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 a financial advisor with Extraordinary Kale LLC, holding a Series 65 designation. He is based in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Outside of his advisory role, he maintains an unrelated executive position in a separate business. Extraordinary Kale LLC provides advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan rollover advice. The firm uses a primarily value-oriented, long-term investment approach combined with tactical and strategic allocation techniques, incorporating fundamental and technical analysis as well as derivative strategies when appropriate.

Mark Coffey is the sole advisor at Hickory Financial Group, LLC in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 32 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Avenir Private Advisors LLC and Kovack Securities Inc. Outside of advisory work, he owns a duck hunting guide service and a marine construction company. Hickory Financial Group is an independent investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm primarily employs an equity-oriented strategy using sector- and factor-weighted ETFs and individual stocks, combining fundamental and technical analysis with ongoing portfolio monitoring and rebalancing.

Michael Loeb is a financial advisor at Argosy Investors with eight years of industry experience and a Series 65 credential. He has worked at several firms, including Magnolia Wash Holdings, von Drehle Corporation, Ally Financial, and Broyhill Asset Management. Outside of advisory work, he serves as M&A Director for Whistle Express, a privately held car wash company. Argosy Investors provides discretionary investment management through separately managed accounts, focusing on a value-oriented strategy with a bottom-up fundamental analysis approach. The firm typically manages a concentrated portfolio aimed at long-term growth and special-situation opportunities, serving qualifying individuals and entities.

John Zarinsky is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at SafeBridge LLC since 2016. His prior roles include positions at Horter Investment Management, LLC and AE Wealth Management, LLC, as well as running Zarinsky Wealth Management. He holds a license to sell life insurance and annuities but does not receive commissions from these products. SafeBridge primarily serves individuals and families nearing or in retirement, focusing on retirement income planning and tax-aware advice. The firm employs a long-term, retirement-oriented investment approach using low-cost broad-market index ETFs and high-quality fixed income, with integrated tax planning and optional tax-return preparation as part of its services.

Brittney Miller is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Thayer Financial, L.L.C. She has worked at multiple firms including Bragg Financial Advisors Inc and RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Miller holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Thayer Financial serves individuals, charitable organizations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm emphasizes goal-aligned portfolios with a long-term focus and offers educational seminars alongside integrated ancillary services such as tax preparation and estate-document assistance.

James Deporre is a financial advisor at Hammerhead Financial Strategies, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Hammerhead since 2021. He is also president of Shark Investing, Inc., which operates a subscription-based website offering daily stock market articles and related content. Hammerhead Financial Strategies is a discretionary registered investment adviser serving primarily high-net-worth individuals and family offices. The firm employs an active, opportunistic investment approach using proprietary trading methodologies focused on higher-volatility equities, ETFs, and tactical asset allocation.

I’m Deaton Smith and I am the founder of Thayer Financial, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, a West Point graduate and OEF Veteran. I named Thayer Financial after the founding father of West Point because I envision my company as something bigger than me. It embodies the same values and principles of my time at West Point and in the Army: Duty, Honor, Integrity, and Loyalty. These values are at the very core of everything I do and stand for. The existing business model is drowning in a sea of “trust me” salespeople all riddled with major conflicts of interest and complicated financial products that pay exorbitant commissions. This is why I created my own firm. My values and beliefs did not line up with any of these major firms and I knew that there had to be a better way to serve my clients. That’s why I launched a fee-only Registered Investment Adviser that is legally obligated to work as a fiduciary 100% of the time. I don’t accept commissions, referral fees, kickbacks, free vacations, or marketing dollars from insurance companies or investment companies. The only way I get paid is directly from my clients for the services that I provide, which allows my clients to weigh the true cost of the advice they are receiving.

Adam Smith is a financial advisor at Fortress Private Ledger, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch from 2018 to 2024. Fortress Private Ledger advises individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized Qualified Opportunity Zone advisory services. The firm employs a dynamic investment approach combining trend identification, technical and fundamental analysis, and utilizes a mix of ETFs, individual securities, and mutual funds.

Andrew Rader is a CFP® with 13 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Sollinda Capital Management LLC and has previously worked at Capital Investment Group, Inc. and PNC Investments. Outside of advising, he is the owner of an LLC focused on residential rental property. Sollinda Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and profit-sharing plans, and also serves as a sub-advisor to other registered investment advisers. The firm employs multiple proprietary investment strategies and primarily manages accounts on a discretionary basis with an emphasis on allocation and risk management.

David Van Horn is a financial advisor at Sollinda Capital Management LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Capital Investment Group, Inc. and Charter Financial Group, LLC. His role at Sollinda began in 2023. Sollinda Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and profit-sharing plans, offering tailored investment programs across several proprietary strategies with an emphasis on allocation and risk management.

Anna Winger is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Sollinda Capital Management LLC since 2023. She previously worked at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC and has practiced law since 2018, specializing in estate planning, elder law, and business law through Heritage Law. Outside of financial advising, she maintains her legal practice in Hickory, NC. Sollinda Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and profit-sharing plans, employing multiple proprietary investment strategies and a focus on allocation and risk management.

Kirk Hobart is a Series 65 licensed advisor at Beacon Wealth Consultants, Inc. in Hickory, NC, with seven years of industry experience. Before joining Beacon Wealth Consultants in 2022, he worked at Higher Ground Financial, LLC for 13 years. Outside of his advisory role, he provides consulting services on business and financial matters to Carolina Oncology Specialists, PA. Beacon Wealth Consultants serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, business entities, and plan sponsors with comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, investment management, estate administration, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs an internal investment committee to guide portfolio construction and emphasizes faith-based, Biblically Responsible Investment screening.

Andrew Watkins is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Denver, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing. He leads a team providing one-on-one investment advice to retirement plan participants eligible for distributions. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party and proprietary methodologies. The firm operates within the Principal Financial Group family, providing access to affiliated products and integrated services.

Jason Beckley is a financial advisor with Advisory Services Network, holding a Series 65 designation and 14 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Omnistar Financial Group for 10 years before joining Advisory Services Network in 2021. Outside of his advisory role, Beckley serves as board chair of a volunteer fire department, chairs an endowment committee for a local nonprofit, and acts as treasurer for a Rotary Club and its foundation. Advisory Services Network supports individuals, families, corporations, and charitable organizations through a network of over 200 independent advisors. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, employing a range of investment strategies and implementation options tailored to client objectives.

Richard Reber is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with LPL Financial and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. In addition to his advisory work, he is the author of "How to Talk to Your Partner About Money and Not Kill Each Other." LPL Financial provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management options supported by an in-house research team and a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Ashlie Link is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. She has worked at Members Trust Company since 2017 and has been affiliated with Credit Union Investment Services and SECU Life Insurance Company since 2016. In addition to her advisory roles, she serves as Treasurer for the Parent Association of Long Shoals Wesleyan Academy. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual investors and trust clients in North Carolina, providing 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.

Bruce Putnam is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has also been associated with LPL Financial since 2011 and worked at Cornerstone Financial Advisors from 2011 to 2018. Outside of advising, he has held roles related to fixed insurance and maintains a real estate license. Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise RIA serving individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, charities, and estates. The firm offers a range of services including asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing model portfolios, third-party managers, and technology platforms to manage client allocations.

Brent Townsend is a financial advisor with Advisory Services Network, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. He has 22 years of industry experience and has worked with Kovack Securities Inc. since 2014 and Advisory Services Network since 2012. Townsend participates in the Dave Ramsey SmartVestor program, providing referral services for investors who complete the program. 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, investment and retirement-plan consulting, and third-party manager selection, managing approximately $8.6 billion in client assets.

Amanda Dowell is a Series 65–licensed financial advisor with Advisory Services Network in Hickory, NC. She joined the firm in 2024 and has prior experience in various roles outside the financial industry, including positions at The Corner Table and Shook Chiropractic. 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, managing approximately $8.6 billion in client assets with tailored strategies across multiple asset classes.