Kimberly Speer is a financial advisor at Merrill with 16 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has been with Merrill since 2012. 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 serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party managers.

Jason Martin is a Wealth Management Advisor with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He began his career managing and instructing a martial arts school in the Charlotte area, which became one of the top-rated schools in North America, before transitioning to financial advisory services in 2000. Since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Jason has focused on assisting individuals, families, and businesses in achieving their financial goals through comprehensive wealth planning. Jason holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Finance from the University of North Carolina Charlotte and is certified as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). His areas of client expertise include corporate executive services, executive compensation, defined benefit plans, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, tax minimization, and retirement income. Residing in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Jason lives with his wife and two children. Outside of his professional work, he maintains an active lifestyle enjoying adventure sports, biking, hiking, football, and traveling. He continues to practice martial arts, holding a Fifth Degree Black Belt in Shorinji Kempo and a First Degree Black Belt in Arnis, and is engaged with several professional organizations.

Gardner Taylor is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at AML Rightsource and Cola Wealth Advisors. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a blend of proprietary fundamental research and quantitative analysis to construct model portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs. The firm also operates as a commodity pool operator and serves in advisory roles for multiple registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Eli Beisser is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers based in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Strategic Wealth Capital and has experience at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University as well as Financial Designs. 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 investment approach using proprietary models and constructs portfolios mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Audra Almeida is a financial advisor at Merrill with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Merrill since 2010. 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, and institutional investors.

Garrett Sutton is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and with 10 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at TIAA and TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services. 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, utilizing research and analytics to support diversified portfolio construction.

Shaun Arnold is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing who holds a Series 66 designation and has 21 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Ally Invest Securities, Mass Mutual Investors Services, Securities America Advisors, TD Ameritrade, and Wells Fargo Investments. He is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 provides both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Craig Doyon is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Vanguard Advisers since 2014. He holds a Series 63 designation and is based in Charlotte, NC. He is employed by The Vanguard Group, Inc., the parent company of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. 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 largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, with a focus on scalable digital delivery and tax-aware features.

Lorenzo Lemise is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers. His prior work includes roles at Merrill Lynch and positions at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Vanguard Advisers offers both automated and human-supported investment advice through its Digital Advisor and Personal Advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach with portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, supporting customization options such as ESG and tax-aware strategies.

Rene Eisele is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including TIAA and Valic Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is the President and Founder of The Lovis Foundation, a nonprofit focused on supporting young people in the disability community, first responders, and others. Vanguard Advisers delivers automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach to construct portfolios primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs, managing a large client base through its digital platform and extensive advisor team.

Eric Williford is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and over 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Cetera and its affiliate Cetera Wealth Services, LLC since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president and treasurer of Williford Financial Services, a financial advisory business that also offers fixed insurance products including life, long-term care, and annuities. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered firm that supports a nationwide network of independent advisors serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management and planning services through multiple program structures and third-party manager options, with over $256 billion in assets under management.

Sarah Hayes is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Vanguard, she worked at Amazon Logistics and Paul Mitchell the School Charlotte. Vanguard Advisers offers 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 tailor asset allocations, focusing on portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs with various tax-aware and customization features.

Christopher Macino is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Ameriprise and American Enterprise Investment Services, he worked at Stryker Corporation for several years in various roles. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for individuals nearing or in retirement who meet certain asset thresholds, delivering detailed recommendation reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm uses a combination of research, modeling, and algorithmic automation to generate personalized advice, supported by a centralized consulting team.

Steven Politowski is a financial advisor at Merrill with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Merrill since 2014, except for a brief period in 2017. 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 a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Winston Smith is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and possessing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Vanguard Advisers since 2019 and has held roles at other Vanguard entities since 2013. He also serves as a limited agent for his spouse in an investment-related capacity. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its Vanguard Digital Advisor and Personal Advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach, constructing portfolios largely from Vanguard funds and ETFs with options for tax-aware management and customization.

Alessia Lynch is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and with two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at TIAA, Republic Finance, and JP Morgan Chase. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Graham Whittle is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and five years of industry experience. He has been with Vanguard Advisers since 2022 and also works as a private football coach with CoachUp, Inc. outside of his advisory role. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans by providing automated and human-supported investment advice. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, supported by a large team of advisors and a digital delivery platform.

Sara Wynkoop is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, with three years of industry experience. Her prior work history includes positions at Randstad, KBR, Inc., and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and eligible participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary models to tailor asset allocations, primarily utilizing Vanguard funds and ETFs, and manages a high volume of client relationships through its digital delivery platform.

Scott Watson is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with The Vanguard Group since 2013 and holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Based in Charlotte, NC, his current role is within one of the largest advisory firms in the industry. Vanguard Advisers offers investment advice through both automated and human-supported services, primarily serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach and manages portfolios using primarily Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Jarrett Sparks is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Vanguard and TIAA-CREF. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and employer-sponsored retirement plan participants through a combination of automated and human-supported investment advice. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary models and primarily invests in Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a range of customization options including tax-aware strategies and ESG exposures.