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.

Kaylynne Willis is a financial advisor at A4 Wealth Advisors LLC with six years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has worked at several firms including Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Foster Financial Group, and Valic Financial Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in equine therapy as a PEMF specialist and serves on the board of a nonprofit organization called Unique World Gifts. A4 Wealth Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, managing approximately $214 million. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management, using a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis implemented through direct management and sub-advisors, with an emphasis on due diligence and oversight of alternative investments.

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 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.

Carolyn Reynolds is a financial advisor at Proxy Wealth Advisors LLC with 18 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Fidelity Investments, JPMorgan Securities LLC, and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Proxy Wealth Advisors LLC provides fee-based discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a tactical allocation strategy using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across various instruments and offers specialized services including cross-border and immigration-related financial planning.

Mark Thompson is a CFA® charterholder with over 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he is a passive investor in companies involved in software and hardware development as well as ophthalmic treatment development. Laurel Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing discretionary and non-discretionary asset management along with financial planning. The firm manages nearly $1 billion in assets and employs a team of seven advisors who tailor investment programs based on clients’ goals, time horizons, and risk tolerance.

Matthew Spear is a Certified Financial Planner® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Sapere Wealth Management, LLC since 2002. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and is based in Matthews, North Carolina. Sapere Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach focuses on top-down global macroeconomic analysis and an absolute-return orientation, combining equities, mutual funds, ETFs, and privately offered funds with explicit liquidity targets.

Robert Maund is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as Wealth Team Lead at Oakworth Asset Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes positions at Chilton Trust Company, Lakeview Capital Partners, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Maund is also involved with Oakworth Capital Bank in a leadership capacity. Oakworth Asset Management provides financial planning, consulting, and discretionary wealth 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 diversified mix of mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, alternative investments, and Independent Managers.