Abraham Gonzalez is a financial advisor at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial, LLC for 10 years before joining Steward Partners in 2023. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in regulatory assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory and financial planning services.

Jean Elzayek is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Gladstone Institutional Advisory, and Householder Group Estate and Retirement Specialists. Outside of his advisory work, he operates an Etsy store specializing in woodturned items. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a wide range of clients, including individuals, trusts, estates, and institutions. The firm employs a strategic investment approach combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and quantitative and fundamental research.

Matthew Dellinger is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He holds the Series 66 designation and has experience working with Bankers Life entities since 2025. Prior to his financial services career, he served with the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire Department and worked at Prime Coatings. 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 a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to guide investment decisions.

William Baylog is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. since 2016 and has been involved with Bankers Life & Casualty since 1996, where he manages agents, managers, and administrators in addition to providing insurance sales and services. 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 and portfolio management according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Christopher Sotardi is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has worked with Bankers Life since 2007 and Bankers Life Securities, Inc. since 2016. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a Unit Field Trainer at Bankers Life & Casualty, recruiting and training insurance agents. 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 uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and manages portfolios with a focus on clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Larry Parker is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Matthews, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2007 and also owns Parker Financial Group LLC and Parker Financial and Insurance Solutions. Outside of his advisory work, he volunteers as a youth sports coach with the Porter Ridge Athletic Association. Eagle Strategies serves a broad client base including individuals and institutions, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers a range of program types designed to tailor advice to client objectives and plan sponsor criteria, with the majority of assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Justin Krebs is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and six years of industry experience. He has worked at AE Wealth Management since 2020 and is also the owner of Proactive Total Wealth, where he provides insurance sales and services. Additionally, he partners with a network of CPAs to offer tax advice and services. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm manages discretionary model portfolios using various analytical methods and supports third-party RIAs through sub-advisory and model-licensing arrangements.

Thomas Donahue is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Charlotte, NC, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth and The Pinnacle Financial Group since 2006. Donahue is also co-owner and president of PFGNC, Inc., and serves as treasurer and part-owner of Elite Benefits Group, Inc., both involved in insurance and securities-related activities. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors with advisory programs, wealth management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm provides operations, trading, technology, compliance, and practice-management support, while offering a range of investment solutions including discretionary model portfolios and personalized indexing options.

Timothy Hamilton is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth and The Pinnacle Financial Group since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in private business ventures including serving as Vice President and Co-Owner of The Pinnacle Financial Group and as President and Part-Owner of Elite Benefits Group, Inc., which conducts fixed insurance sales. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors by providing advisory programs, technology, compliance, and practice-management support. Advisors on the platform have discretion to construct client portfolios from a broad range of securities and insurance products, while Commonwealth’s Investment Management and Research team manages discretionary model portfolios.

Carol Mansour Ezzell is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and has 44 years of industry experience, including 22 years at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2004. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, providing brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and various advisory programs.

Jennifer Beaulieu is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. She has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021 and previously at BB&T Securities and BB&T Investments. Outside of her advisory role, she owns short-term rental properties in North Carolina and Florida. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering asset allocation, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Christopher Mahoney is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 48 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2010. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs.

Christopher Graper is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Janney Montgomery Scott and has held roles at Stifel Nicolaus, Wells Fargo Advisors, Morgan Stanley, and Morgan Keegan. He is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 wide range of clients, including individuals, families, trusts, estates, and institutional sponsors, and offers services such as brokerage, financial planning, and advisory programs through a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Graham Wilson is a CFP® and ChFC® with 42 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and serves as President and Owner of Sterling Financial Group, Inc., a private entity involved in securities, advisory, and insurance business. His prior experience includes roles at Lincoln Investment and Capital Analysts, Incorporated. Commonwealth Financial Network is a national registered investment adviser supporting approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients with a range of advisory programs, investment management, and practice-management services. The firm offers discretionary model portfolios, personalized indexing options, and multiple program structures, while providing operational and compliance support to affiliated advisors.

Benjamin Thomas is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Monroe, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has six years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services for seven years and was employed at Combine Academy for three years. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches with oversight from an Equity Research team utilizing AI-enabled tools.

Roger Judy is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA and its affiliated entities since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as chair of the Investment Committee at St. Margarets Episcopal Church and is a managing partner in a family investment LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with pre-existing retirement plan relationships. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, employing both model and customized portfolios.

Thomas Hicks II is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2021, following tenures at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a director of sponsorship for the Athletic Booster Club at Catawba Ridge High School and is a personnel committee member at Sharon Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large 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, corporate and retirement plans, and offers a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services supported by in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Andrea Hargette is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with seven years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2018 and has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2008. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. 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 combining third-party portfolio managers, strategist portfolios, and advisor-managed sleeves, with features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service.

Chad Kupreanik is a CFP® and Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2003. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for Javesca Feeds, a nonprofit focused on addressing hunger. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large enterprise firm 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 charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs.

Stephen Swingle is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Waxhaw, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 14 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Principal Life Insurance Company since 2017 and a one-year position at LPL Financial in 2016. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a bank officer at Principal Bank and Principal Trust Company to support retirement plan account management and also works part-time as an Amazon Flex driver. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel abroad. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.