Michael Ray is an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments. He serves as an advisor and foundational point of contact for clients seeking to build trusted relationships. Michael prioritizes understanding clients' goals to develop tailored financial plans and investment strategies aimed at pursuing their lifelong objectives. He has held multiple roles at Fidelity Investments, including Workplace Planning Associate in 2024, Workplace Planning Consultant I from 2024 to 2025, and Workplace Planning Consultant II from 2025 to 2026. This progression reflects his growing expertise in workplace planning and investment consultation. Outside of his professional work, Michael has interests in fitness, food, football, golf, lake activities, and traveling.

Douglas Richmond is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 52 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously spent 27 years with Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation. Richmond is also engaged as an insurance agent offering accident, health, disability, and life insurance products. OSAIC is a large wealth management firm serving retail and institutional clients through a multi-advisor platform, providing brokerage and advisory services. Its investment approach centers on model-based asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and a variety of managed account programs supported by risk analysis and rebalancing tools.

Sheri Lofton is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Merrill, based in Raleigh, NC, and has 18 years of industry experience. She has worked at Merrill since 2008 and concurrently at Bank of America, N.A. since 2011. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program to Bank of America fiduciary clients. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Robert Alger is a CFP® with 26 years of experience in financial advising. He is associated with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. and has operated his own firm, Alger Financial, since 2012. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse clientele including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting using risk profiling and analytical tools, and supports both wrap-fee advisory programs and institutional portfolio management.

Derek Oliphant is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fortright Capital, Equitable Advisors, and Forney Financial Solutions. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, offering non-discretionary asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting supported by centralized due diligence and a manager solutions team.

Susan Ledford is a financial advisor at Merrill with 37 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has been with Merrill since 1989, also working at Bank of America since 2011. 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.

Kevin Cecil is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2007 and previously spent five years with PRUCO Securities, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Cecil is involved in fixed insurance and annuity sales under contracts with multiple insurance companies. 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 variety of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Michael Morrison is a CFP® professional at Edelman Financial Engines with seven years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Fidelity Investments, Northwestern Mutual, and Empower Advisory Group. He is based in Fuquay-Varina, NC. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and institutional clients. The firm employs a committee-driven modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary advice with a focus on diversified portfolios and long-term investment strategies.

Heather Green is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 10 years of industry experience. Her prior firms include Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc and SunTrust Advisory Services. She is also commissioned as a North Carolina Notary Public. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor client solutions.

Todd Gaertner is Vice President and Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2021. He has been with Fidelity since 2007, progressing through multiple positions including Financial Consultant, Investment Consultant, Financial Representative, and Retirement Investment Services. His career in financial services dates back to 1993, with experience in stock brokering and trading at various firms such as First Hanover Securities, M S Farrell, M H Meyerson, Schwab Capital Markets, and Cummins Financial. Throughout his career, Todd has worked extensively in financial consulting, investment consulting, and retirement investment services, leveraging a comprehensive background in trading and market making. He collaborates with clients to develop personalized financial plans aimed at aligning with their needs and long-term goals while enhancing clarity and confidence in their financial decisions.

Antoinette Russell is a financial advisor at Fidelity with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Lenovo, Greene Resources, Abrigo, ArchiveSocial, and Best Buy. Outside of advising, she operates an e-commerce business with Amway Vitality Essentials and participates as an Amazon Associate. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Joseph Vicars is a financial advisor with Merrill in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 45 years of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. since 2011. 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 for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Dwight Carson is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with seven years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2019 and previously worked at Royal Oaks Homes, a division of Mattamy Homes, from 2016 to 2019. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth households, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Stephen Reed is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2015. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a range of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor client plans.

Adam Simpson is a financial advisor at Thrivent Investment Management in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent since 2021. Prior to his financial advisory role, he worked at Riverwood Elementary from 2014 to 2021. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on comprehensive goal-based analyses and written recommendations across various financial planning topics. The firm offers these planning services separately from its managed-account program, with an emphasis on periodic reviews and client engagement.

Brian Reynolds is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Osaic since 2025. He spent 25 years at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp prior to joining Osaic. Reynolds is a board member of the Be The Rainbow Foundation in Apex, NC, which supports pediatric cancer families, and he also participates in his church’s finance committee. Osaic Wealth serves a broad mix of retail and institutional clients, offering brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform. The firm emphasizes model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization and supports a diverse range of investment programs, retirement plan consulting, and alternative investments.

Wendy Palladino is a CFP® professional with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. She is based in Chapel Hill, NC. 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.

Michael Austin is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at UBS Financial Services and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of finance, he has experience working with Students and Trucks Inc., an organization unrelated to investment services. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs with customizable investment strategies, utilizing both internal and external managers to meet client objectives.

Joseph Megaloudis is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Bank NA. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research and analytics to guide investment decisions.

Bradley Sears is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 30 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Pinnacle Financial Partners, Raymond James Financial Services, and Wells Fargo. Sears is also involved as an associate employee with Anchor Wealth Advisors and Pinnacle Asset Management, where he contributes to client relationship building and regional management. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions, including model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.