John Balcerzak is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving at A4 Wealth Advisors LLC. He has held roles at multiple firms including Gradient Investments, Formulafolio Investments, and High Tech Lending. Outside of advisory work, he is involved with Sunset Cove Enterprises LLC, focusing on land development and investor relations. A4 Wealth Advisors LLC provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates in-house advice with sub-advisors and co-advisor models, emphasizing alternative investments and maintaining insurance-related business activities as part of its operating approach.

Jamie Bigsby is a CFP® with 22 years of experience in the financial industry. He currently works at Glassy Mountain Advisors, Inc. and previously held roles at PNC and The Vanguard Group, Inc. Outside of finance, Jamie owns SouthPark Mahjong, a business focused on mahjong instruction, event planning, and design. Glassy Mountain Advisors provides wealth management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and institutions, using a value-oriented, fundamentals-based investment approach with discretionary portfolio management and integrated financial planning offered at no extra cost to clients.

Taylor Wade is a CFP® professional with 11 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with MBL Advisors, where he has worked since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors and The American College of Financial Services. MBL Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm’s investment approach is goals-based and emphasizes diversified, long-term asset allocation using macro, fundamental, and technical analysis along with modern portfolio theory.

Jonathan Dry is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at MBL Advisors in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the advisory boards of several companies, including RiceWrap Foods Corporation, Sheets Laundry Club, and BatteryXchange, providing strategic and growth guidance. MBL Wealth (MBL Advisors) offers discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a goals-based, broadly diversified investment approach incorporating macroeconomic, fundamental, and technical analysis, managing over $1.14 billion in discretionary assets through a team of ten advisors.

Andrew Tudor is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with Zenith Wealth Partners, having joined in 2024, and previously worked at Alchemist Wealth, LLC and Northwestern Mutual in various capacities from 2016 to 2024. He is a member of Vanta Investment Group, where he organizes meetings and oversees activities. Zenith Wealth Partners serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations with financial planning, portfolio management, business planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines a risk-based investment approach with diversified index exposures and selective active management, supported by documented policies and regular portfolio reviews.

Charles Teden is a financial advisor at Alpha Omega Wealth Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 10 years of industry experience. He worked at Davenport & Company LLC from 2008 to 2018 before joining Alpha Omega Investment Advisors, where he has been since 2018. Alpha Omega Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plan sponsors, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and family-office style services. The firm’s approach includes fundamental analysis, use of options and derivatives, and allocation to various investment vehicles, supported by AI tools and a documented strategy uncommon among similarly sized advisory teams.

Jennifer Fuller is a financial advisor at Defender Capital with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She joined the firm in 2025 and has experience at TIAA and Tiaa, as well as roles outside finance including positions at Trader Joe's and involvement with Advantage Living and The Charlotte Church. She has worked in both advisory and community settings. Defender Capital serves individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs fundamental analysis and custom portfolio management using exchange-traded equities and tailored strategies to meet client objectives and risk tolerance.

Nick Stockdale is a financial advisor at Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at The Vanguard Group, Inc and Adhesion Wealth. Outside of his advisory role, he owns RockBox Fitness, a franchise specializing in boxing-based fitness classes. Linden Thomas Advisory Services provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through separately managed accounts and proprietary index programs.

James Baynard is a CFA® charterholder with five years of industry experience. He is currently with Novare Capital Management in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2023. Prior to that, he held roles at Kudu Investment Management, JPMorgan Chase Bank, and GE Capital. Baynard also engages in independent consulting related to GP stakes through expert network firms. Novare Capital Management is a wealth management firm with 18 advisors managing approximately $1.9 billion for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and financial institutions. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management using proprietary strategies and employs both artificial intelligence tools and human oversight in investment decisions.

Greg Derderian is a financial advisor with Capitalwize, LLC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Strategic Advisers, LLC and Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC, and also has experience as a senior recruiter with Talent Retriever LLC. Capitalwize is a fee-only financial planning firm that serves individuals and business entities with a focus on non–high-net-worth clients. The firm offers a range of advisory engagements, including one-time planning and extended programs, and conducts group educational seminars and alumni events.

Gavin Finnical is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently serving at Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and Equitable Advisors, among others. Before entering financial services, he worked in brewing and hospitality industries. 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-based investment approach with globally diversified allocations and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management through separately managed accounts and proprietary enhanced-index portfolios.

Dustin Waide is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience and has been with Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2010. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Outside of his advisory role, he is a member of Mortimer Enterprises, a real estate ownership vehicle related to office space leased to Laurel Wealth Advisors. Laurel Wealth Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to individuals, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm uses fundamental analysis to customize portfolios according to client goals and risk tolerance, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management alongside financial planning services.

Taylor Funke is a financial advisor at Blue Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Blue Financial, Funke worked at Oakwood Capital Securities, 49 Wealth Management, and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investment. Funke has also been involved with North Meets South Lacrosse, LLC. Blue Wealth Inc. serves individual clients, small businesses, trusts, estates, and high-net-worth individuals, providing discretionary asset management and financial planning. The firm employs a long-term investment approach based on documented goals and risk tolerances while avoiding margin, short sales, and derivatives.

Scott Drake is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Crown Wealth Group LLC in Charlotte, NC, with 1 year of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo for 22 years. Crown Wealth Group LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm uses a goals-based investment process with tailored asset allocation and model portfolios, focusing on low-cost, diversified ETFs and mutual funds, while offering additional services including estate planning facilitation and executive compensation planning.

Joseph Giordano is a financial advisor with CORE Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Edward Jones, and Park Avenue Securities. Outside of advisory work, he is employed at Novant Health and has experience with Guardian Life Insurance Company. CORE Advisory Group serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and charitable organizations with discretionary asset management and financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $338 million for over 1,100 clients through a team of ten advisors, providing portfolio management using proprietary model portfolios alongside multiple third-party platforms.

John Waddill is a financial advisor at Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Park National Bank and Ridgetop Research LLC. Laurel Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and business entities with discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning. The firm manages nearly $1 billion in client assets through a team of seven advisors, tailoring investment programs based on clients’ goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

Justin Pierce is a financial advisor with Fortress Financial Solutions, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fortress Financial Solutions since 2019 and previously held roles at Brokers International Financial Services, LLC, Nova Financial & Insurance Services, and Zimmer. In addition to his advisory work, Mr. Pierce is the owner of Triumph Enterprises, LLC, which offers life insurance and fixed annuity products through Federal Employee Benefits Advisors, LLC. Fortress Financial Solutions, LLC is a fee-only, SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals across wealth levels, business owners, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses an in-house Investment Committee to develop model portfolios based on fundamental, technical, and charting analysis, offering various investment approaches including long-term buy-and-hold and impact/ESG investing.

David Miller is a financial advisor at Auctus Advisors LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Auctus Advisors since 2017, following prior roles at M Holdings Securities and MBL Advisors Inc. Miller serves on the advisory board of Natixis and is Chair of the Investment Committee on the Board of Trustees at Pfeiffer University, where he assists with financial and operational decisions. Auctus Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a goals-based investment process with comprehensive planning and Monte Carlo simulations, blending strategic and tactical asset allocation, and may utilize third-party managers in client portfolios.

Sara Jean Veatch is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Oakworth Asset Management, LLC. She previously worked at Suntrust Advisory Services, Inc and TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC. In addition to her advisory role, she is also a client advisor at Oakworth Capital Bank. Oakworth Asset Management provides financial planning, consulting, and discretionary wealth and portfolio management to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a top-down, macro-driven investment approach and utilizes a variety of investment vehicles, including mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and alternative investments.

Randolph Nash is a financial advisor at Capital Advisers, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with 49 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with Cic Advisers, LLC, Capital Advisers, Inc., and Capital Investment Group, Inc. He is also an insurance agent for non-variable insurance policies and owns Steele Creek Capital, LLC. Capital Advisers serves individual and institutional clients by providing discretionary portfolio management and customized investment solutions across traditional and alternative asset classes. The firm employs an independent, open-architecture investment approach focused on asset allocation, monitoring portfolios regularly for efficiency and risk.