Steven Denton is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Merit Financial Advisors since 2020. His prior roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, LPL Financial, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. He also holds a municipal leadership role as Deputy Town Manager in Stanley, North Carolina. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach through customizable model portfolios overseen by a central Investment Management team and offers specialized services such as fiduciary and ESOP trustee work.

Angela Hatley is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Hilltop Securities Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with 16 years of industry experience. She previously worked at RBC Capital Markets for 21 years before joining Hilltop Securities in 2026. Hilltop Securities Inc. provides brokerage, investment advisory, and retirement-plan consulting services to individuals, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of managed account programs through an open-architecture platform and features municipal bond strategies co-advised by Franklin Templeton Group.

Noah Ordway is a financial advisor at Manning & Napier Advisors, LLC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc. and Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC. He has been with Manning & Napier since 2018 across affiliated entities. Manning & Napier Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory services primarily to institutional clients, including pension plans and government entities, as well as managing discretionary and non-discretionary accounts. The firm employs a team-based, strategy-specific investment process that combines top-down macro analysis with bottom-up security selection and offers a range of retirement plan and wealth management services.

Louis Woodbeck is a financial advisor at IP Financial Advisory Services LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding the Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Innovation Partners LLC and Swim Club Management Group. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting. The firm offers personalized investment strategies and discretionary management, utilizing a range of analytical approaches and specialized consulting services.

Aaron Combs is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2023 and previously spent 11 years at Parsec Financial Management Inc. Modera Wealth Management, LLC provides fiduciary, fee-only advisory services to a broad client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm’s investment approach is allocation-driven and grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing diversified portfolios with options for ESG integration and private-placement opportunities for qualified investors.

Erica Yount is a CFP® and CFA® with nine years of industry experience. She is currently a financial advisor at Modera Wealth Management, LLC, where she has worked since 2020. Her prior experience includes positions at Keatley Wealth Management, LLC and SignupGenius. Modera Wealth Management, LLC serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors with wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning. The firm employs a diversified asset allocation approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers integrated services including tax preparation, accounting, and business coaching.

Zachary Cox is a financial advisor with Lombard Advisers Incorporated and holds a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience and previously worked at FD Transaction Advisory and CohnReznick. Lombard Advisers provides personalized investment management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses through a multi-team structure. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management solutions, employing a range of analytical methods to construct portfolios.

Christopher Zambrotta is an advisor with NorthCoast Asset Management LLC holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has worked in various roles since 2017, including positions at Kovitz Investment Group Partners and TIAA-CREF. Previously, he held roles outside the financial sector, including at MegaCorp Logistics and Magnolia Greens Golf Course. NorthCoast Asset Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional and intermediary clients. The firm employs a quantitatively based, systematic investment process combining proprietary market-exposure and security-scoring models with multifactor risk models to guide portfolio construction and trading.

Ruth Stene is a financial advisor with Great Valley Advisor Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. She previously worked at LPL Financial and Bank of America, among other firms. Stene also sells non-variable insurance products, including life and health insurance. Great Valley Advisor Group is a multi-team investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, emphasizing individualized portfolio construction and ongoing oversight through a combination of in-house strategies and third-party managers.

Hugh Mosley Jr. is a financial advisor at Belpointe Asset Management LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at New York Life Insurance, Uber, Tristate Financial, Atrium Health, and RCC&S Inc. Belpointe Asset Management is a multi-team registered investment adviser with more than 160 advisors managing over $7.5 billion for individuals, corporations, trusts, and other advisers. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, and employs a variety of customized portfolio strategies and affiliated fund integrations.

Scott Jones is a financial advisor with ValMark Advisers, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 37 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at ValMark Advisers since 2017, as well as prior positions at Barry, Evans, Josephs & Snipes, M HOLDINGS SECURITIES, Kestra Investment Services, and Principal Financial Services. He is also the managing partner of Scott Jones Financial, a firm specializing in fixed insurance sales involving non-variable policies. ValMark Advisers provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm employs a diversified, goal-based investment approach using model portfolios and asset allocation across mutual funds, ETFs, and separate-account managers, with active oversight and regular performance reporting.

Jamie Wice is a financial advisor with MissionSquare Retirement and MissionSquare Wealth Management, holding a Series 66 designation and having 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining MissionSquare in 2026, Wice worked at LPL Financial for 16 years and operated Jamie L. Williams, PLLC for 17 years. Wice is also a licensed attorney in Michigan and provides legal services to family and friends. MissionSquare Retirement serves state and local government employers, employees, and certain nonprofit entities by administering retirement plans and offering plan administration, recordkeeping, education, and Guided Pathways Advisory Services. The firm employs a multi-team advisory structure and partners with Morningstar Investment Management to develop personalized investment advice.

Jacob Downing is a CFP® and CFA® with 18 years of experience in the financial industry. He currently works at Cary Street Partners and has previously held roles at Exencial Wealth Advisors, Dimensional Fund Advisors, and Fidelity Investments. Cary Street Partners provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a broad range of investment options and proprietary strategies, serving unique institutional niches such as state and municipal government entities and insurance company clients.

Wyman Byrd is a financial advisor at Colony Family Offices, LLC with 14 years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. He has been with Colony Family Offices since 2013. Colony Family Offices provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning primarily to ultra-high-net-worth families, their trusts, estates, retirement accounts, and related entities. The firm manages approximately $3.32 billion in discretionary assets and employs a priorities-based, customized planning process integrating both passive and active investment strategies.

Jonie Parks is a Certified Financial Planner® with 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2018 and previously worked at Matrix Wealth Advisors, Inc. for 12 years. She holds a Series 63 license and is based in Charlotte, NC. Modera Wealth Management, LLC offers fiduciary, fee-only advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an allocation-driven investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing diversified portfolios supplemented by independent managers, Dimensional funds, private placements, and optional ESG integration.

Jake Murphy is a financial advisor at CWA Asset Management Group with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining CWA, he worked at Raymond James and has a background that includes service at the United States Air Force Academy and in the United States Military. CWA Asset Management Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, family offices, and institutional investors. The firm employs a range of active and quantitative strategies, leveraging proprietary research, multi-factor stock selection models, and artificial intelligence to construct globally diversified portfolios tailored to client objectives.

Jesse Walker is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Monroe, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having six years of industry experience. He has worked at various firms, including Principal Financial Services and Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates third-party and proprietary methodologies and is part of the Principal Financial Group, leveraging affiliated entities to offer a range of financial products and services.

Larry Poole is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts in Matthews, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 39 years of industry experience. He has worked at Lincoln Investment Planning since 2005 and is president and 50% owner of Poole Financial Services, Inc., which provides access to life insurance and fixed annuity products. Additionally, he serves as president of Insurance and Retirement Planning Inc., a company offering life insurance and fixed annuities. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, foundations, businesses, and charitable organizations, offering portfolio management and retirement-plan advice through a nationwide network of independent advisors and in-house investment teams. The firm employs a proprietary mutual-fund screening process and maintains institutional relationships supporting various investment and cash management solutions.

Rutherford Bryson III is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Cary Street Partners since 2011. His prior roles include positions at Genspring Charleston, LLC and GFO Advisory Services, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he acts as a trustee for multiple family trusts, overseeing asset management and distribution decisions. Cary Street Partners provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm’s investment approach includes a broad menu of equities, fixed income, ETFs, mutual funds, structured products, and private investments, with proprietary strategies implemented through its affiliated asset manager.

Charles Robinson is a financial advisor with Summit Financial, LLC based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and having 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Keebeck Wealth Management, Cornerstone Wealth Group, Cornerstone Financial Partners, and LPL Financial. Robinson serves as a board member of MS4MS (Mission Stadiums 4 Multiple Sclerosis), contributing to strategic decisions for the nonprofit’s growth. Summit Financial, LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm with approximately $26.35 billion in assets under management and 216 advisors serving around 17,800 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and portfolio management programs alongside financial planning and retirement plan advisory services, operating both discretionary and consultative platforms tailored to client needs.