R Stikeleather is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and has been with Bank of America since 2000. He transitioned to financial services after a ten-year career in law enforcement and has accumulated over twenty-four years of experience in the financial industry. His role focuses on developing individualized financial strategies that address comprehensive financial well-being, including asset allocation, education funding, retirement savings, insurance analysis, debt management, and leveraging banking resources to simplify clients' financial lives. Stikeleather completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and previously attended the United States Air Force Academy. He holds several professional designations, including Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA), Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA), and others. His expertise emphasizes working with affluent clients to align portfolio management with their risk tolerance and financial objectives through access to Merrill's Investment Advisory Program. He resides in the greater Charlotte area with his wife, and they have three adult children and three grandchildren. Stikeleather is involved with professional organizations such as Back Creek ARP Church, Bonclarken Conference Center, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Athletic Foundation. His community involvement includes work with Forgotten Children Ministries in Honduras. Personal interests include adventure sports, golfing, scuba diving, skydiving, spending time with family, tennis, and yoga.

Nicholas Mason is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving clients at Edward Jones since 2014. Based in Charlotte, NC, he holds the Series 66 license and has spent his entire advisory career with Edward Jones. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm provides a range of advisory solutions, including discretionary and nondiscretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Jacklyn Hernandez Moran is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. Her work history includes multiple roles at Charles Schwab and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved as a consultant promoting clean wellness products through Arbonne. Charles Schwab serves a large client base primarily composed of 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 combines non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts, offering multi-asset model portfolios and alternative investment options.

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 financial advisor at LPL Financial with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at FTB Advisors and Park Sterling Bank. Stout is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by proprietary and third-party research.

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.

Derrick Gullett is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with The Vanguard Group since 2006. Vanguard Advisers provides 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, utilizing proprietary models and primarily Vanguard funds and ETFs to construct personalized 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.

Ryan Sherba is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. He has worked with various entities within the Vanguard organization since 2021 and has prior experience outside the financial sector, including roles at Lowe's and Leslie's Pool Supplies. 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 investment approach with proprietary methodologies and offers a range of customizable portfolios largely constructed from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Christopher Hess is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding the CFP® designation and securities registrations Series 63 and Series 65. He has 32 years of industry experience, including 26 years at Ryan Hess Morais Financial Advisors, Inc., where he also engaged in fixed insurance sales. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by extensive research and technology.

Michael Claiborne is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he worked with the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement plan support, and access to asset management through various third-party programs. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model, utilizing multiple asset managers and offering both advisory and brokerage services.

Ryan Sullivan is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Us Tech Solutions and Wells Fargo Clearing Services since 2022. Outside of finance, he worked as a microphone assistant for NBC Sports Group Events during the 2022 President's Cup. 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 a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Matthew King is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers. His background includes roles at The Vanguard Group, Inc. and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, along with prior experience in the U.S. Air Force and various other positions. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its Vanguard Digital Advisor and Vanguard Personal Advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach and manages a large client base using a combination of proprietary models and Vanguard funds.

Nathan Hearns is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, based in Charlotte, NC, and has 21 years of industry experience. He has worked with Vanguard Advisers since 2014 and has been associated with various Vanguard entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he was involved with No Mess Dumpsters from 2022 to 2025. 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 to construct portfolios largely from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering various customization and tax-aware features.

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.

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.

William Sullivan is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. He has held positions at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank since 2022, with prior experience at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and 49 Financial. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework to support customized investment solutions.