Mark Sumner is a financial advisor with SPC in Mooresville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at SPC and Parkland Securities LLC since 2020 and previously spent seven years at Securities Service Network, Inc. Sumner is also a licensed insurance agent involved with Sumner Wealth Management, Inc., where he provides life, Medicare Supplement, long-term care, and disability insurance. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, managing approximately $5.66 billion in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement plan services, delivering strategies through discretionary and nondiscretionary management options.

Robert Eberhardt is a CFP® with over 31 years of industry experience, currently serving at Principal Financial Services since 2011. Based in Denver, NC, he holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he is president and owner of Safe Self Storage, LLC, where he manages accounting and marketing for two self-storage locations. Principal Financial Services provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Kelsey Neal is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has prior experience with BDS Financial Network and service in the Army National Guard. Neal is also the owner of Waypoint Wealth Solutions, LLC, a private entity involved in securities, advisory, and insurance business. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and support services, including operations, trading, compliance, and investment management, allowing advisors to offer customized portfolio solutions under Commonwealth’s supervision.

Lisa Scriba is a financial advisor with \u0026PARTNERS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining \u0026PARTNERS, she worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she owns and oversees an automotive maintenance and repair business in Indian Trail, NC. \u0026PARTNERS serves a diverse clientele, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan consulting through both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analyses supported by a variety of proprietary and third-party investment approaches.

Justin Romero is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. He has previously worked at firms including Accelerate Investment Advisors LLC, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, Romero is a partner at Cypress Benefit Solutions, a firm specializing in group insurance and employee benefits. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Christopher Hance is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 credential and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and its predecessor entities since 2006, with a brief period of unemployment in 2019. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that distinguishes planning services from ongoing discretionary management and advises a donor-advised fund while utilizing a vertically integrated investment approach.

David Carrara is a CFP® with 26 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently an advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc., where he has worked since 2021. His prior experience includes 14 years at TIAA-CREF. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors and individual retirement plans, offering investment advisory programs alongside brokerage and insurance services. The firm provides both a digital advisory program featuring ETF-based portfolios and a Managed Account program, operating as a broker-dealer and insurance agency under ownership by Citizens Bank, N.A.

Kenneth Putnam is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC since 2017. He previously worked at Cornerstone Financial Advisors and is also associated with LPL Financial, LLC. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm provides both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through a network model supported by technology platforms and access to third-party managers.

Patrick Hipkens is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience. He has been with Truist Advisory Services since 2021 and previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. and other financial firms. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enhanced research and comprehensive supervisory oversight.

Daniel Schwartz is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Nuveen Asset Management, LLC and ClearBridge Investments LLC, among other firms. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for the Academy of IT at Cox Mill High School and co-owns a Code Ninjas franchise in Concord with his wife. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment approach combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and research focused on factor premiums such as value and momentum.

Andrew Breasure is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services since 2022. His prior roles include positions at North Carolina State University, The Ability Experience, and Steward Wealth Strategies. Outside the advisory field, he is president of Tau Properties, Inc., a nonprofit housing corporation supporting the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at NC State, where he oversees budget and alumni events. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Stuart Moffitt is a financial advisor at Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked within various Bankers Life entities since 2020. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed agent for Bankers Life & Casualty, specializing in Medicare, long-term care, life insurance, and annuity products. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to craft tailored asset allocations, offering both wrap and non-wrap programs through Pershing as custodian and Bankers Life Securities, Inc. as broker-dealer.

Josh Vanepps is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Troutman, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at Empower Financial Services, Inc., Iredell Health System, Whole Foods, and Carolins Healthcare System. 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 certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated model combines proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and regular rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Alexander Cohen is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining &PARTNERS in 2024, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for three years and held roles at Amazon Fulfillment Services and The UPS Store. He also has a background in education, having worked at Clemson University and Pine Lake Preparatory. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services using a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, with portfolios managed directly by advisors or through third-party managers.

James Koester is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked at multiple firms including JDM Financial and Secure Asset Management. Outside his advisory role, Koester is a financial professional involved in the sale of annuities and life insurance, primarily serving retirees and those planning retirement. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other entities. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and a blend of investment strategies, including proprietary funds and external sub-advisors, to manage client portfolios.

Sarah Rhodes is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank NA, and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, foundations, universities, trusts, private businesses, and corporations. The firm offers investment management and consulting services using a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, with both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

William Dunlop Jr. is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior work includes service with the City of New York Fire Department and Centennial Security Integration. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and various wrap-fee asset management programs managed by a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers.

Tonya Guffey is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with two years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2022, as well as at Fifth Third Bank since 2018. Prior to that, she was employed at PNC Bank from 2015 to 2018. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Brent Hann is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and has worked at several firms including Wells Fargo Clearing and &PARTNERS. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides customized advisory and consulting services, offers access to alternative investments and lending solutions, and operates a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer model with both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Patricia Godfrey is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and seven years of industry experience. She also serves as Senior Manager of Sales Operations at Veritas Technologies, LLC, a data information technology firm. Godfrey is a 50% owner of Blackbridge Financial, LLC, a DBA associated with her work at Independent Advisor Alliance. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing a network model of advisory representatives supported by sub-advisors and third-party platforms.