John Menser is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Novare Capital Management. His work history includes roles at Concorde Financial Resources, Westminster Financial Securities, and Bank of America. 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 provides comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management using a client-specific Investment Policy Statement and proprietary strategies, supported by an investment committee and artificial intelligence tools.

Thomas Mack is a CFA® charterholder based in Charlotte, NC, with six years of experience at MBL Wealth, LLC and two years at McShane Partners Wealth & Investment Advisory, LLC. Prior to his advisory career, he worked for four years at Wake Forest University. 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 and employs a goals-based investment process emphasizing diversified, long-term asset allocation informed by macroeconomic, fundamental, and technical analysis.

John Philpott is a financial advisor with Aspire Private Capital and holds a Series 65 designation. He has 16 years of industry experience, including five years at Global Financial Private Capital. Outside of financial advising, he owns and brokers real estate through Pier 28 Realty and serves as president of Estate and Retirement Consultants, which offers fixed life and annuity products. Aspire Private Capital manages approximately $510 million for individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across various asset classes and often employing third-party sub-advisers.

Alixandria Tucci is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience. She currently works at PCM Encore, LLC and has previously been associated with firms including Vanguard, Facet Wealth, and Q3 Advisors. Outside of financial advising, she operated Queen City Pet Sitting for six years. PCM Encore serves a range of clients including individuals, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing family office services, wealth management, and outsourced CIO engagements. The firm focuses on diversified, long-term portfolio strategies with an emphasis on tax-aware investing and selectively applying active management.

Cory Esposito is a CFP® with eight years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with A4 Wealth Advisors LLC in Huntersville, NC, and previously worked at LPL Financial and UBS Financial Services. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved with A4 Insurance Solutions, an affiliated insurance business connected to his firm. 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, and incorporates third-party managers and alternative investments into its approach.

William Pierce is a financial advisor with MBL Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 48 years of industry experience. He has worked at MBL Wealth since 2025 and is also president of TPG Consulting, LLC, where he consults and sells insurance and investment products. MBL Wealth provides 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 and utilizes third-party models and research providers to support portfolio management and integrated planning services for its clients.

Jessica Carnes is a financial advisor with Worth Advisors in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 14 years of industry experience, including 10 years at Worth Financial Advisory Group, LLC. Worth Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, businesses, qualified retirement plans, and other advisers. The firm is known for its CoachNetWorth platform serving college coaches and integrates tax and bookkeeping support through collaboration with accounting professionals.

Catherine Fisher is a financial advisor at CORE Advisory Group with a Series 65 license and one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial and Atrium Health, as well as work as a private nanny. CORE Advisory Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $297 million in assets with a team of ten advisors, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting through a range of portfolio strategies and platform solutions.

Giana Lombardo is a financial advisor at Blue Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Blue Wealth Inc. and Cobblestone Capital Advisors. Blue Wealth Inc. provides discretionary asset management and financial planning to individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs tailored investment strategies based on fundamental and technical analysis with a long-term orientation and offers educational seminars for clients and prospects.

Garrison Mc Afee is a financial advisor at Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with less than one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Laurel Wealth Advisors, his background includes roles at Recreational Equipment, Inc., LPL Financial, and several educational institutions including the University of Florida and Clarence High School. Laurel Wealth Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to individuals, charitable organizations, and business entities, tailoring strategies based on client goals and risk tolerance. The firm integrates fundamental analysis and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management alongside financial planning services without a separate charge.

Sophie Young is a CFP® professional with five years of experience at Novare Capital Management and a total of eight years in the financial industry. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Private Bank and Ameriprise Financial Services and has a background that includes five years at Green Valley Country Club. Novare Capital Management is an SEC-registered wealth management firm with a team of 18 advisors managing approximately $1.9 billion for a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and financial institutions. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management services, using proprietary investment strategies and AI tools to support decision-making alongside human oversight.

Steven Lindgren is a financial advisor with Crown Wealth Group LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Crown Wealth Group in 2019, he worked at Questar Capital & Asset Management and Questar Asset Management. He serves on the board of the Charlotte Economics Club, contributing to the sponsorships committee. Crown Wealth Group LLC provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, using a goals-based investment process that incorporates diversified ETFs, mutual funds, and other asset classes tailored through an Investment Committee.

Theodora Mbuyu is a financial advisor at Wilson Wealth Management Group, L.L.C. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include work with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Teach for America, reflecting a background in nonprofit and educational settings. Wilson Wealth Management Group is a team-based RIA serving high-income and high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and early-career investors. The firm employs a combination of model and customized portfolios using technical analysis alongside passive ETF allocations, and offers financial planning, estate planning coordination, and insurance and annuity solutions.

Evan Calott is a financial advisor at Blue Financial with eight years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 credential. He has worked at Blue Financial since 2014 and spent five years at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. prior to his current role. Calott is also the owner and a licensed insurance agent at Blue Financial, Inc., where he dedicates significant time to insurance planning. 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 and emphasizes tailored investment strategies with a long-term orientation, offering educational seminars and workshops to clients and prospects.

Oliver Cross III is a financial advisor at Verum Partners LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 16 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC for nine years before joining Verum Partners. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a volunteer committee member for The Corners Society and Davidson College, both nonprofit organizations. Verum Partners provides customized wealth management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and estates. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, often engaging Independent Managers while maintaining oversight and direct client access to its portfolio managers.

Jacob Logan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He currently works at Forefront and previously held roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities, LLC. Forefront Wealth Partners is a team-based, SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, business owners, and corporate clients with discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and estate-planning coordination. The firm uses customized portfolios and third-party managers to implement allocation models and offers a range of planning services including special-needs planning and online estate-plan creation.

Thomas Moss Jr. is a financial advisor at WMS Advisors, LLC with 48 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC for a combined 16 years. WMS Advisors is a team-based SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $281 million for around 131 client households. The firm serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities with portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting using asset-class oriented strategies and a mix of ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and selective alternatives.

John Frechette is a CFP® affiliated with Foundry Financial LLC and has one year of industry experience. Before joining Foundry Financial in 2025, he worked at the Trust Company of the South, Huber Engineered Woods, Lowe's Companies, Inc., and Caterpillar. Foundry Financial provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm employs risk-based, diversified portfolios across various asset types with adviser-held discretion focused on long-term allocation and client coaching.

William Morton is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. He is currently with MBL Advisors and MBL Wealth, where he has worked since 2018 and 2019, respectively. Prior to that, he held roles at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of directors for E. Dillon & Co., a family-owned limestone quarry. MBL Wealth provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm manages over $1.14 billion in discretionary assets across a team of ten advisers and employs a goals-based, diversified investment approach incorporating macroeconomic, fundamental, and technical analysis.

Jonathan Swofford is a financial advisor at CORE Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC for several years before joining CORE Advisory Group. CORE Advisory Group provides discretionary asset management, retirement-plan consulting, financial planning, and related advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $338 million across about 1,141 clients and utilizes a mix of proprietary model portfolios and third-party programs to tailor investment solutions.