James Hooks is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 37 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2004, with his current role at Private Advisor Group beginning in 2019. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to various advisory programs. The firm employs a fiduciary advisory model and uses technology platforms alongside third-party managers and TAMPs to implement investment strategies.

Shalenee Yalla is a Series 66 credentialed advisor with Truist Advisory Services, bringing 10 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC from 2017 to 2021 before joining Truist Investment Services, Inc. in 2021. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support client portfolios and provides ongoing reviews and reporting through its affiliated platforms.

Donald Smith Jr. is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 20 years of industry experience. He has worked with Bankers Life entities since 2005, including roles at Bankers Life Advisory Services and Bankers Life Securities. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Torrell Priest is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Fort Mill, SC, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 credentials with four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Vanguard Advisers, Inc., The Vanguard Group, Inc., and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. 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 retail brokerage account holders. The firm utilizes an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Todd Pierce is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has six years of industry experience, having worked at Brookstone since 2020 and at AmeriLife since 2001. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in insurance sales. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, offering investment management primarily on a discretionary basis via model portfolios and managed accounts.

Margaret Lane is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, bringing two years of industry experience. She has held multiple roles within the Bankers Life organization since 2020, including as an insurance agent specializing in Medicare supplement, long-term care, life insurance, and annuities. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as Executive Administrator and Chair of the Church Council at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm emphasizes customized asset allocation, tax efficiency, and ongoing portfolio management with a focus on individual clients.

Thomas Soriano is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked with Bankers Life and its affiliated entities since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, Soriano serves as a board member of the Steele Creek Athletic Association, a volunteer-run youth athletic nonprofit. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Cole Conner is a financial advisor with TD Private Client Wealth LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His prior work includes ten years at LPL Financial and two years at Wells Fargo Clearing. He is based in Charlotte, NC. TD Private Client Wealth LLC provides discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional and high-net-worth private clients. The firm combines strategic and tactical asset allocation with investments from affiliated and third-party managers, delivering portfolio management, financial planning, and custody services through established advisory and technology platforms.

Scott Serfass is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 22 years of industry experience, including 16 years at Ameriprise Financial Services and ongoing roles at both Independent Advisor Alliance and LPL Financial since 2021. He is also an author based in Charlotte, NC. 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. The firm employs a network model combining independent advisory representatives with access to brokerage services through LPL Financial and leverages technology platforms to support portfolio management and estate planning.

Richard Fallin is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Advisor Alliance since 2016. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies supported by various analytical techniques and technology platforms.

Diane Brown is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, based in Fort Mill, SC. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, she worked at firms including Triad Advisors and Advocacy Wealth. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as president of the Tealbriar Homeowners Association in Charlotte, NC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, retirement-plan consulting, and access to managed account investment managers for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets using a diversified, risk-class based investment process that blends passive and active strategies, supported by an internal Investment Committee.

Michael Smith is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience currently advising at Janney Montgomery Scott. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for nine years before joining Janney. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and municipal clients, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs with a centralized approach to professional asset management.

Michelle Guissinger is a CFP® and PFS™ with 13 years of industry experience. She is currently with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and Wealth Enhancement Group since 2021. Her prior experience includes roles at Carroll Financial Associates Inc and Lephew Financial Services, Inc. Guissinger serves as board chair and member of Adult Enrichment Centers in Rock Hill, SC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement plan consulting with an investment approach combining passive and active management overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Kelli Little is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC. She holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license, and has 14 years of industry experience. She has been with Eagle Strategies since 2018 and also has affiliations with Nylife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Co dating back to 2015. Eagle Strategies serves a broad range of individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm provides multiple program options and emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives, with a significant portion of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Alvin Riley II is a CFP® certificant with 13 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He spent 10 years at LPL Financial prior to joining his current firm. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse clientele, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of independent advisory representatives and integrates technology platforms to support portfolio management and estate planning solutions.

Denise Johnson is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 21 years of industry experience. She has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2011 and maintains long-standing roles with Nylife Securities Inc and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of advisory work, she serves as a Notary Public. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, defined contribution and benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients, with a focus on tailored solutions and non-discretionary asset management.

Michael Arner is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 17 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Securities America Advisors, Investacorp, and Highland Brokerage Capital. Additionally, he is involved with Modern Life as a brokerage manager and wholesaler of insurance products. TLG Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering services through independent advisors and a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

Duncan Foy is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group who holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has seven years of industry experience. His background includes roles at The Vanguard Group and Symmetry Financial Group, among others. Outside of finance, he has experience with Innova Disc Golf and Team Trivia. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, integrating services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and offers both point-in-time financial plans and optional managed accounts.

Brian Robinson is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill from 2010 to 2021 before joining PNC in 2021. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithm-driven risk assessments to recommend portfolio strategies executed with mutual funds and ETFs.

Brenton Simonson is a Certified Financial Planner® with 17 years of industry experience. He currently works at Creative Planning and previously held roles at LPL Financial and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.