Alan Ponce Montes De Oca is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. His prior work experience includes roles at Coca Cola Consolidated, Allstate, and Amazon.com. 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 products, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Desmond Lawrence is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, with less than one year of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles at Merrill and Tesla, as well as a background as a professional athlete in the Canadian Football League, XFL, AAFL, and NFL. 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 supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

John Pilkington is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 21 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Vanguard Group since 2004 and previously worked at Manning & Napier Advisors. Pilkington serves as treasurer and board member of Belmont Trolley, a nonprofit community organization in Belmont, NC. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice through digital and personal advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and retirement plan participants. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach featuring proprietary asset allocation models and portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

William Wilmer Jr. is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 45 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and has worked at OSAIC since 2018, following a two-year tenure at Signator Investors, Inc. In addition to his advisory role, he owns a fixed insurance sales business operated as a sole proprietorship. OSAIC serves a broad range of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated financial advisers and multiple advisory platforms. The firm offers integrated brokerage and investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money managers, employing various asset-allocation tools and portfolio management strategies.

Grace Kellerman is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Vanguard, she worked at Stride Spin & Fitness in a non-investment role. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice primarily to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, utilizing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm is notable for its scale and digital delivery, managing a large number of client relationships with a team servicing model.

Nicole Mccoy is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. Her career includes nearly two decades at Wachovia Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Clearing. She works with Pinnacle Asset Management in a non-investment capacity, referring clients and collaborating with partners. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse clientele, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors. The firm uses analytical tools and tailored advisory programs, with notable offerings in municipal finance and SIMPLE IRA employer advisory services.

Marcus Johnson is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, SpreeSocial LLC, and TIAA-CREF. He is also the owner of Top Choice Group LLC, a for-profit holding company. 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 a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth families, and institutional investors.

Zackery Hawkins is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 10 years of industry experience and has been with The Vanguard Group, Inc. since 2015. Vanguard Advisers provides both automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary methodologies to construct portfolios primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a variety of customization and tax-aware features.

William Swink is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and eight years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank since 2019, following roles at Ameriprise Financial Services, Service 1st Mortgage, and other firms. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources to support portfolio construction.

Patricia Moore is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 1999. Outside of her advisory role, she holds power of attorney for a family trust. 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, and various institutional accounts.

Sean Ryan is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC since 2021 and previously worked at Wells Fargo from 2017 to 2021, as well as Lowe's from 2015 to 2017. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans 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 investment options that include insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Sean Olert is a financial advisor at Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2009. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Mike Madrid is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with eight years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2017 and previously served in the United States Military from 2013 to 2017 and briefly worked at Newell Brands in 2017. Based in Charlotte, NC, Madrid provides financial advisory services through Edward Jones. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management, serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated investment products, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Maxwell Clauss is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Cornelius, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2025. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he held roles at River Valley Co-op and various organizations including The Libby Museum of Natural History and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients by providing a range of advisory programs and tailored financial planning, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. Their approach includes structured discovery conversations and the use of firm-approved planning tools to model financial outcomes.

Jack Schulte is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. His career includes roles at various Vanguard entities since 2021, as well as previous positions outside the financial industry. Vanguard Advisers provides 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 with portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, delivering services at scale through a combination of digital platforms and a large advisory team.

James Clardy is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and previously worked at Bank of America, NA for eight years before joining Wells Fargo in 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for a family trust and is a member of the Membership Committee for the Construction Financial Management Association in Charlotte, NC. 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 modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Rebeca Lacayo is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and three years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo-related entities since 2012 and owns several small businesses, including a door installation company and an online retail shop, and she produces DIY videos on YouTube. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients by providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, supported by extensive research and analytics.

Donald Irwin is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors based in Charlotte, NC. He holds the Series 66 designation and has 22 years of industry experience, including sixteen years with Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a committee member for mental health services at Sanctuary Counseling Group and is involved in his local religious organization, St. Francis United Methodist Church. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals, providing a range of portfolio management solutions and model-based strategies tailored to client objectives.

Christopher Zehetmaier is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Gladstone Wealth Partners, LPL Financial, and GWN Securities Inc. before joining Equitable Advisors. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm utilizes a variety of third-party advisory models and offers services covering mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, alternative investments, and ERISA fiduciary services.

Samuel Pennell Jr. is a Wealth Management Advisor and co-founder of the 282 Group of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Charlotte, North Carolina. In his role, he partners with individuals, families, and institutions to develop strategies focused on helping clients pursue their long-term financial goals. He applies a comprehensive advisory approach that includes investment planning, risk management, and retirement readiness. Sam works with clients across the investment spectrum, providing guidance on portfolio construction, retirement income planning, liquidity solutions, and financial goal setting tailored to individual objectives. He holds the designations of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Sam earned his Bachelor's Degree from NC State University. Outside of his professional work, Sam spends time with his wife, Ashleigh, and their two children. They support the NC State Wolfpack, enjoy hiking, visit South Carolina's beaches, and he pursues his interest in music by attending live shows and record stores. He is also actively involved in the greater Charlotte community through his church and volunteer activities.