Top financial advisors working with faith-focused clients in Hickory, NC

Mark Teague is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2014. His prior roles include positions at Capital Guardian Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Clearing. He is also appointed as an authorized agent with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina to sell Medicare-related insurance products. 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, third-party asset management access, and institutional platforms, supported by extensive advisor tools and a broad spectrum of financial products.

Douglas Rongo is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. His work history includes multiple roles within Cambridge Investment Research entities and Millennium Investment and Retirement Advisors. He serves as treasurer for the Tarheel Chapter of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement advisory services through a network of independent Financial Professionals, utilizing a mix of proprietary and third-party model strategies tailored to client objectives.

Jackson Bell is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2021 and has prior experience including self-employment and roles outside the financial industry such as with Andy Popplin Basketball Camps and JEA Design. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, and affiliated financial products. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and operates a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Collin Carlton is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, based in Hickory, NC, and has four years of industry experience. He has worked at various Thrivent entities since 2021 and has prior experience at Appalachian State University and Lowe's Home Improvement. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an ambassador for Muller Choker, an outdoor company specializing in hunting and skeet shooting equipment. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, delivering holistic, goal-based financial analyses without discretionary trading authority. The firm offers integrated planning and managed-account services, emphasizing periodic plan reviews and a broad range of financial topics.

John Setzler is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. based in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has held roles at The Leaders Group Inc, LifeBridge, Premier Planning Group NC, LLC, and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp and Ameritas Investment Corp. Setzler is also president of Premier Planning Group NC, LLC and Optimus Life Designs, both involved in insurance business and client consulting. TLG Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors, offering investment supervisory services, financial and estate planning, ERISA fiduciary services, and a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios.

Kurt Supe is a financial advisor with Creative Financial Designs, Inc. in Kokomo, IN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been involved with Supe Culpepper Inc DBA Creative Financial Group and related entities since 2006, focusing on insurance, tax planning, and financial services. Outside of advisory work, Supe is involved in tax planning and preparation, online retail sales, and authoring tax-related content for Amazon. Creative Financial Designs serves individual clients, charitable organizations, corporate and business clients, and employer retirement plans with a range of investment management and financial planning services. The firm uses a model-driven investment approach informed by third-party research and offers various strategies including Biblical Responsible Investing, with flexible billing and execution options.

Owen Freel is a financial advisor at Christy Capital Management, Inc. in Macon, GA, holding a Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. He has been with Christy Capital Management since 2018 and previously worked for Fountain Car Wash from 2016 to 2018. Christy Capital Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plans by providing investment advisory, wealth management, financial planning, and related services. The firm uses a client profile and risk-tolerance questionnaire to tailor recommendations and implements discretionary management through a subadvisor program, offering values- or faith-based model portfolios managed by EverSource Wealth Advisors.

Benjamin Nunn is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Values First Advisors, Inc. since 2014. In addition to his advisory role, he is licensed to sell insurance and may receive commissions on insurance product sales. Values First Advisors, Inc. is an independent SEC-registered firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs Biblically Responsible Investing principles and uses long-term equity and fixed-income strategies, managing approximately $215 million for nearly 1,000 clients through a team of seven advisors.

Robert Barber is a financial advisor with Christian Financial Advisors in New Braunfels, TX, holding a Series 63 license and bringing 32 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cetera Advisor Networks LLC and Girard Securities, Inc. He is also the author of a book titled *7 Pillars of Biblical Stewardship*. Christian Financial Advisors is a team of five advisors managing approximately $187.7 million, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and broker/dealers. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services, employing a long-term, customized investment approach that incorporates a Biblically Responsible Investing overlay.

Andrew Halbrook is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked for the City of Ruston for nine years. Outside of his advisory role, he co-manages a family-owned LLC involved in rental property. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a range of investment strategies and advisory services supported by a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.