Richard Pucciarelli is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Brookstone since 2010 and Carolina Retirement Resources since 2003. In addition to his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, offering discretionary investment management via various account types and model portfolios.

Angela Lessor is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors. Her prior roles include positions at Journey Strategic Wealth LLC, Bleakley Financial Group LLC, LPL Financial, and Northwestern Mutual Investment Management. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers, with capabilities in discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting.

Patrick Schultz is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC. His previous roles include positions at New York Life Investment Management LLC, Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc., and Neuberger Berman. Outside of advisory work, he acts as a marketing consultant for Armstrong, Fleming, & Moore. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on customized, primarily long-term portfolios using ETFs, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles, supported by a network of roughly 286 advisors managing over 13,000 clients.

Michael Smith is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Kannapolis, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2012. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and combines third-party portfolio managers, strategist portfolios, and advisor-managed sleeves, with features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Robert Flynn is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group who holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at TIAA-CREF and TIAA from 1997 to 2022 before joining Empower Financial Services in 2023. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated approach leverages proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and is closely tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Mark Sumner is a financial advisor with SPC in Mooresville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at SPC and Parkland Securities LLC since 2020 and previously spent seven years at Securities Service Network, Inc. Sumner is also a licensed insurance agent involved with Sumner Wealth Management, Inc., where he provides life, Medicare Supplement, long-term care, and disability insurance. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, managing approximately $5.66 billion in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement plan services, delivering strategies through discretionary and nondiscretionary management options.

Lisa Scriba is a financial advisor with \u0026Partners in Davidson, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. She joined \u0026Partners in 2024 after eight years at Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of her advisory role, she owns and oversees operations of an automotive maintenance and repair business. \u0026Partners serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services through both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis.

Justin Romero is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. He has previously worked at firms including Accelerate Investment Advisors LLC, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, Romero is a partner at Cypress Benefit Solutions, a firm specializing in group insurance and employee benefits. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Christopher Hance is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 credential and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and its predecessor entities since 2006, with a brief period of unemployment in 2019. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that distinguishes planning services from ongoing discretionary management and advises a donor-advised fund while utilizing a vertically integrated investment approach.

Pete Trontis is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Savant Wealth Management and previously worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, LLC, where he was also an equity partner. Prior to that, he held roles at Willingdon Wealth Management and Horizon Investments. Savant Wealth Management serves a broad client base including individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a mixed investment approach combining evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and offers integrated services such as accounting, legal, and trust through affiliated entities.

Randy Farina is a CFA® charterholder with six years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Savant Wealth Management since 2026. Prior to joining Savant, he worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, LLC for six years and had a one-year tenure at Westwood Global. Savant Wealth Management provides wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, families, corporate clients, and institutions. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and offers integrated accounting, legal, and trust services through affiliated entities.

Norman Bradshaw is a CFP® professional with 27 years of experience in financial advising, currently with Prime Capital Financial. He has held roles at firms including Cambridge Investment Research and United Planners' Financial Services of America. Outside of advising, he serves on the finance committee of the Rowan Cabarrus YMCA. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving high-net-worth individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a range of services including asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan services, and family office solutions, employing diverse investment strategies and tax-efficient portfolio management tools.

David Carrara is a CFP® with 26 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently an advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc., where he has worked since 2021. His prior experience includes 14 years at TIAA-CREF. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors and individual retirement plans, offering investment advisory programs alongside brokerage and insurance services. The firm provides both a digital advisory program featuring ETF-based portfolios and a Managed Account program, operating as a broker-dealer and insurance agency under ownership by Citizens Bank, N.A.

Kenneth Putnam is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC since 2017. He previously worked at Cornerstone Financial Advisors and is also associated with LPL Financial, LLC. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm provides both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through a network model supported by technology platforms and access to third-party managers.

Kaye Tahiliani is a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management with 17 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Before joining Savant in 2026, she worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, LLC, Willingdon Wealth Management, and TIAA-CREF. She is also an equity partner of less than 5% at Exencial Wealth Advisors. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses an investment approach that combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with a range of actively managed strategies and supports its services with affiliated accounting, legal, and trust entities.

Kevin O'Hare is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2008, following roles at Uvest Financial Services Group, Bofa Advisors, BACAP Distributors, and Stephens. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an independent soccer referee in Charlotte, NC. Fifth Third Securities serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services, offering a range of managed account programs on the Passageway platform. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and provides multiple program types with an emphasis on risk-profile-based portfolio selection and tax-aware strategies.

Daniel Schwartz is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Nuveen Asset Management, LLC and ClearBridge Investments LLC, among other firms. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for the Academy of IT at Cox Mill High School and co-owns a Code Ninjas franchise in Concord with his wife. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment approach combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and research focused on factor premiums such as value and momentum.

Sarah Bolick is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. She has worked with Bryant & Bolick Financial Services since 2025 and has been affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LPL Financial, and Straight Arrow Financial Group since 2017. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies, using model portfolios and various analytical techniques, and integrates technology platforms to enhance client service delivery.

Josh Vanepps is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Troutman, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at Empower Financial Services, Inc., Iredell Health System, Whole Foods, and Carolins Healthcare System. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated model combines proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and regular rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Alexander Cohen is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining &PARTNERS in 2024, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for three years and held roles at Amazon Fulfillment Services and The UPS Store. He also has a background in education, having worked at Clemson University and Pine Lake Preparatory. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services using a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, with portfolios managed directly by advisors or through third-party managers.