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.

Gary 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 joining Gragg Financial, he worked at CPS Investment Advisors from 2017 to 2025. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Revo Wifi LLC. 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 offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, combining investment advisory with traditional income tax and accounting services.

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.

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.

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.

Vanessa Harris is a financial advisor with Focus Financial who holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has one year of industry experience. She previously worked at Mass Mutual and Goosehead Insurance Agency and has an extensive background outside finance, including sixteen years at Sun-Kissed Gardens. Focus Financial Network serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charities, and corporate entities, providing customized advisory services such as portfolio management and financial planning with an emphasis on coordination with other professionals for estate and tax planning.

Mitchell Roth is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Sovran Advisors, LLC and holds a Series 66 license. His prior experience includes positions at The Vanguard Group, LPL Financial, Equitable Advisors, and Ameriprise Financial Services. Sovran Advisors serves individuals, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors by providing financial planning, advisory services, and portfolio management across various program types. The firm employs both active and passive investment strategies and utilizes multiple custodial platforms to support its clients' diverse objectives.

James Beam is a financial advisor at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials. Prior to joining Capital Investment Advisory Services, he worked at Sollinda Capital Management LLC and Capital Investment Group, Inc. Beam serves as chairman of the Cherryville ABC Board of Directors, overseeing operations related to the controlled sale of spirits. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including separately managed accounts, third-party manager referrals, private-label model portfolios, and financial planning, implementing investment strategies through discretionary mandates or model portfolios with ongoing monitoring.

Jason Craig is a financial advisor with Prospera Financial Services, Inc. in Mount Holly, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and totaling 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Prospera Financial Services since 2013. Prospera Financial Services is an enterprise-scale adviser and dually registered broker-dealer serving individuals, corporate and charitable entities, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $12.4 billion through about 207 advisors across roughly 140 offices, offering investment advisory and financial planning services through multiple delivery vehicles and a combination of firm models, third-party sub-advisers, and customizable allocations.

Natalia Ruiz is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Dallas, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Wells Fargo Bank. She currently serves as a retirement consultant, providing one-on-one investment advice to Principal retirement plan participants. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party tools and proprietary models to deliver both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, integrating affiliated products and services with robust governance and supervision.

Deana Spainhour is a financial advisor at Credit Union Investment Services with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Members Trust Company, SECU Brokerage Services, SECU Life Insurance Company, and State Employees' Credit Union, where she has provided financial advisory services since 2003. Spainhour is also co-owner of a restaurant in Lincolnton, NC, where she supports administrative operations and staff management. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and retirement planning. The firm emphasizes a long-term, goals-based investment approach that relies on low-cost index funds and ETFs, with investment representatives as salaried employees of the parent credit union.

Carmen Maria Andrews is a financial advisor with Great Valley Advisor Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 23 years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Sharp Advisors and Merit Financial Group, LLC, and has been affiliated with LPL Financial since 2010. Great Valley Advisor Group is an SEC-registered, multi-team investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm offers personalized portfolio construction and ongoing oversight through a combination of in-house strategies and third-party managers, with a network of approximately 190 advisors.

Robin Radovich is a financial advisor at United Brokerage Services, Inc. with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms including BB&T and Crescom. Radovich also serves as secretary of the Rotary Club of Lincolnton, NC. 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 assets on a non-discretionary basis and is affiliated with United Bank, offering a combination of banking affiliation and a primarily non-discretionary advisory model.

Suzanne Dean is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. She has been with Truist Advisory Services and its affiliated entities since 2015, including roles at Bb&T Investment Services and Bb&T Securities prior to the firm’s rebranding. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools, and its integrated structure includes affiliated broker-dealer and banking services.

Richard Reber is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has prior experience with Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. Reber is also the author of "How to Talk to Your Partner About Money and Not Kill Each Other." Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a network model of advisory representatives and integrates various portfolio management strategies along with technology platforms to support its services.