Jean Alden is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor with 18 years of experience, serving clients through Liberated Investor Advisors, LLC since 2008. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual clients, including both high-net-worth and non-HNW investors. Liberated Investor Advisors utilizes model portfolios and third-party money managers to implement investment strategies focused on diversification and long-term purchase approaches across ETFs, mutual funds, and individual stocks. The firm operates as a small, single-advisor practice, with Jean Alden directly managing client relationships.

Douglas Alden is a financial advisor with Liberated Investor Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Liberated Investor Advisors since 2007 and also holds roles at Winning Point Advisors, L.L.C. and Efficient Advisors, LLC. Alden is president of Alden Agency, Inc., an independent insurance agency selling life and disability products. Liberated Investor Advisors, LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individual clients, including both high-net-worth and non-HNW investors. The firm primarily uses model portfolios and third-party money managers, focusing on diversification and long-term investment strategies across ETFs, mutual funds, and individual stocks.

Frank Cooper III is a financial advisor with Grand Central Investment Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Grand Central Investment Group since 2014 and previously worked at Grand Central Group, LLC from 2015 to 2017. Grand Central Investment Group offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a top-down investment approach with a dividend-focused equity framework and integrates fixed income, exchange-traded products, and alternative investments, tailoring advice to each client’s objectives and constraints.

Dustin Poteat is a financial advisor with Gradient Advisors, LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has one year of industry experience and a background that includes roles at Crane Resistoflex and Premier Insurance Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a consultant in operations and analytics for a manufacturing firm. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm operates primarily through third-party money managers and Investment Advisor Representatives, utilizing a largely non-discretionary model and multiple analytical approaches to support client portfolios.

Ryan West is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has seven years of industry experience, including roles at Members Trust Company and State Employees' Credit Union. Outside of his financial career, West serves as a financial assistant at East Marion Baptist Church, managing accounts payable, budgeting, and bank reconciliation. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm focuses on recommending low-cost, mostly index-based mutual funds and ETFs, fixed-income products, and supports a goals-based, long-term planning approach.

Catherine Zieman is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience, currently serving at Advisory Services Network since 2019. Her prior roles include positions at Field Point Private and Neuberger Berman LLC. Outside of her advisory work, she is the managing partner of High Pointe International Equestrian Tours, a travel agency she operates as a hobby. Advisory Services Network serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporations, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, investment and retirement-plan consulting, and third-party manager selection through a network of independent advisers.

Boyd Phillips II is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Marion, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies since 2007 and has maintained concurrent roles with Nylife Securities LLC, New York Life Insurance Co, and Phillips Financial Group, LLC since 2006. Outside of advisory work, Phillips owns and operates a seedling plant business and participates in several local boards, including the McDowell County Schools board and the Mission Hospital McDowell oversight board. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives and emphasizes non-discretionary asset management within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Catherine Morris Nink is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Phillips Financial Group LLC, Nylife Securities LLC, and Pharo Management, Inc. She has an ownership interest in a rental property outside of her advisory work. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors, with a focus on tailored recommendations and mostly non-discretionary asset management.

James Engelman Jr. is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Transamerica Life Insurance Company and American United Life. His experience also includes a background outside of finance at Quality Care Transmission & Auto. 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 and offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies through a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Rodney Kirkner is a financial advisor with LPL Financial who holds a Series 63 designation and has 45 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Grove Point Advisors LLC, Grove Point Investments, LLC, and Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in non-variable insurance sales. 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, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches.

James Boles is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Marion, NC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. He has seven years of industry experience, including five years at Enterprise Holdings before joining Edward Jones in 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers with WMIT Blue Ridge Broadcasting, assisting with event setup and engaging with attendees. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including various types of households and organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets across a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors and offers a range of advisory programs with discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Michael Daye is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James since 2007 and also serves as an operations manager and financial advisor at Joe Davis Financial Associates, LLC. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using analytical tools and supports advisory programs through a large network of advisors.

Daniel Steinberg is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 29 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves both individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning through its Financial Advisors and Estate Planning Strategies Group. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and uses a structured planning process that incorporates firm-approved tools and modeling techniques.

Joseph Davis III is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial in Marion, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James Financial since 2009 and with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. since 2006. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates Superior Storage And Moving, a local storage unit business. 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, pension plans, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers non-discretionary planning and consulting tailored to client goals using analytical tools, and supports municipal and public finance work, along with specialized advisory programs.

Juan Suarez is a financial advisor with Edelman Financial Engines, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Edelman Financial Engines since 2024 and previously held roles at Rocket Mortgage, Portfolio Medics, LLC, LPL Financial, AXA Advisors, and other firms. Outside of financial advising, he owns a mattress sales business in Marion, NC. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm employs a committee-driven modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, offering diversified portfolios and both discretionary and non-discretionary management across a large client base.