Chris Gruin

Michael Bookhardt is the sole advisor at Affluence Advisory LLC in Mount Holly, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with two years of industry experience. His background includes a year at The Vanguard Group and over 20 years as managing member of a construction business. Affluence Advisory LLC provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, businesses, trusts, foundations, and charitable entities. The firm uses passive, low-cost mutual funds and ETFs with asset-allocation strategies based on modern portfolio theory, focusing on long-term equity investments and fixed-income allocations with regular rebalancing and tax-aware adjustments.

Joseph Leonard is a financial advisor with Leonard Wealth Management, LLC in Lincolnton, NC, holding a Series 63 license and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at AE Wealth Management, Foundation For Financial Education, Formula Folio Investments, and Retirement Wealth Advisors. Outside of advising, he provides trumpet lessons and performances through his Cain Leonard Trumpet Studio and offers adult education on retirement planning. Leonard Wealth Management, LLC is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, charities, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning, hourly consulting, estate-settlement assistance, and discretionary portfolio management, using a combination of model portfolios, third-party advisors, and various portfolio construction techniques.

Matthew Kale is the sole advisor at Extraordinary Kale LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has one year of experience in the financial advisory industry and has prior work experience at Goodwill Catholic Media and PETSMART. Outside of his advisory role, he maintains an executive position with Goodwill Catholic Media. Extraordinary Kale LLC provides advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporations, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan rollover advice. The firm combines hourly-billed financial planning and consulting with active portfolio management, using a primarily value-oriented, long-term approach alongside tactical and strategic asset-allocation techniques.

John Zarinsky is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed advisor with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with SafeBridge LLC since 2016, including a prior tenure at AE Wealth Management, LLC, and Horter Investment Management, LLC. Zarinsky is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities but does not receive commissions from their sale. SafeBridge primarily serves individuals and families near or in retirement, focusing on retirement income planning, tax-aware advice, and discretionary investment management. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio construction using low-cost index ETFs and high-quality fixed income, integrating tax planning and optional tax-return preparation.

Bre Ann Weaver is a financial advisor at Gragg Financial with a Series 65 designation and has been in the industry since 2024. Prior to joining Gragg Financial, she worked at Truist Bank for 11 years. Gragg Financial provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporations. The firm employs a value-driven investment philosophy focused on undervalued companies with strong fundamentals and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside tax and accounting services.

Jason Gragg is a financial advisor at Gragg Financial with eight years of industry experience. He holds the PFS™ designation and Series 65 license. Prior to his current role, he worked at CPS Investment Advisors from 2017 to 2025. Gragg Financial provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporations. The firm follows a value-driven investment philosophy and combines its advisory services with Certified Public Accounting, offering income tax and accounting services alongside investment management.