Gregory Padgitt is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with Aspire Private Capital and has held prior roles at Nationwide Securities LLC, Nationwide Financial, LPL Financial, and TIAA-CREF. He is also involved with Plushenko Enterprises LLC. Aspire Private Capital is an SEC-registered adviser managing approximately $510 million for individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, often implementing portfolios through third-party sub-advisers and model solutions on the GeoWealth platform.

Robert Riedl is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently with Endowment Wealth Management, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. Endowment Wealth Management serves individual investors, retirement and pension plans, non-profits, and institutional clients by offering financial planning, portfolio management, retirement consulting, alternative investment advisory, private fund management, and family office services. The firm employs an endowment-style investment philosophy, combining traditional and alternative assets through varied investment vehicles tailored to client needs.

Douglas Marion is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Everstar Asset Management, LLC and has previously worked at AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC and Advanced Wealth Strategies, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Marion is an independent insurance agent and a partner in two non-investment related businesses, Fruitful Roots Brewing, LLC and Aspiration Adventures, LLC. Everstar Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, foundations, and certain institutional accounts. The firm manages approximately $311 million in assets and sponsors multiple private investment funds, employing a proprietary investment process that includes equity and fixed-income models, derivatives, and a diversified range of securities.

Harold Goodlett is a financial advisor at Worth Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses with 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Worth Financial Advisory Group since 2012 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Advisors and J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC. Outside of advising, he has worked as a cashier at Rite Aid outside of market hours. Worth Advisors is a fee-based financial planning and investment management firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, college coaches, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm integrates portfolio management with financial planning and consulting, often using ETFs and no-load index mutual funds, and collaborates closely with accounting professionals to offer comprehensive services.

David Monk is a financial advisor at Fortress Private Ledger, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Sparta Wealth Partners, MML Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Company, and New York Life. Outside the financial industry, he has longstanding involvement with Lexington Barbecue. Fortress Private Ledger serves individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and entities by providing financial planning, consulting, portfolio management, and Qualified Opportunity Zone advisory services. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach combining technical and fundamental strategies and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Daniel Antonelli is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with Everstar Asset Management, LLC and has worked at J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. since 2003. Everstar Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, foundations, and certain institutional accounts. The firm manages approximately $311 million in regulatory assets for about 1,077 clients and sponsors multiple privately offered pooled investment vehicles, employing a multi-step investment process that includes proprietary equity and fixed-income models.

Shauntae Funkhouser is a financial advisor at A4 Wealth Advisors LLC with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. She has worked at firms including Gradient Investments, LLC, and LKN Finance and Divorce Consultants LLC, where she is a certified divorce financial analyst and owner. Additionally, she is involved with Thrive Mortgage as a residential mortgage loan originator. A4 Wealth Advisors is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $265 million for about 600 clients. The firm offers personalized financial planning, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and integrates alternative and illiquid investments, combining in-house management with sub-advisors and co-advisor models.

Brandon Mcpherson is a CFA® charterholder with six years of industry experience. He is currently with Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC and has previously worked at Wells Fargo. Linden Thomas Advisory Services provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory approach with globally diversified asset allocations and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management through separately managed accounts and proprietary enhanced-index portfolios.

Antonio Burkett is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Aspire Private Capital since 2018. He previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and Morton Malloy Realty. Aspire Private Capital is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $510 million for individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and selective tax consulting, often utilizing third-party sub-advisers and model portfolios through the GeoWealth platform.

Jesse Wideman Jr. is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience currently serving at Zenith Wealth Partners in Charlotte, NC. His background includes roles at Facet Wealth and The Vanguard Group. He took a one-year career break as a full-time parent before joining Zenith. Zenith Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered advisory team that serves individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plan sponsors. The firm employs a risk-first investment approach using a combination of low-cost index exposures and selective active management, along with project-based financial planning and direct private investment sourcing.

Don Stamas is a CFP® professional at Defender Capital with 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Defender Capital since 2013 and also manages D.J.S. Investments, LLC, a real estate investment and management company. Defender Capital provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, private funds, and corporate clients. The firm employs a customized, discretionary investment approach focused on fundamental analysis and primarily recommends exchange-traded equity securities using both long- and short-term strategies.

Alexander Hill is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC since 2018 and previously spent three years at Wells Fargo Advisors. Hill holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC manages approximately $1.77 billion and provides wealth management services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory and offers proprietary index-enhanced portfolios, serving a large client base through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Jared Hollands is a financial advisor at Accelerate Retirement with the ChFC® designation and Series 65 license, bringing four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at NFP Retirement, Jonathan W. White CPA, PLLC, and Future Plan by Ascensus. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Omni Retirement Consulting, a non-investment actuarial and TPA business, and serves as Operations Director at Jonathan W. White CPA. Accelerate Investment Advisors LLC serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a primarily long-term allocation strategy with customized portfolios and provides comprehensive services including plan design, provider selection, and fiduciary support under ERISA.

Ravi Mujumdar is a financial advisor at Everstar Asset Management, LLC with a Series 65 credential and over 18 years of professional experience, including a 17-year tenure at Duke Energy. He has also worked as an independent consultant prior to joining Everstar. Everstar Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, foundations, and certain institutional accounts. The firm manages approximately $311 million in regulatory AUM for about 1,077 clients and sponsors multiple private investment funds using a proprietary five-step investment process.

Heather Fowler is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with A4 Wealth Advisors LLC in Huntersville, NC. She has two years of industry experience and previously worked at Thrive Mortgage and Covius Services LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she owns HeatherGrown, LLC, where she teaches yoga and assists with plant sales. A4 Wealth Advisors is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $265 million for about 600 clients. The firm offers personalized financial planning, portfolio management, and coordinates with third-party money managers for individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable organizations.

Chandler Smith is a financial advisor with Four Financial Management in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has been with Four Financial Management since 2018 and also provides administrative support to independent investment advisor firms and assists in tax preparation operations. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as an author. Four Financial Management serves individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, as well as non-profits, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting with a focus on customized asset allocation strategies. The firm manages accounts on a discretionary basis and utilizes both proprietary and third-party model portfolios, operating within a network of industry affiliations including LPL Financial and related advisory and tax services.

Matthew Costa is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Foundation Wealth & Tax Advisors, LLC. He has held roles at several firms including Bestgate Wealth Advisors, LLC and RSM US LLP. Outside of investment advisory, he is an accountant and principal at RCN & Associates LLC and provides tax consulting and preparation services through MRC Financial Services, LLC. Foundation Wealth & Tax Advisors, LLC offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm integrates multiple analytical approaches and uses third-party managers and platforms, including services for externally held digital assets and pension consulting.

Edward Deaton is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at MBL Advisors. His prior experience includes six years at Edge Capital Group, LLC, as well as roles at Carolina Capital Consulting, Inc. and periods of unemployment. MBL Wealth provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a goals-based, broadly diversified investment approach that integrates macroeconomic, fundamental, and technical analysis, utilizing stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, and other alternatives in portfolio construction.

Michael Grimes is a CFA® charterholder and Series 63 licensee with six years of industry experience. He has worked at MBL Advisors since 2022 and previously held positions at Barings Securities LLC and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory role, he is a residential landlord in Charlotte, NC. MBL Wealth (MBL Advisors) provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm manages over $1.14 billion in discretionary assets through a team of ten advisors, employing a goals-based, broadly diversified investment approach that incorporates macroeconomic, fundamental, and technical analysis.

John Stamas is a financial advisor at Defender Capital with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Defender Capital and its related entities since 2011. He is also involved in managing D.J.S. Investments, LLC, a real estate investment entity. Defender Capital provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a customized, discretionary investment approach focused on fundamental analysis and primarily recommends exchange-traded equity securities.