Matthew Sykes is a financial advisor at Credit Union Investment Services with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked in roles at SECU Brokerage Services, SECU Life Insurance Company, and State Employees' Credit Union since 2024. Outside of finance, he is involved in a family painting business. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves North Carolina residents with goals-based, non-discretionary financial advice focused on mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed income products. The firm operates within a credit-union ecosystem and emphasizes long-term investment horizons using low-cost index funds and planning software to assist clients.

Jordan Williams is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. in Weaverville, NC, and has one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at HomeTrust Bank and NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients by providing customized advisory services, financial planning, and access to alternative investments. The firm operates a hybrid adviser and broker-dealer structure and emphasizes delegated investment analysis and client-controlled transaction authority.

Bruce Shay is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Empower, he worked at Deloitte & Touche LLP for 23 years. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as certain IRA and retail brokerage clients, using an integrated model aligned with Empower’s administrative platforms.

James Gentry Jr Jr is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2012. In addition to his advisory role, he manages Freedom Odyssey LLC, a real estate holding entity related to his branch office building. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, with a broad range of advisory programs and affiliated financial services supported by a nationwide network of approximately 23,701 financial advisors.

Emily Rider is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2026, she held roles at Rowan County, Paul L Dunbar Group, and worked as self-employed, as well as positions in education with Manhattan Elite Prep and Rowan-Salisbury Schools. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of managed solutions, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds under a fiduciary standard. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets with a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Geddings Crawford Jr. is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Janney Montgomery Scott for 12 years before joining Raymond James in 2024. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm uses analytical tools such as risk profiling and probability modeling to tailor non-discretionary investment consulting and supports its clients through various advisory programs and institutional consulting services.

Phillip Smelser is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and more than 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. since 2008 and has worked with The Householder Group since 2004. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as treasurer for St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Burnsville, NC, teaches retirement classes, and is training to become a Professional Barbell Coach. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and trusts, providing financial planning, investment management, retirement plan advisory, and financial wellness services. The firm offers a range of investment solutions through independent financial professionals, utilizing various custody platforms and both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Richard Trouillot is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm’s advisory process is driven by investment policy statements and includes a broad range of financial product options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

David Hartman is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving clients at Edward Jones in Weaverville, NC. He has been with Edward Jones since 2008. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Thomas Perkins Jr. is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Spruce Pine, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2018 and previously worked at Verizon Wireless from 2015 to 2018. 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 under management and offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions through a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Howard Kobrin is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary investment advisory solutions. The firm’s process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options in its investment offerings.

Harry Crosby III is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Spruce Pine, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2003. Outside of his advisory role, Crosby serves as an assistant cross country coach for Avery County Schools during the fall season. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of over 23,700 advisors, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, affiliated mutual funds, and tax-efficient services under a fiduciary standard.

Kenneth Howell is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Burnsville, North Carolina, holding a Series 66 credential with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2025, he worked at North Carolina Farm Bureau and co-owned a restaurant business for over a decade. He also owned a management company related to his previous business, which is in the process of dissolution. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, and affiliated investment options. The firm is notable for its extensive advisor network, retail footprint, and additional capabilities including a trust company and securities-based lending.

Richard Schooley Jr. is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 31 years of industry experience. He has been a managing partner at Dogwood Wealth Advisors since 2014 and has previously been involved with Big Water Properties. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner at Coolsville Farms, where he oversees forestry activities. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using risk profiling and analytical modeling and supports a broad advisor network with specialized municipal advisory and employer consulting programs.

Shane Ellingson is a financial advisor at Cetera with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including Avantax Advisory Services and Raymond James & Associates. Outside of his advisory role, he is the managing member of an RV park operating business. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various investment strategies through a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

William Boughton is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 28 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. He serves as a board member for Helping At Risk Kids (HARK) in Asheville, a nonprofit supporting abused and neglected children, and is president of the Weaverville Business Association as well as vice president of the Wolf Ridges Property Owners Association. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.