternative investments.

Jayne Hollifield is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides advisory programs to both individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and combines retail and institutional services with a variety of investment-related activities.

Nikhil Alkari is a financial advisor at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Randstad Consulting and held positions at MIHIN/Interoperability Institute, TenAgile LLC, Ally Bank, and Bank of America. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations, by providing financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs through a large network of financial professionals. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management across multiple platforms and maintains proprietary model strategies under the Founders Gate Capital brand.

Michael Ealey is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Mass Mutual Investors Services and MassMutual since 2004. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, offering collaborative, goal-oriented engagements that utilize firm-approved software and tools.

Chris Colasanti is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wachovia Securities in 2002. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as the program moderator and executive producer of a weekly business analysis program on PBS called Carolina Business Review. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics from Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Chris Pompey is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position he has held since 2022. He collaborates with clients to develop customized financial plans tailored to the unique needs of each client and their family. Prior to this role, Chris worked as a Financial Advisor at Alight Financial Solutions from 2013 to 2022. His experience encompasses personalized financial planning and client-focused advisory services. Outside of his professional career, Chris has interests in fitness, football, music as an instrumentalist, and running.

Kelly Lopez is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Fort Mill, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. Before joining LPL Financial in 2026, Lopez spent 19 years at Commonwealth Financial Network. 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 portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by advanced research tools and multiple non-advisory financial services.

Ronald Stephens is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial and Uvest Financial Services Group, Inc. since 2008. Outside of his advisory work, Stephens volunteers at the Carolina Raptor Center, where he cares for injured birds of prey. 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 advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by technology and a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Nathan Peck is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Fort Mill, SC, holding a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial, he worked in various roles including management positions at Swim Club Management and employment at Aldi and Great Wolf Lodge. 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 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive operational tools and oversight of significant discretionary assets.

Ryan Coole is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Fort Mill, SC, holding a Series 63 license and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked with Wheeler Retirement Plans LLC, Commonwealth Financial Network, and has been associated with Wheeler Associates since 2007. Outside of his advisory work, Coole is involved in athletic program management and coaching, including ownership and general management of a girls hockey team and serving as a coach developer for USA Hockey. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions and employs various operational tools, supporting over 22,900 advisors and managing substantial discretionary assets.

Christopher Austin is a Financial Advisor and Senior Portfolio Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he helps clients pursue their financial objectives by managing custom investment strategies and selecting from a wide range of Merrill Lynch model portfolios and third-party investment strategies. He works closely with individuals and families to build financial plans tailored to their goals. Chris holds the Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA) and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designations, and is also a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He focuses on areas such as retirement planning, tax-efficient investing, education planning, employee benefits planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, small business strategies, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from West Chester University. He is involved in professional organizations including the Charlotte Youth Professional Group and Levine Museum, and supports community initiatives such as Beds for Kids and the Carolina Youth Coalition. Outside of work, Chris enjoys basketball, cooking, football, golfing, music, pickleball, soccer, spending time with his family, traveling, and watching movies.

Brian Koehl is a financial advisor at Osaic Wealth with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has prior experience at Lincoln Financial Advisors and Sunamerica Capital Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is an insurance agent specializing in fixed annuities and owns an LLC focused on financial planning. Osaic Wealth serves both retail and institutional clients through a multi-advisor platform, offering brokerage and advisory services including comprehensive financial planning, managed portfolios, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supporting a variety of client-directed investment strategies.

Eric Prusinski is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with seven years of industry experience, currently associated with LPL Financial in Fort Mill, SC. His career includes roles at Your Dedicated Fiduciary, Commonwealth Financial Network, Brunette & Associates, and Capital Group. 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 portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive resources and technology.