John Balcerzak is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as a managing member at A4 Wealth Advisors LLC in Huntersville, NC. His background includes leadership roles in several investment-related businesses, including Sunset Cove Enterprises LLC where he focuses on land development and investor relations. He also manages an insurance company, A4 Insurance Solutions, and oversees a family holding company, JBB Holdings. A4 Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, managing approximately $214 million in assets. The firm employs a comprehensive investment approach that integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and provides a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management, and access to alternative investments.

Jamie Bigsby is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at Glassy Mountain Advisors, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. Prior to joining Glassy Mountain Advisors in 2026, Jamie worked at PNC, Vanguard, Wells Fargo Clearing, and UBS Financial Services. Outside of financial advising, Jamie owns and operates SouthPark Mahjong, a business focused on mahjong instruction, event planning, and design. Glassy Mountain Advisors provides wealth management and financial planning services to individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $370 million across about 127 client relationships with a value-oriented investment approach.

Taylor Wade is a CFP® with 11 years of experience in the financial services industry. He currently serves as a senior associate at MBL Wealth LLC and has prior experience with M Holdings Securities, Inc., The American College of Financial Services, and Wells Fargo Clearing. MBL Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, providing discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $1.42 billion in discretionary assets through a team of advisors, using a goals-based investment process focused on diversified, long-term asset allocation.

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.

Andrew Kelleher is a financial advisor with Aptus Financial, LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has been with Aptus Financial since 2026 and has prior work experience at Summit Coffee. Aptus Financial provides flat-fee financial planning and advisory services to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and employer-sponsored defined-contribution plans. The firm focuses on financial planning rather than discretionary portfolio management, emphasizing passive, long-term indexing, simple asset allocation, cash-flow management, and periodic rebalancing.

Jennifer Fuller is a financial advisor at Defender Capital with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at TIAA and Trader Joe's. Defender Capital serves individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm provides fee-based investment advisory and discretionary portfolio management, employing fundamental analysis and customized portfolio management with a focus on exchange-traded equities.

Brian Ager is a financial advisor at Verum Partners LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation. He has one year of industry experience, with prior roles at Yellow Ventures and Sands Investment Group. Outside of finance, he was involved with Queen Anne Spirits & Wine from 2023 to 2025. Verum Partners provides customized wealth management and discretionary portfolio management services for high net worth individuals, families, trusts, and estates. The firm sponsors a wrap fee program and supplements its offerings with access to independent portfolio managers, using client goals and risk tolerance to develop tailored investment strategies.

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 at Capitalwize, LLC in Charlotte, NC, with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations and previously worked at firms including Fidelity Brokerage Services, Strategic Advisers, and Talent Retriever, where he served as a senior recruiter. Capitalwize is a fee-only financial planning firm serving individuals and business entities, primarily focusing on non-high-net-worth clients. The firm offers various advisory engagements and group educational programs, using third-party managers for portfolio management while providing ongoing oversight and client liaison services.

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.

Phoebe Son Oh is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Verum Partners LLC. She previously worked at Equitable Advisors, LLC and has experience in educational roles. Outside of her advisory work, she is a commissioned artist and volunteers as a childcare worker at a local church. Verum Partners LLC provides customized wealth management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and estates, offering discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning. The firm engages independent managers for client portfolios while maintaining oversight and due diligence.

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, with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms, including 49 Wealth Management and Oakwood Capital Securities. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Financial Independence Group, focusing on due diligence for insurance products suitable for clients. Blue Wealth Inc. provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, and high-net-worth clients. The firm manages approximately $145 million across about 324 client relationships, tailoring investment strategies to client goals and employing a long-term approach without using margin, options, or leverage.

Scott Drake is a financial advisor with Crown Wealth Group LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo for 22 years before joining Crown Wealth Group. Crown Wealth Group LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs a goals-based investment process using low-cost, diversified ETFs and mutual funds, supported by an Investment Committee that customizes asset allocation and model portfolios.

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 Series 65 credentialed advisor with two years of industry experience. He currently works at Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC and has prior experience at Park National Bank and Ridgetop Research LLC. Laurel Wealth Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to individuals, charitable organizations, and business entities, combining fundamental analysis with customized strategies tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerance. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside financial planning services integrated into its asset management.

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.