Lisa Johnson is a financial advisor at Respire Wealth Management, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and has been involved with On The Mark Financial Services, Inc. since 1991 as a tax planner, CEO, and insurance agent. Respire Wealth Management provides fee-only financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm uses a fiduciary approach with tailored portfolios and offers services including investment management through a Schwab Institutional wrap program, retirement plan advisory, and educational workshops.

Erika Jensen is a financial advisor at Respire Wealth Management, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated for seven years before joining Respire in 2017. Respire Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and qualified retirement plans with fee-only financial planning and investment management. The firm offers customized investment programs through a wrap-fee platform, combining fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, and provides ERISA 3(21) plan advisory services alongside ongoing client education and financial wellness sessions.

Gary Lutes Jr. is a CFA® charterholder with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Tillman Hartley LLC since 2004. He holds a Series 65 license and works out of Candler, NC. Tillman Hartley LLC provides personalized financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm’s investment process is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and includes individualized Investment Policy Statements, model portfolios, and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Walter Hart is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Brevard, North Carolina, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked with multiple affiliated firms, including Members Trust Company and Secu Life Insurance Company, and serves as a Financial Advisory Services Specialist at State Employees' Credit Union. Outside of his advisory roles, Hart has musical income from occasional performances. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves North Carolina residents, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and financial planning. The firm focuses on long-term, goals-based advice using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs within a credit union ecosystem, with salaried advisors and predominantly non-discretionary assets.

Janet Galloway is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently with Integrated Advisors Network LLC. She has worked at several firms, including Merrill and SA Stone Investment Advisors, and is also the owner of B&B Strategic Management. Outside of her advisory role, she teaches Kaplan curriculum virtually, leads a nonprofit group providing information to those considering divorce, and serves as president of a nonprofit organization. Integrated Advisors Network is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and institutional plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services using a disciplined investment policy statement framework and a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and tactical strategies.

Colbie Dwiggins is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Credit Union Investment Services with two years of industry experience. She has held roles at Members Trust Company, SECU Brokerage Services, SECU Life Insurance Company, and State Employees' Credit Union. Outside of advising, she serves as a life insurance agent and trust representative within affiliated organizations. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning with a focus on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates as a salaried employee model under State Employees’ Credit Union and emphasizes client decision-making in investment implementation.

Kerry Keihn is a Certified Financial Planner™ with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Abacus Wealth Partners. Prior to joining Abacus in 2025, Keihn worked at Prime Capital Investment Advisors and Earth Equity Advisors, gaining experience in various advisory roles. Abacus Wealth Partners provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management services to individuals, families, and institutions. The firm employs a passive-oriented, asset-class investment approach with ESG screening options, and offers tailored portfolio management along with private fund investment opportunities through its Align Impact fund.

Mariah Dockery is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. She has been associated with multiple related firms, including Members Trust Company and Secu Life Insurance Company, since 2014 and has worked with State Employees’ Credit Union since 1999. Dockery also serves as a Financial Advisory Services Specialist for State Employees’ Credit Union. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves individual investors who are residents of North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and retirement and financial planning. The firm emphasizes a goals-based, long-term approach using primarily low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs, with investment representatives who are salaried employees of the parent credit union.

Wendolyn Forbes is a CFP® professional with 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with Advisory Services Network and has previously worked at Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo. Outside of her advisory role, she is an author of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, and serves on multiple nonprofit boards including Working Wheels, Haywood Chamber of Commerce, Haywood Vocational Opportunities, Haywood Community College Foundation, and Lake Logan Retreat Center. She also leads indoor cycling classes. Advisory Services Network serves individuals, families, corporations, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans through a network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consulting using a variety of strategies across asset classes, managing approximately $8.6 billion in client assets.

Paul Cathey is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Asheville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has worked with State Employees' Credit Union since 2002 and has concurrent roles with Secu Life Insurance Company and Members Trust Company. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm emphasizes low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs, fixed-income products, and a goals-based, long-term planning approach, with advisor representatives employed on a salaried basis.

Jack Bishop III is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and the owner of Bishop Financial Group, LLC. He previously spent ten years at Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory work, he is co-owner of Bishop Endeavors, LLC, an entity connected to his financial services business. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $210 billion in client assets. The firm offers a comprehensive adviser-support platform with various managed account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custodial services.

Lonnie Kerbs is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. based in Asheville, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 19 years of industry experience. He has worked with Bankers Life Advisory Services since 2018 and has been associated with related entities in the Bankers Life group since 2000. Outside of advisory services, he also sells non-variable insurance products as an insurance agent. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management and non-discretionary consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Sebastien Gruaz is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors, Inc., with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Valic, he held roles at AGIA and various healthcare organizations including United Surgical Partners International and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Sebastien is also appointed as an agent to sell non-securities insurance products for AGIA. Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer serving primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and discretionary unified managed accounts through a large network of advisors, leveraging centralized technology and model solutions.

Kathryn Beach is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Asheville, NC, with five years of industry experience. She previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors and On Track WNC before joining Mercer Global Advisors. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and related planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach, emphasizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and tax management, and offers a range of implementation options and affiliated service lines.

Cameron Bennett is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Waynesville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and five years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2022 and has been affiliated with NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company since 2020. Outside of his advisory role, Bennett serves as a board member for the AYSO youth soccer organization and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Theological Studies through Westminster Theological Seminary. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within the New York Life affiliate structure.

Eric Henry is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Asheville, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and nine years of industry experience. He has been with Bankers Life and its affiliated entities since 2004 and serves as a unit field trainer, recruiting and training new insurance agents. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. primarily serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and manages portfolios across a range of securities based on clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Madison Ramella is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with three years of industry experience. She is currently with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisers. Outside of finance, she has experience working with Flour Shop. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning as well as family office services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and utilizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts, implemented through ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, direct indexing, and other options.

David Werle is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience and is currently an advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., and Starks Financial Group. Werle serves as a director on the board of OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling, a nonprofit organization focused on financial education. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory services to individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments. The firm’s approach emphasizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios implemented with low-cost funds and incorporates specialized services such as retirement plan consulting and charitable advisory.

Jennifer Adams is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2022 and previously spent over two decades with Raymond James Financial Services. Outside of advisory roles, she has served as a Notary Public and was involved with Starks-Thomas Properties, LLC. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach that emphasizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and offers a range of implementation options alongside financial and estate planning services.

Rebecca Upton is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and Starks Financial Group. Outside of finance, she teaches piano lessons in Clyde, North Carolina. Mercer Global Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm utilizes a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios and offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services.