Stephen Collie is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill for the past 15 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a director on the Pass Perfect Executive Advisory Board and is active on a committee for Classroom Central, a nonprofit supporting teachers in Charlotte, 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions, implementing trading, account administration, and custody support.

Peyton Godbey is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at Equitable Advisors and Bank of America, N.A. He also coaches a girls soccer team at the Charlotte Soccer Academy. 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, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for a range of individual and institutional investors.

Patrick Duffy is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and 27 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Eaton Vance Distributors, TIAA-CREF, Pensionmark Financial Group, and Acrisure Investment Advisory. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as a dual-registered SEC investment adviser and broker-dealer, utilizing LPL-sponsored programs and various third-party managers to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.

David Monteith Jr. is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has spent the majority of his career at The Vanguard Group. 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 approach to asset allocation, managing portfolios primarily with Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Jacob Betz is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at Trinity Wealth Securities, Florida Financial Advisors, and Tristate Financial Advisors. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services mainly to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework to guide its recommendations.

Michael Crutchfield is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently with Vanguard Advisers. His prior roles include positions at TIAA and CUSO Financial Services. He holds active life, accident, health, and annuity licenses. Vanguard Advisers delivers automated and human-supported investment advice, primarily serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios mainly composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, supported by a large advisor team and scalable digital platform.

Christopher Ekstrom is a financial advisor at Merrill with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Merrill and Bank of America since 2020, following positions at Fifth Third Bank, Oneamerica Securities, and American United Life. Outside of his advisory role, he is a general partner and managing member of Lil & Clem Sales, LLC, assisting with administrative duties. 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, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Selena Abraham is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 27 years of industry experience. She has been with The Vanguard Group, Inc. since 1998. 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 approach, offering portfolios primarily constructed from Vanguard funds and ETFs with various customization options.

Carmen Hall is a financial advisor at Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise, she worked in various roles across different industries, including positions at Rover, Smiling Moose, and Hop and Barrel Brewing. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides tailored retirement planning advice focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Matthew Ayer is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 63 designation and beginning his industry experience in 2025. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Clearing, he worked at DYSIS and the Southeastern Bar. He also has experience in education and hospitality, including serving in the public school system and working at Showmars Restaurant. 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 with over 14,000 advisors and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Grace Cassada is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2026, she was involved in event planning with Monarch Event Planning and worked at Aqua Wave Express Car Wash. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including a broad range of households and organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers a variety of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

James Spillane is a financial advisor at Fisher Investments with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Fisher Investments since 2016. Fisher Investments serves a global mix of institutional and private clients, including pension plans, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals, offering discretionary portfolio management across equity, fixed-income, and blended mandates. The firm employs a centralized investment process that combines quantitative and qualitative research to construct globally diversified portfolios and incorporates tax-aware strategies and risk management techniques.

Robert Kidd III is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently working at Vanguard Advisers. His prior work history includes roles at TIAA-CREF, UBS Financial Services, E*TRADE Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. 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 using proprietary models to create personalized portfolios mainly composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, serving a large client base through a combination of digital platforms and advisor support.

Nathan Campbell is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has been with Vanguard since 2019 in various roles. Outside of his advisory work, he is a contracted driver for ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft. 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 using proprietary models to set personalized asset allocations, offering portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs with tax-aware and customization features.

Pierre Marquina is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and three years of industry experience. Before joining Vanguard Advisers in 2025, he was self-employed and owned a tattooing business. He has also worked with Vanguard Marketing Corporation and The Vanguard Group since 2022. Vanguard Advisers provides both automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, using a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm manages a large client base with over 2,200 advisors, combining digital delivery with team servicing.

Levanza Breeland is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 10 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Wells Fargo firms since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she owns TheConnectionClub.com, a travel-related business, and is a part-owner of 3-D Disco, a Greenville-based event planning venture. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm’s approach includes a broad range of financial products, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Michael Roeder is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers based in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Vanguard and its affiliated entities since 2026 and previously worked in roles at Sphera Solutions Inc and Environmental Resources Management. 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 mainly composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a range of customization options and tax-efficient features.

Alexian Gomberg is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with LPL Financial since 2014 and joined the LPL Enterprise team in 2024. 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 plan consulting, supported by model portfolios and research from internal and third-party sources.

Rita Bliven is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Kannapolis, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 15 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2020, she worked at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank. She is also involved in self-publishing. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Brent Tompkins is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and Digital Intelligence Systems LLC since 2021. Prior to that, he held roles at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Campus Recreation. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering investment policy development, performance reporting, participant education, and discretionary investment management grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm’s offerings include a broad range of financial products, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options, distinguishing it from many large institutional advisers.