Michael Bookhardt is the managing member of Affluence Advisory LLC in Mount Holly, NC, with two years of industry experience. Prior to founding Affluence Advisory in 2023, he worked at The Vanguard Group from 2021 to 2022. He is also the managing member of SIB General Contractors LLC, a general business he has been involved with since 2006. Affluence Advisory LLC provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, businesses, trusts, foundations, and other charitable entities. The firm builds individualized portfolios using low-cost, passively managed mutual funds and ETFs, applying asset-allocation strategies based on modern portfolio theory and a long-term equity orientation.

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.

Ryan Hammond is the principal of Hammond Wealth Partners in Gastonia, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has experience with firms including Wells Fargo, The Vanguard Group, and Amplified Planning. Hammond has also held multiple roles at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Gaston College. Hammond Wealth Partners is a fee-only, fiduciary investment advisory firm serving primarily individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis to implement diversified, tax-efficient investment strategies and offers comprehensive financial planning alongside asset-based management.

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.

Andrew Gibson is a financial advisor at Integrative Planning, Inc. with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Vanguard Advisors, Inc. and Alphastar Capital Management, LLC. Integrative Planning, Inc. provides discretionary asset management, model-portfolio implementation, and financial planning services primarily for individual clients. The firm manages approximately $100 million across about 400 clients, employing strategic and rules-based tactical portfolios that incorporate a variety of asset classes and quantitative, technical, and fundamental analysis.

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.

Shawn Lee is a Series 65 licensed advisor at Integrative Planning, Inc. with 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Alphastar Capital Management, Milestone Asset Management, Brookstone Capital Management, and Beacon Wealth Advisors. He is also CEO of the Learning for Life Foundation, a nonprofit focused on lifestyle and financial well-being. Integrative Planning, Inc. provides discretionary asset management, model-portfolio implementation, and financial planning services primarily for individual households. The firm combines strategic and tactical portfolios using a variety of asset classes and emphasizes tax-aware asset location and rebalancing.

Daniel Tobias is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Passport Wealth Management, LLC since 2018 and was previously with Davidson Capital from 2016 to 2018. Passport Wealth Management LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses, managing approximately $115 million in assets. The firm follows a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach, primarily using passive strategies with index funds and ETFs, and offers integrated financial planning, tax return preparation through a third-party provider, and retirement plan consulting.

Jason List is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Aventus Investment Advisors, Inc. He has held positions at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, and BB&T since 2018. He also worked at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics from 2016 to 2018. Aventus Investment Advisors provides portfolio management, financial planning, and advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, businesses, and charitable organizations, including defined-contribution retirement plans. The firm combines global macroeconomic analysis with fundamental research to manage diversified portfolios and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Nicholas Lavella is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Integrative Planning, Inc. He has previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. and Beacon Wealth Advisors. Integrative Planning, Inc. provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services primarily to individual, non–high-net-worth clients. The firm employs strategic and rules-based model portfolios that incorporate a variety of asset classes and emphasizes tax-aware asset location and rebalancing.

Christopher Lee is a CFP® professional at Passport Wealth Management with experience starting in 2024. Prior to his current role, he held positions at several firms and organizations, including Choreo, SFMG Wealth Advisors, and Trustcore Financial. He also spent time at the University of Georgia and took a year for extended travel. Passport Wealth Management is an SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a passive investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers comprehensive financial planning, investment management, tax return preparation through a third-party provider, and retirement plan consulting.

Thomas Kelly is a financial advisor at Aspire Private Capital with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Aspire Private Capital since 2014. He is also the owner of Covenant Private Capital, where he engages in insurance and annuity product sales. Aspire Private Capital serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and some corporate plan sponsors, providing investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm’s investment approach focuses on selecting and monitoring third-party managers, tailoring asset allocations to client objectives, and incorporating fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Craig Rubrecht is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Cornerstone Wealth Group since 2018, following prior roles at Mutual Securities, Inc., Cornerstone Financial Advisors, and LPL Financial. Rubrecht serves on the Focus Strategic Advisory Board, a collective of investment firms that meets biannually to discuss strategic initiatives. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and management of certain annuity and 529 subaccounts, primarily through model portfolios emphasizing ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Cameron Meares is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license, with four years of industry experience. He is currently with Cornerstone Wealth Group, where he has worked since 2019, including a prior tenure and a recent return in 2022. His previous roles include positions at UBS Financial Services and Rhett Sinclair and Associates. Cornerstone Wealth Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting primarily through model portfolios that utilize ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Jeffrey Carbone is a CFP® with 34 years of experience in financial advising, currently serving as a managing partner at Cornerstone Wealth. His career includes roles at Cornerstone Financial Partners, LPL Financial, and Mutual Securities. Outside of advising, he serves as president of the Somerset Shores HOA and is a board member of the Make A Wish nonprofit organization. Cornerstone Wealth Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a model portfolio approach that incorporates ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and alternative investments for qualified clients.

Sean Bandazian is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Group with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at The Leaders Group, Alphastar Capital Management, and LPL Financial. Cornerstone Wealth Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting with an investment approach centered on model portfolios using ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Edward Wood is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Cornerstone Wealth. He has previously worked at Mutual Securities, Cornerstone Financial Partners, Cornerstone Financial Advisors, and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Cornerstone Risk Management Advisors, LLC, an insurance-related business. Cornerstone Wealth Group is a multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services primarily through model portfolios with discretionary management.

Wesley Taylor is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Aspire Private Capital. His prior roles include positions at The Vanguard Group and Edward Jones. He is also engaged in individual insurance sales, including annuities and life insurance. Aspire Private Capital serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporate plan sponsors by offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, with a focus on selecting and monitoring third-party managers and tailoring asset allocations to client objectives.

Andrea Pine is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Mutual Securities, Inc., Cornerstone Financial Partners, and LPL Financial LLC. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting primarily through model portfolios with discretionary management and periodic rebalancing.

Matthew Sandberg is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth. His prior work includes roles at Cornerstone Financial Partners, LPL Financial, and Fiserv. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a model portfolio approach that includes ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and alternative investments for qualified clients.