Ryan Bogert is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has less than one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, DYSIS, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and LPL Financial. 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 individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Amanda Rachau is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Pfs Investments Inc. since 2010 and involvement with Pfs University from 2012 to 2018. She also engages in sales of investment-related products and receives compensation for referrals of home security, automation, and loan products through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and discretionary separately managed account options. The firm curates third-party asset managers and utilizes a tiered wrap-fee structure, focusing on personalized portfolio management rather than institutional pension or profit-sharing plan services.

Sherman Spears is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has held positions at Wells Fargo Bank and United Parcel Service and served in the United States Army. Spears has approximately one year of experience in the financial advisory industry. 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 roughly $671 billion in assets and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.

Maegan Citron is a financial advisor at Fidelity with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at several firms including Fidelity Investments, E*TRADE, and The Vanguard Group. Prior to her advisory career, she held various roles including positions outside finance. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company where she works, provides investment management and advisory services to a variety of clients including retail and institutional investors. The firm combines fundamental research with quantitative and algorithmic portfolio construction to deliver model portfolios composed of mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Haynes Owen is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with Vanguard in various capacities since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at UNC Charlotte and a parking management company. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, utilizing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with personalized asset allocations and a broad range of customization options.

Joseph Parsons is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and has been with The Vanguard Group since 2016. Vanguard Advisers provides 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 with portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering various customization options and managing a large client base through its digital platform.

Craig Selimotic Danforth is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Alliance Bernstein and Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, operating a multi-manager platform with various program options and custodial relationships.

Joshua Peters is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with four years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2021 and previously held positions at Flexential and Time Warner Cable. He is based in Gastonia, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies under a fiduciary standard.

Patty Hanna is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she is a notary public and also works as a retail sales associate. 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.

Keith Johnson is a financial advisor at Merrill with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Merrill since 2004 and Bank of America since 2010. Based in Charlotte, NC, his career includes extensive experience within these firms. 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 for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Donald Bartol is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Ellison, Kibler & Associates (Merrill Lynch) since 2022 and previously was employed by The Vanguard Group, Inc. outside of the advisory field. 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 strategies supported by internal and third-party managers for a range of individual and institutional clients.

Mary Gaul is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 63 designation with 17 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Merrill and The Vanguard Group. 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 a broader set of financial product offerings than typical institutional advisers.

Robert Swartz is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with four years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. He previously worked at UBS and has experience in academic roles at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Chapel Hill. 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.

Douglas Towsey, CRPC™, serves as a Managing Director and Wealth Management Advisor in the Naperville/Lisle office of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. With over 32 years of experience in the finance industry, his career spans roles as a wealth management advisor, corporate executive, and professor. He focuses on providing clients with a comprehensive wealth management strategy tailored to their unique financial situations and goals. His approach emphasizes five key principles: financial guidance, legacy implementation, estate coordination, risk management, and tax minimization strategies. Doug holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Indiana University and an MBA from Northwestern University. In addition to his advisory role, he teaches evening finance classes at DePaul University. His professional designations include Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Doug and his team prioritize building ongoing relationships with clients to adapt strategies in response to changing needs and market conditions. Outside of his professional life, Doug is involved in community service through organizations such as United Way and Feed My Starving People. He resides in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife Jennifer and their two children, Grace and Ben. His personal interests include golfing, hiking, music, reading, soccer, softball, tennis, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with his family.

Jorey Blake is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at firms including Bank of America, Merrill, Charles Schwab, and Albert Corporation. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to both retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios, and is noted for its role in fund advisory, model portfolio delivery, and its use of AI and algorithmic methods in investment research.

James Sherrill IV is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Dallas, NC, with six years at the firm and a total of four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Edward Jones, Sherrill worked in the consumer service industry, including a role at Pressure Washing Plus. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Shawn Polk is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Nuveen Asset Management, Nuveen Securities, CI Logistics, and TIAA. 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 a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.

Luca Ayotte is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and began his career in the financial industry in 2022 after working in several other sectors. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2026, he worked at Wells Fargo Bank, Home Depot, Village Inn Pizza, and McCombs Steel. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm with over 14,000 financial advisors and approximately $671 billion in assets under management. The firm offers investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a range of brokerage and advisory solutions to individual, corporate, and institutional clients.

Sean Blatcher is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he worked at BlackHawk Industrial and has experience in healthcare and hospitality sectors. 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.

Karla Hicks is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving at Vanguard Advisers. Her prior roles include work with Vanguard Marketing Corporation and THE Vanguard Group, Inc., alongside experience as a home healthcare worker. 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 investment approach utilizing proprietary models to create personalized portfolios largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.