Robert Riedl is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently with Endowment Wealth Management, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC. Endowment Wealth Management serves individual investors, retirement and pension plans, non-profits, and institutional clients by offering financial planning, portfolio management, retirement consulting, alternative investment advisory, private fund management, and family office services. The firm employs an endowment-style investment philosophy, combining traditional and alternative assets through varied investment vehicles tailored to client needs.

Douglas Marion is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Everstar Asset Management, LLC and has previously worked at AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC and Advanced Wealth Strategies, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Marion is an independent insurance agent and a partner in two non-investment related businesses, Fruitful Roots Brewing, LLC and Aspiration Adventures, LLC. Everstar Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, foundations, and certain institutional accounts. The firm manages approximately $311 million in assets and sponsors multiple private investment funds, employing a proprietary investment process that includes equity and fixed-income models, derivatives, and a diversified range of securities.

Nicholas Kolbenschlag is a financial advisor at Crown Wealth Group LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He has held roles at GCG Wealth Management and Questar Asset Management prior to joining Crown Wealth Group in 2019. Outside of his advisory work, he provides consulting services on the implementation of Personal CFO financial planning solutions and manages a DBA branch office focused on recruiting and educating investment advisor representatives. Crown Wealth Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, utilizing a goals-based investment process that incorporates a wide range of asset classes and a formal Investment Committee. The firm also maintains affiliations with insurance and real estate businesses and offers services including estate planning, executive compensation, and concierge lifestyle support.

Harold Goodlett is a financial advisor at Worth Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses with 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Worth Financial Advisory Group since 2012 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Advisors and J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC. Outside of advising, he has worked as a cashier at Rite Aid outside of market hours. Worth Advisors is a fee-based financial planning and investment management firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, college coaches, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm integrates portfolio management with financial planning and consulting, often using ETFs and no-load index mutual funds, and collaborates closely with accounting professionals to offer comprehensive services.

David Monk is a financial advisor at Fortress Private Ledger, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Sparta Wealth Partners, MML Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Company, and New York Life. Outside the financial industry, he has longstanding involvement with Lexington Barbecue. Fortress Private Ledger serves individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and entities by providing financial planning, consulting, portfolio management, and Qualified Opportunity Zone advisory services. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach combining technical and fundamental strategies and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Shauntae Funkhouser is a financial advisor at A4 Wealth Advisors LLC with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. She has worked at firms including Gradient Investments, LLC, and LKN Finance and Divorce Consultants LLC, where she is a certified divorce financial analyst and owner. Additionally, she is involved with Thrive Mortgage as a residential mortgage loan originator. A4 Wealth Advisors is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $265 million for about 600 clients. The firm offers personalized financial planning, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and integrates alternative and illiquid investments, combining in-house management with sub-advisors and co-advisor models.

Brandon Mcpherson is a CFA® charterholder with six years of industry experience. He is currently with Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC and has previously worked at Wells Fargo. 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 approach with globally diversified asset allocations and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management through separately managed accounts and proprietary enhanced-index portfolios.

Antonio Burkett is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Aspire Private Capital since 2018. He previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and Morton Malloy Realty. Aspire Private Capital is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $510 million for individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and selective tax consulting, often utilizing third-party sub-advisers and model portfolios through the GeoWealth platform.

Sean Casullo is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience. He has worked at Crown Wealth Group LLC since 2022 and previously spent eleven years at Sanderson Wealth Management, LLC. Casullo is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 diversified, low-cost ETFs and mutual funds, supported by an Investment Committee to tailor portfolios according to documented objectives and risk tolerances.

Jesse Wideman Jr. is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience currently serving at Zenith Wealth Partners in Charlotte, NC. His background includes roles at Facet Wealth and The Vanguard Group. He took a one-year career break as a full-time parent before joining Zenith. Zenith Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered advisory team that serves individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plan sponsors. The firm employs a risk-first investment approach using a combination of low-cost index exposures and selective active management, along with project-based financial planning and direct private investment sourcing.

Don Stamas is a CFP® professional at Defender Capital with 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Defender Capital since 2013 and also manages D.J.S. Investments, LLC, a real estate investment and management company. Defender Capital provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, private funds, and corporate clients. The firm employs a customized, discretionary investment approach focused on fundamental analysis and primarily recommends exchange-traded equity securities using both long- and short-term strategies.

Alexander Hill is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC since 2018 and previously spent three years at Wells Fargo Advisors. Hill holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC manages approximately $1.77 billion and provides wealth management services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory and offers proprietary index-enhanced portfolios, serving a large client base through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Jared Hollands is a financial advisor at Accelerate Retirement with the ChFC® designation and Series 65 license, bringing four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at NFP Retirement, Jonathan W. White CPA, PLLC, and Future Plan by Ascensus. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Omni Retirement Consulting, a non-investment actuarial and TPA business, and serves as Operations Director at Jonathan W. White CPA. Accelerate Investment Advisors LLC serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a primarily long-term allocation strategy with customized portfolios and provides comprehensive services including plan design, provider selection, and fiduciary support under ERISA.

Tyler Kolbenschlag is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Crown Wealth Group LLC since 2018 and previously held roles at GCG Wealth Management and Questar Asset Management. Outside of his advisory work, Tyler is a licensed real estate broker and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Crown Wealth Group LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, including Personal CFO support and estate-planning facilitation. The firm employs a goals-based investment process using an Investment Committee and offers a range of asset classes, including low-cost ETFs and mutual funds, with additional services such as insurance and real estate brokerage through affiliated entities.

Zachary O'Brien is a CFP® with 17 years of experience in financial advisory services. He has worked at Crown Wealth Group LLC since 2020 and previously spent 11 years with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management Inc. O'Brien serves as a board member for several nonprofit organizations, including the LLK Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Davie County, and the Winston Chamber of Commerce, where he leads a leads group and participates in community events. Crown Wealth Group LLC provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a goals-based investment process with documented Investment Policy Statements and offers personalized services such as estate-planning facilitation, executive compensation planning, and concierge lifestyle support.

William Sugg IV is a CFP® professional with 25 years of experience, currently serving at Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He has worked at APW Capital, Inc. for 14 years and has been with Laurel Wealth Advisors since 2007. Outside of advisory work, Sugg is involved in several investment ventures focused on real estate and early-stage electric vehicle and battery storage companies. Laurel Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing discretionary and non-discretionary asset management alongside financial planning. The firm manages nearly $1 billion in client assets with a team of seven advisors, offering customized investment programs based on fundamental analysis and regular portfolio reviews.

Walker Shelton is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at Verum Partners LLC since 2023. He previously worked at Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC and Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he assists a CPA firm in Charlotte, NC, during tax season. Verum Partners LLC 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 that combines advisory and securities transaction services and offers access to independent portfolio managers.

Charles Doran is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with one year of industry experience. He is currently with Verum Partners LLC in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2024. Prior to joining Verum Partners, he was employed at Bank of America from 2021 to 2024 and has experience in hospitality and education sectors. Verum Partners LLC 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 that combines advisory and securities transaction services, employs independent portfolio managers, and maintains institutional relationships with Schwab and Fidelity for research and technology support.

John Kernodle is a financial advisor at Strathmore Capital Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Strathmore Capital Advisors since 2005 and holds the Series 65 designation. Strathmore Capital Advisors serves individuals, trusts, endowments, and participant-directed retirement plans through discretionary portfolio management and goals-based financial planning. The firm emphasizes an asset-allocation-driven investment approach using mutual funds and ETFs, incorporating technology for client service and offering distinctive services such as a securities-backed lending strategy and integrated tax preparation.

Heather Fowler is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with A4 Wealth Advisors LLC in Huntersville, NC. She has two years of industry experience and previously worked at Thrive Mortgage and Covius Services LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she owns HeatherGrown, LLC, where she teaches yoga and assists with plant sales. A4 Wealth Advisors is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $265 million for about 600 clients. The firm offers personalized financial planning, portfolio management, and coordinates with third-party money managers for individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable organizations.