Matthew Armendaris is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at West Financial Services, Inc., Ameritas Investment Corp, Incisive Financial Group, and Business Benefits Group. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm combines a committee-driven proprietary modeling process with planner delivery and online tools, offering diversified model portfolios, discretionary and non-discretionary management, and operates as a fiduciary under ERISA and DOL guidelines.

Julie Stout is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with six years of industry experience. She is currently with LPL Financial and has previously worked at FTB Advisors and Park Sterling Bank. Stout also serves as a senior vice president at First Horizon Bank. 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 broad range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Violeta Emmanuel is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 22 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill for 16 years and The Vanguard Group for seven years. She is also the owner of Innerarity Enterprise, an LLC. 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 written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Drue Garrison is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 25 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Mass Mutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Company since 2001. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in individual life insurance sales. 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 offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, with planning engagements structured as collaborative annual relationships.

Kelly Hughes is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2017 and was previously with Voya Financial Advisors from 2014 to 2016. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional investors, offering advisory programs that provide portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services. The firm customizes investment strategies based on clients’ risk profiles and utilizes both in-house and third-party managers to implement portfolios.

Ryan Byrns is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he has been involved in entrepreneurial activities, including operating Club West Brewing, LLC. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, with a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that offers written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement-income planning advice focused on dependable income and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Christopher Hess is a CFP® professional at LPL Financial with 32 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2025, he spent 26 years at Ryan Hess Morais Financial Advisors, Inc. He has also worked with Ic Advisory Services Inc and The Investment Center Inc. Hess engages in insurance sales, including life, long-term care, disability, and health insurance. 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 financial planning and investment management services, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies, supported by technology tools for advisors.

Michael Claiborne is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Raymond James & Associates. Prior to this role, he worked at Equitable and spent several years with the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Raymond James & Associates is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and consulting with a non-discretionary approach supported by extensive research and multiple portfolio management styles.

David Prewette is a financial advisor with Cetera in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Center Street Advisors and Arete Wealth Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a real estate company he uses for family property and occasional referral fees, and is involved in providing brokerage and advisory services through his own DBA. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform enabling advisors to implement a variety of model portfolios, bespoke strategies, and program options across discretionary and non-discretionary accounts, managing over $256 billion in assets through a nationwide network of more than 10,000 advisors.

Jiaihdi Turner is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 designations and 16 years of industry experience. Jiaihdi has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Outside of financial advising, Jiaihdi works as a package handler for FedEx. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm offers both brokerage and advisory solutions and manages approximately $671 billion in assets through a large network of financial advisors.

Richard Freckleton is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Fort Mill, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Carillon Fund Distributors, Prudential Annuities Distributors, Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Trinity College. 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 financial planning and portfolio management services supported by both proprietary and third-party strategies, serving a network of over 22,800 advisors and overseeing more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Ryan Lindberg is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Charlotte, NC, with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at firms including The Vanguard Group, Linden Thomas and Company Securities LLC, and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory roles, he has experience with Noble Coffee Roasters. 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 and serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Tracy Gates is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 18 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Robert W. Baird since 2018, with prior roles at Johnson Bank and INVEST Financial Corp. Robert W. Baird’s DDK Group serves individuals, corporate and business clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory services including financial planning, portfolio management through separately managed accounts, and custody and brokerage services, supported by in-house research and various investment strategies.

David Peay is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has prior work experience at CarMax and FedEx Express. LPL Financial is a national broker‑dealer and SEC‑registered investment adviser that serves 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 tools and oversight of over $819 billion in discretionary assets.

William Sullivan is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and 49 Financial. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence. The firm applies an ESG eligibility framework and offers recommendations limited to internally approved funds and strategies.

Danny Lopez is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2019 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Bank of America. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies managed by internal and third-party teams for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Chad Ary is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 21 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2009 and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. 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 provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives, offering financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Jasmine Mason is a financial advisor at Merrill in Charlotte, NC, with 19 years at the firm and 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Outside of her advisory role, Mason is the general partner and managing member of Bare Scentials LLC, a candle and craft business. 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 institutions.

Todd Rose is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Securities America Advisors, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and TCA Financial Group. Outside of advising, he works as a background actor and serves as an international visitor liaison. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory services including financial planning, model portfolios, and institutional platforms, with advice delivered by investment adviser representatives who may use proprietary research and third-party strategies.

Kyle Shanaberger is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank since 2017, following a year at PNC Investments. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment solutions supported by centralized custody and operational infrastructure.