Reid Whitehurst is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016, with a career beginning at Wachovia Bank, N.A. in 2007. 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 based on modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Kyle Potenski is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Bank of America, Merrill, UBS Financial Services, and Empower Advisory Group. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, focusing on collaborative, goal-based planning using firm-approved analytical tools.

Stephanie Kahl is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated since 2005. Kahl serves as a board member of the Wingate University Alumni Advisory Board, where she advises on alumni engagement and participates in guest speaking and event activities. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts.

William Johnson is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Fort Mill, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial, he worked at W&S Life and W&S Brokerage, and has a background that includes roles at Fastenal and Lincoln County EMS. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary management, model portfolios, and retirement plan consulting.

Charles Wixson is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, as well as work with the University of Georgia and the Office of Senator John McCain. He also has experience in the hospitality sector, having worked at two different pubs. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs focused on tailored financial planning using structured discovery conversations and firm-approved tools, managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Ryan Emmons is a financial advisor at Merrill with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at UBS Financial Services Inc. for 11 years before joining Merrill in 2026. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations using model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party teams.

Jason Wilson is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cetera and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC since 2023 and was previously with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 12 years. He is also the owner of JT Wilson Capital Management, a financial services business. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base that includes individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with various portfolio management options, servicing over 800,000 clients through more than 10,000 advisors.

Mark Rindner is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in Charlotte. Since beginning his financial advisory career in July 2015, Mark has served clients as a Sole Practitioner and now as a Senior Financial Advisor. He focuses on managing liquidity, liability, and risk to support families, individuals, and businesses in pursuing their long-term financial goals based on their specific needs and risk tolerance. His client expertise areas include divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, socially responsible investing, tax minimization, and retirement income. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the State University of New York at Farmingdale, an Associate's Degree from New York City College of Technology, and a High School Diploma from The Beekman School. He has earned several professional designations, including Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Prior to his career in financial advising, Mark worked as a mechanical inspector focused on fire safety and life safety in New York City schools. Mark and his wife Stephanie live in Ballantyne with their daughter Samantha. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, billiards, boating, cooking, scuba diving, skiing, swimming, traveling, and spending time with family. He is also actively involved in community events, including school reading and math programs, reflecting his commitment to serving and supporting the communities in which he works and lives.

Anne Wilson is a financial advisor with Merrill in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill since 2026. Her prior experience includes roles in various industries such as landscaping, realty, and parks and recreation. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Matthew Eberwein is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he collaborates with clients to develop personalized strategies aimed at achieving their financial goals. His role involves guiding clients through various financial planning needs, including retirement planning, investment management, and navigating significant life changes. Matthew began his career at Fidelity Investments in 2022 and has held multiple positions within the company, progressing from Workplace Planning Associate to his current role as Financial Consultant. This progression reflects his experience in workplace planning and client consulting within the financial services industry.

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.

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.

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.