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 with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Strategic Advisers, LLC and Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC. Outside of advising, he is a senior recruiter for Talent Retriever LLC. Capitalwize is a fee-only financial planning firm serving individuals and business entities, primarily those who are not high-net-worth. The firm offers various advisory engagements and educational programs, often using third-party managers for portfolio management while providing ongoing oversight.

Kevin Johnson is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Planning in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Cornerstone Wealth Planning, he was involved with Redeemer Presbyterian Church San Diego and Bridge Church San Diego. Cornerstone Wealth Planning provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis, offering flexible planning options and in-house tax preparation 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.

Tyler Weaver is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving at Alpha Financial Advisors, LLC since 2017. Prior to joining the firm, he spent time traveling extensively and attended Virginia Tech from 2012 to 2016. Alpha Financial Advisors is a team of eight advisors managing approximately $503 million in client assets. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, small businesses, and certain retirement plans, typically using strategic asset allocation with no-load mutual funds and ETFs.

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.

David Miller is a financial advisor with Auctus Advisors LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 19 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Auctus Advisors in 2017, he worked at M Holdings Securities, MBL Advisors Inc., and Powell Wealth. He serves on the advisory board of Natixis and is chair of the investment committee on the board of trustees at Pfeiffer University. 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 combining comprehensive planning and strategic and tactical asset allocation, often utilizing third-party managers for ongoing management.

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 with Capital Advisers, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 49 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Advisers since 2003 and also has prior experience at Cic Advisers, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he is an insurance agent for non-variable policies. Capital Advisers serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients by providing discretionary portfolio management and customized investment solutions across both traditional and alternative asset classes. The firm employs an independent, open-architecture approach, emphasizing asset allocation and regular portfolio rebalancing to manage risk and return.

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 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2008 and previously worked at Buckhorn Capital Management LLC from 2004 to 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he is a passive investor in technology and healthcare-related companies but does not actively participate in their operations or receive compensation for these investments. Laurel Wealth Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to individuals, charitable organizations, and business entities, tailoring strategies through fundamental analysis and various investment techniques to meet client objectives.

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.

Parker Mayo is a CFP® and Series 66-licensed advisor with five years of industry experience. He currently works at Novare Capital Management and previously held roles at Quantitative Financial Strategies, Verum Partners LLC, Fidelity Investments, and served seven years in the United States Air Force. Novare Capital Management is an SEC-registered wealth management firm with a team of 18 advisors managing approximately $1.9 billion for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and financial institutions. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management using a combination of proprietary strategies, AI-supported research, and an investment committee oversight.

Barbara Bell is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Cannon Advisors in Charlotte, NC. She has worked with Regulus Advisors, LLC, Bell Divorce Advisors, Inc., and Bell Financial Planning, Inc. Barbara is also a licensed agent for life, health, long-term care, fixed annuity, and disability insurance. Cannon Advisors is an SEC-registered advisory firm with a team of five advisors managing approximately $142 million for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning using a range of analytical methods and investment strategies, including long- and short-term trading, margin, short sales, and options.