Jacqueline Salazar is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. Before joining Merrill, she worked at Todd Greene CPA PLLC Accountants and held roles at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College, Michaels Stores, and Ardrey Kell High School. Merrill provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, serving a broad client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries. The firm offers a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies integrated within Bank of America’s broader corporate platform.

Jose Holguin is a financial advisor at Merrill based in Charlotte, NC, holding the Series 66 designation with six years of industry experience. He has worked with Bank of America and Merrill since 2014. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies to a broad client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts. The firm integrates its investment services within Bank of America’s wider corporate platform, providing access to a range of products including swaps, derivatives, and lending.

Diego Ferradas is an advisor at Vanguard Advisers with a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Vanguard, he engaged in various self-employed roles and operated Diego A. Ferradas Photography LLC. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice through its digital and personal advisor services, primarily serving retail investors and employer-sponsored retirement plan participants. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach using proprietary methodologies and constructs portfolios mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Nasera Kaouss is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Raymond James & Associates is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $500 billion in assets with over 5,400 financial advisors. The firm offers wealth advisory planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and government entities, delivering non-discretionary advice supported by a broad affiliate network and specialized municipal finance capabilities.

Ryan Lopez is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked at Brooks International and the University of Alabama. Lopez is based in Charlotte, NC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs focused on tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and advanced modeling tools.

Michael Lutz is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Vanguard and its affiliated entities since 2021, following roles at TD Ameritrade and loanDepot. 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 create personalized portfolios, which are largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

William Giddens is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Tucson, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. His career has been primarily with Wells Fargo entity affiliates since 2011. He has a 50% ownership interest in Wing Management, LLC, an investment-related business based in Tucson. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services. The firm’s approach is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options in its investment menu.

Micah Cooke is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been in the financial industry since 2021, previously working seven years at Red Lobster. 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 both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Andrew Parker is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Vanguard entities since 2016, including roles at Vanguard Marketing Corporation and The Vanguard Group. Parker is based in Charlotte, NC. Vanguard Advisers offers automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and eligible employer-sponsored retirement plan participants. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with proprietary methodologies to construct portfolios mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, combining digital delivery with personalized service.

Brian Kincaid is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving at Edward Jones since 2019. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc from 2015 to 2019. 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 and is known for its extensive network of financial advisors and branch offices, offering a range of advisory programs and affiliated investment products.

Amy Murray is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Merrill and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, as well as positions with Holston Medical Group and Novant Health. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors. The firm integrates investment management with Bank of America's broader platform, including access to lending, custody, and trading services.

David Nifong is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial and Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC for nine years each. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of an architecture committee in Bryson City, NC. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent professionals, providing tailored strategies across multiple custody and platform options.

Emily Saunders is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers based in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and began her advisory career in 2025 following prior roles in education and insurance. She maintains life and accident & health insurance licenses. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and retirement plan participants, using a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach and primarily Vanguard funds and ETFs. The firm is notable for its scale and digital delivery, managing a large client base with over 2,300 advisors.

Tracee Pearson is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. She previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. outside of her current role. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with additional market-facing registrations, delivering recommendations on a non-discretionary basis while clients retain final decision-making authority.

Emma Tokay is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Vanguard Advisers. She has been associated with The Vanguard Group and Vanguard Marketing Corporation since 2013 and also works with Black Wrangell. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved as a host responding to guest inquiries for Black Wrangell. Vanguard Advisers delivers automated and human-supported investment advice primarily to retail investors and retirement plan participants. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios built mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering various customization and tax-aware features.

Chirag Patel is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 10 years of industry experience. He has worked with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and was previously associated with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and First Clearing. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary advice. The firm’s IPS-driven approach incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a range of investment options such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Robert Koppenhofer is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., where he has worked since 2012, accumulating 13 years of industry experience. He is based in Cornelius, NC. Outside of his advisory role, Koppenhofer is involved in managing rental real estate properties. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary financial planning and investment consulting, offering tailored recommendations supported by firm research and a broad affiliate network.

Kimberly Ann Loughlin is a financial advisor at Merrill with 34 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Merrill since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as executor and holds power of attorney for her parents. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through its Select Portfolio Solutions program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries.

Katlin Moran is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and with 12 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Bank NA. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and brokerage solutions. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and utilizes research and analytics to support diversified investment strategies.

Matthew Alexander is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and has been with The Rutherford Group since 2018. In his role, he helps clients create and track strategies toward financial success. Prior to joining The Rutherford Group, Alexander specialized in retirement income planning, partnering with financial advisors to provide income and protection solutions through MetLife Investors and Brighthouse Financial. Alexander holds a Bachelor's Degree from Appalachian State University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. He takes a holistic approach when working with clients to create, execute, and monitor wealth management plans. His areas of expertise include employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, and retirement income. Outside of his professional duties, Alexander has personal interests such as boating, camping, football, golfing, music, pickleball, skiing, tennis, and spending time with his family. He has also served as a former board member of the Appalachian State University Alumni Board (Charlotte Chapter).