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 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Vanguard-affiliated entities since 2016. Parker is based in Charlotte, NC. 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, and it manages a large client base through a combination of digital platforms and advisor teams.

Brian Kincaid is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with seven years of industry experience, currently serving clients at Edward Jones in Harrisburg, NC. Before joining Edward Jones in 2019, 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, including pension plans and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Amy Murray is a financial advisor at Merrill with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Her prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Holston Medical Group, and Novant Health. 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.

David Nifong is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 25 years of industry experience, including prior roles at LPL Financial, Independent Advisor Alliance, and Wells Fargo Clearing. He serves as president of an architecture committee in Bryson City, NC. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension plans, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary management through multiple platforms and maintains proprietary model strategies under the Founders Gate Capital brand.

Emily Saunders is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Rett Rutland State Farm and in educational roles within Clover and Rock Hill School Districts. 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 approach using proprietary models to create personalized asset allocations, with portfolios largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Tracee Pearson is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan and Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in 2025, she had brief tenure at Morgan Stanley in 2023. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting within a non-discretionary advisory program.

Emma Tokay is a CFP® professional affiliated with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, with 13 years of industry experience. She has worked with Vanguard Marketing Corporation and The Vanguard Group since 2013 and is currently involved with Black Wrangell, where she hosts and responds to guest inquiries. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans through a combination of automated and human-supported investment advice. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach using proprietary methodologies to set personalized asset allocations, offering a wide range of portfolios primarily constructed from Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Chirag Patel is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously with First Clearing starting in 2013. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap‑fee programs, 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 supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third parties.

Robert Koppenhofer is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James since 2012. Koppenhofer also works as an associate at Williamson Wealth Group. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and investment consulting using detailed analytical tools and supports municipal and public-finance work through unique affiliations.

Kimberly Ann Loughlin is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as executor and power of attorney for her parents. 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.

Richard Ruckart is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 63 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Appalachian State University, Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, and Red Onion Cafe. 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.

Katlin Moran is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has been with Wells Fargo Bank NA since 2011 and Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

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).

Olga Guin is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a co-trustee of a private trust entity. 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 both model-based and discretionary investment strategies for a range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Zoe Howard is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with four years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Vanguard marketing Corporation, The Vanguard Group, Inc., Wells Fargo, and other firms. Her current role is based in Charlotte, NC. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans by providing automated and human-supported investment advice. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach to create personalized asset allocations, primarily utilizing Vanguard funds and ETFs, with options for tax-aware strategies and portfolio customization.

Melissa McGrath is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 23 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Provenance Wealth Advisors, Raymond James Financial Services, Financial Resources Group, LPL Financial, and AXA Advisors. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, providing detailed written recommendation reports that incorporate income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines algorithmic automation with personalized review to deliver these recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Ashley Alexander is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at The Vanguard Group since 2017. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of Alexanders BBQ LLC, a restaurant based in Charlotte, NC. 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 approach to asset allocation, utilizing proprietary models and offering portfolios largely composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Michael Morette is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials with seven years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Vanguard Marketing Corporation, The Vanguard Group, and positions related to George Washington's Mount Vernon and Franklin & Marshall College. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its digital and personal advisor services, serving retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach primarily using Vanguard funds and ETFs, supported by a large advisor team alongside a scalable digital platform.

Michael Ruland is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works with individuals, families, and businesses to pursue their short-, mid-, and long-term financial objectives by developing custom financial and retirement plans supported by active investment and risk management strategies. He focuses on building deep relationships based on trust and transparency to create tailored solutions that address clients’ retirement planning, business exit planning, portfolio diversification, cash flow management, and tax considerations. Michael’s areas of expertise include college education planning, equity compensation services, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. He collaborates with Bank of America specialists to provide clients with access to banking, credit, home financing, and small business solutions as needed, ensuring comprehensive financial guidance aligned with each client’s goals. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina System and has earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designations. Michael is bilingual in Spanish and English. Outside of work, he enjoys boating, fishing, golfing, reading, running, spending time with his family, and traveling.