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.

Ryan Hammond is a financial advisor at Hammond Wealth Partners with one year of industry experience. He has held positions at Amplified Planning, The Vanguard Group, and Wells Fargo. Hammond Wealth Partners is a fee-only fiduciary firm providing discretionary investment management and financial planning mainly to individuals, families, and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers customized portfolios combining strategic asset allocation, tax-efficient management, and active tactical approaches based on multiple analysis methods, with clients able to impose reasonable investment restrictions.

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.

Cory Shuford is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with WealthPoint Advisors and has previously worked at Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC and Kalos Management. WealthPoint Financial, LLC provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services primarily to non-high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and tactical asset allocation strategies, managing portfolios on a discretionary basis with continuous monitoring and at least annual formal reviews.

Lauren Ivester is a financial advisor at WealthPoint Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Dempsey Lord Smith, Kalos Capital, Belmont Capital Advisors, and The Bowman Law Firm. Outside of her advisory role, she has ownership interests in SSI Holdings, LLC and SSI Wealth Management, LLC. WealthPoint Financial, LLC provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting services primarily to non-high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm customizes portfolios using a combination of fundamental, technical, and tactical asset allocation strategies, employing both passive and active approaches while continuously monitoring accounts.

David McMahan is a financial advisor with AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and BFM Capital and serves as a board member for the HV3 Foundation, a nonprofit organization. AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $435 million in regulatory assets across about 172 client relationships, employing a mix of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis along with active and passive investment strategies.

Stephen Van Der Meid is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Rhino Wealth Management since 2014 and previously spent 12 years with LPL Financial. He is also an independent insurance agent selling non-variable insurance products. Rhino Wealth Management serves individual clients, small businesses, and charitable organizations, providing discretionary portfolio management and personal financial planning. The firm uses a systematic multi-factor quantitative framework focused on ETFs and mutual funds, combining quantitative and fundamental analysis to guide portfolio allocations.

Maxwell Neisler is a financial advisor at AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 credentials. Prior to joining AdvisorsTrust Partners, he worked at Prospera Financial Services Inc, Ryan Consulting Group, and Grant Thornton LLP. AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm serves approximately 172 clients with $435.3 million in assets under management, employing both active and passive investment strategies tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Kyle Sikes is a financial advisor at WealthPoint Advisors with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at firms including Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC and Kalos Management. Outside of his advisory role, Sikes serves on the board of CaroMont Care Advocates, which advises on patient-centered healthcare services, and is a board member of the Next Generation Fund, a philanthropic giving circle. WealthPoint Financial, LLC provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting primarily to non-high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and tactical asset allocation strategies, managing portfolios on a discretionary basis with continuous monitoring and formal annual reviews.

Keith Miller is a financial representative at Vestech Asset Management Inc. with 35 years of industry experience. He previously worked at First Allied Advisory Services, Inc. and First Allied Securities, Inc. Miller serves on several local boards, including the Kings Mountain Housing Authority and the Cleveland County Board of Equalization & Review. Vestech Asset Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm employs a combination of technical, fundamental, and cyclical analysis to manage diversified portfolios and offers both ongoing investment management and project-based planning.

Andrew Watkins is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Denver, NC, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has worked with Principal Financial Services, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Wells Fargo Advisors during his career. Watkins also serves as a team lead at Principal Advised Services, providing one-on-one investment advice to retirement plan participants. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party methodologies and proprietary models. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, which provides access to a range of affiliated financial products and integrated trading services.

Taylor Lee is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC, affiliated with Fusion Investment Advisors, and has previously worked at firms including Voya Investment Management and Preferred Capital Securities. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved with Belmont Capital Advisors, marketing insurance and annuity investments as an insurance agent. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients with discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a combination of internally developed and independent asset allocation models, using both fundamental and technical analysis to manage portfolios on a discretionary basis.

Allyson Sacratini is a financial advisor at Integrated Advisors Network LLC with six years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. Prior to her advisory career, she attended the University of South Carolina. Allyson is also the Director of Client Services at Capital City Financial Partners. Integrated Advisors Network is an SEC-registered multi-team investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement and employee benefit plans, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, employing a mix of fundamental and quantitative approaches and frequently utilizing third-party sub-adviser platforms.

Carly Hensley is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments since 2024 and has been with Merit Financial Advisors since 2010. Prior to that, she was associated with LPL Financial from 2010 to 2024. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment strategy using model portfolios and customizable sleeves, with oversight by a central Investment Management team and Investment Committee.

Steven Denton is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Merit Financial Advisors since 2020. His prior roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, LPL Financial, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. He also holds a municipal leadership role as Deputy Town Manager in Stanley, North Carolina. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach through customizable model portfolios overseen by a central Investment Management team and offers specialized services such as fiduciary and ESOP trustee work.

Samuel Hershberger is a financial advisor at United Brokerage Services, Inc. with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Edward Jones and J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC. United Brokerage Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, and trust clients through various wrap fee and advisory programs. The firm primarily manages client assets on a non-discretionary basis and is affiliated with United Bank through its parent company, United Asset Management Corporation.

Jeffrey Thomas is a financial advisor at Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Packerland since 2019. In addition to his advisory role, he owns J S Thomas Consulting, Inc., a business involved in insurance and residential construction, and serves as a Deacon and teacher at Parkwood Baptist Church. Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. serves individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and advisory program access. The firm offers both brokerage and advisory services through a variety of platforms, including firm-managed portfolios and third-party arrangements, with a focus on individualized financial planning and routine client reviews.

Karen Holland is a financial advisor with Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Fusion Capital Management, Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC, Cape Securities, Inc., and several other firms dating back to 2014. In addition to her advisory work, she is involved with Holland Wealth Management / Impact, where she markets insurance and annuity investments as an insurance agent. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients with discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm uses an open-architecture platform and a combination of tailor-made asset allocation models, fundamental and technical analysis, and ongoing portfolio supervision to meet client objectives.