Ava Smagacz is a financial advisor at 49 Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with three years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Oakwood Capital Securities, Inc. and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc. She also provides fixed insurance services alongside her advisory work. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients with comprehensive financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm emphasizes disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation supported by fundamental, cyclical, technical, and behavioral analysis, and offers tiered fractional family office services for high-net-worth clients.

Andrew Paolini is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His work history includes roles at Principal Bank, Principal Financial Services, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Wells Fargo. Outside of his advisory duties, he serves as Treasurer for the Charlotte Adult Baseball League, managing financial reporting and budgeting for the organization. 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 proprietary and third-party tools and operates within the larger Principal Financial Group, granting access to affiliated products and services.

Kyle Corgan is a financial advisor at NFSG Corporation with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked at NewBridge Securities Corporation since 2018 and Fidelity Investments from 2011 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent and is involved with HomeVestors, marketing 1031 exchanges and DST investments. He also operates an insurance sales business under Goosehead Insurance Agency, LLC. NFSG Corporation provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutional participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers diversified portfolio management and employs internal and third-party asset management resources to support its advisors.

John Capets is a financial advisor at United Capital Financial Advisors with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at United Capital since 2021, following long tenures at Capital Investment Group, Inc. and Harbor Capital Management, Inc. United Capital Financial Advisors provides financial planning and investment management services nationally to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm employs discretionary portfolio management using asset-allocation models developed by an Investment Policy Committee and offers customized strategies including ESG and faith-based options.

Erik Merkau is a CFA® charterholder with 29 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Choreo, LLC and has prior experience at Edelman Financial Engines Advisors, JPMorgan Securities LLC, and Chase. Choreo serves a diverse client base ranging from individual investors to institutional clients, offering services that include portfolio management, financial planning, and outsourced CIO solutions. The firm follows a rigorous investment process centered on strategic asset allocation and a combination of quantitative screening and due diligence to manage portfolios through various vehicles, including model portfolios and separately managed accounts.

Vikalp Agrawal is a financial advisor at Tucker Asset Management LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at DXC Technologies for 17 years. He is also the owner and CEO of Desiretree Financial Services LLC, a life and health insurance agency based in Charlotte, NC. Tucker Asset Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as foundations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing discretionary investment management and financial planning through a network of independent adviser representatives. The firm employs a top-down, macroeconomic asset-allocation approach and incorporates a range of strategies including alternative investments and direct indexing.

Lorraine Tomlin is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience, currently with Waverly Advisors, LLC. She has been associated with Rinehart Wealth & Investment Advisory since 2011. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, serving a diverse client base that includes both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients.

Craig Rubrecht is a financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth Group, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Mutual Securities, Inc., Cornerstone Financial Advisors, LPL Financial, and Securities America Advisors, Inc. He serves as a board member of the Focus Strategic Advisory Board, which meets biannually to provide strategic guidance. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, other advisers, and corporations. The firm uses model-based portfolios incorporating ETFs, mutual funds, equities, bonds, and alternative investments, guided by an investment committee, and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary solutions.

Rebecca Chazen is a financial advisor at USAA Investment Services Company with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has held prior roles at Ally Invest Securities LLC, Truist Investment Services, and The Vanguard Group. USAA Investment Services Company provides retirement-focused advice and referral services primarily to USAA members and individual investors through phone and digital channels. The firm delivers Retirement Income Strategy Reports and facilitates referrals to third-party broker-dealers and advisers rather than managing client assets directly.

James Carson III is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 15 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at SVB Wealth, First Citizens Asset Management, and Truist Investment Services. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Rusty's Rods LLC, a business that designs and sells custom fishing rods. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio management through wrap programs and automated platforms, employing risk- and outcomes-based asset allocation, and benefits from its affiliation with a bank holding company, which integrates banking resources and referral relationships.

Alex Yarem is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and serves as an adjunct professor for Campbell University’s graduate program, teaching Advanced Investment Analysis. Prior to joining First Citizens Asset Management in 2026, he worked at various affiliates of First Citizens Bank since 2019. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutions. The firm constructs global multi-asset class model portfolios using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with discretionary management focused on strategic asset allocation and risk control.

Nathan Allen is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. He previously worked at Oakwood Capital Securities, Inc. and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he is an associate at Financial Independence Group, where he is involved in fixed insurance sales. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management services. The firm emphasizes a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation approach and offers tiered fractional family office services along with access to third-party managers.

Duncan Porter is a financial advisor with United Capital Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at United Capital since 2021 and previously spent 12 years with Harbor Capital Management, Inc. United Capital Financial Advisors provides financial planning and investment management services nationally to individual investors, corporations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis using asset-allocation models and offers portfolio customization, client-facing technology, and a platform for other advisors.

Brandon Azargoon is a financial advisor at IFG Advisory, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial LLC for eight years. Outside of finance, he has experience working at Charlotte Motor Speedway. IFG Advisory, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies using sub-advisors and third-party managers and offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting.

Alexander Forest is a financial advisor at Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles at Prudential Advisors, LPL Enterprise, DoorDash, Uber, and service in the United States Air Force. Outside of finance, he has ongoing positions at DoorDash and Uber. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based solutions and virtual interactions. The firm uses model portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers automated investing alongside personal advice delivered via a third-party platform.

Kathy Wilson is a financial advisor at Ally Invest Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at The Vanguard Group and Amazon.com Services. Kathy supports both Ally Invest Advisors and Ally Invest Securities in a dually licensed capacity, servicing clients with self-directed and advisory accounts. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based solutions and virtual interactions. The firm offers ETF-based Robo Portfolios and Financial Advisor-delivered Personal Advice, utilizing model portfolios built on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers.

Anaiss Zamora is a financial advisor at Savvy with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Savvy, she worked at Northwest Asset Management for four years and has held positions in mortgage and wealth management firms. Savvy Advisors provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, ERISA plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers customized, diversified, index-based investment plans supported by quantitative models and integrates advanced technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, alongside human oversight.

Nabeel Shums is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Principal Securities Inc., Principal Life Insurance, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. 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, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm combines third-party methodologies with proprietary models and operates as part of the Principal Financial Group, providing access to affiliated products and services.

Patrick Muldowney is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at AlphaStar since 2023. His prior work includes positions in education and the food service industry. AlphaStar Capital Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base that includes individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and pension plans. The firm employs a strategic asset-allocation and quantitative tactical approach, offering both model and custom portfolio strategies along with a range of advisory and consulting services.

Tayisiya Levandovska is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Ally Invest Advisors, her background includes roles at Ally Invest Securities LLC, Equitable Advisors, LLC, and self-employment. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based and virtual solutions. The firm offers ETF-based Robo Portfolios and automated investing services, implementing model portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers.