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® 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 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 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 in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 13 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo in various capacities since 2011, including roles 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, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets with over 14,000 financial advisors and offers a combination of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party data.

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 the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Wells Fargo and Ameritel. She is also employed by The Vanguard Group, Inc., the parent company of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. 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 constructed from Vanguard funds and ETFs, offering a range of customization options and tax-aware features.

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.

Lexter Fennell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Concord, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth households, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

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 with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and seven years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Vanguard Marketing Corporation and The Vanguard Group, Inc., as well as positions related to George Washington's Mount Vernon and Franklin & Marshall College. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and eligible retirement plan participants. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach using proprietary models and offers a range of customizable portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

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.

Lee Willaford is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Prior to this, he worked at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC from 2013 to 2016. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 IPS-driven advisory process incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a broader set of financial product offerings, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options, than is typical for large institutional advisers.

Steven Sutton is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Thomas Atkinson, Waddell & Reed, and various insurance carriers. He has also been self-employed during part of his career. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Stephen Jesse is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has previously worked at firms including Cetera and CAP COM Federal Credit Union. His background also includes a marketing affiliate business from 2022 to 2023. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice through its Vanguard Digital Advisor and Vanguard Personal Advisor services, serving 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 primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Elizabeth Panos is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Wells Fargo in various capacities since 2015. 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 both brokerage and advisory solutions.