Grace Klopstad is a financial advisor with WestEnd Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Principal Asset Management, Principal Securities, and Victory Capital Services. She is also affiliated with Principal Global Investors, LLC where she performs certain functions. WestEnd Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management and third-party ETF model strategies to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, government entities, and corporations. The firm’s macro-driven investment process emphasizes sector and large-cap equity allocation based on broad economic analysis and operates as an autonomous Victory Capital investment franchise while leveraging affiliate support services.

Hiram Hutchison is a financial advisor at CORE Advisory Group with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked with Great Valley Advisor Group and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board commissioner for the Rock Hill/York County Convention & Visitors Bureau. 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 and offers a range of discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting services.

Frederick Porter is a CFA® charterholder with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with WestEnd Advisors, LLC since 2008. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and third-party ETF model strategies to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, government entities, and corporations. WestEnd's investment process is macro-driven, combining quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify economically favorable sectors and securities, and it operates as an autonomous franchise under Victory Capital while serving as a notable model provider in the advisory industry.

Charles Teden is a financial advisor at Alpha Omega Wealth Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 10 years of industry experience. He worked at Davenport & Company LLC from 2008 to 2018 before joining Alpha Omega Investment Advisors, where he has been since 2018. Alpha Omega Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plan sponsors, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and family-office style services. The firm’s approach includes fundamental analysis, use of options and derivatives, and allocation to various investment vehicles, supported by AI tools and a documented strategy uncommon among similarly sized advisory teams.

Robert Dye is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 designation with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked with firms including UBS Financial Services Inc. and Independent Advisor Alliance before joining Family Wealth Partners, LLC. Dye is currently part of a six-advisor team based in Matthews, NC. Family Wealth Partners serves individuals, business entities, charitable organizations, and pension/profit-sharing plans, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, pension consulting, and estate plan coordination. The firm employs a diversified, model- and research-driven approach encompassing a broad range of traditional and alternative investments, including digital assets and complex instruments.

Gavin Gochnour is a financial advisor with BNA Wealth in Rock Hill, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His background includes positions at The Vanguard Group, Inc., Egan, Berger, and Weiner, as well as entrepreneurial experience with K-Coast Surf Shop. BNA Wealth is a registered investment adviser serving individual and institutional clients with portfolio management and financial planning. The firm primarily manages accounts on a non-discretionary basis, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities guided by fundamental, technical, and charting analyses tailored to clients’ goals.

Jennifer Fuller is a financial advisor at Defender Capital with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She joined the firm in 2025 and has experience at TIAA and Tiaa, as well as roles outside finance including positions at Trader Joe's and involvement with Advantage Living and The Charlotte Church. She has worked in both advisory and community settings. Defender Capital serves individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs fundamental analysis and custom portfolio management using exchange-traded equities and tailored strategies to meet client objectives and risk tolerance.

Thomas Hamilton is a financial advisor with Hobart Wealth in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Hobart Private Capital since 2018, following positions at PNC Investments and SCOTTRADE. Hobart Wealth is an SEC-registered advisory firm with a team of eight advisors managing approximately $430 million. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, trusts, and estates, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting through tailored portfolios and a variety of analytical methods and implementation strategies.

Brian Ager is a financial advisor at Verum Partners LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation. He has one year of industry experience, with prior roles at Yellow Ventures and Sands Investment Group. Outside of finance, he was involved with Queen Anne Spirits & Wine from 2023 to 2025. Verum Partners 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 and supplements its offerings with access to independent portfolio managers, using client goals and risk tolerance to develop tailored investment strategies.

Nick Stockdale is a financial advisor at Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at The Vanguard Group, Inc and Adhesion Wealth. Outside of his advisory role, he owns RockBox Fitness, a franchise specializing in boxing-based fitness classes. Linden Thomas Advisory Services provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through separately managed accounts and proprietary index programs.

Aaron Salter is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Planning in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Asset Dedication since 2017 and has been with Cornerstone Planning, LLC since 2015. His role at Asset Dedication involves acting as a solicitor related to third-party investment management services for Cornerstone clients. Cornerstone Wealth Planning manages approximately $373 million on a discretionary basis and offers portfolio management alongside financial planning services for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis, incorporating third-party sub-advisers and providing flexible planning options including in-house tax preparation and structured educational programs.

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 with Capitalwize, LLC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Strategic Advisers, LLC and Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC, and also has experience as a senior recruiter with Talent Retriever LLC. Capitalwize is a fee-only financial planning firm that serves individuals and business entities with a focus on non–high-net-worth clients. The firm offers a range of advisory engagements, including one-time planning and extended programs, and conducts group educational seminars and alumni events.

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.

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, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Blue Financial, Funke worked at Oakwood Capital Securities, 49 Wealth Management, and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investment. Funke has also been involved with North Meets South Lacrosse, LLC. Blue Wealth Inc. serves individual clients, small businesses, trusts, estates, and high-net-worth individuals, providing discretionary asset management and financial planning. The firm employs a long-term investment approach based on documented goals and risk tolerances while avoiding margin, short sales, and derivatives.

William King II is a CFP® with 12 years of experience in financial advising, currently affiliated with CORE Advisory Group. He has previously worked with LPL Financial and Independent Advisor Alliance. Outside of his advisory roles, he is involved with CORE Tax Advisors, providing tax preparation and accounting services. CORE Advisory Group serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and charitable organizations with discretionary asset management and financial planning. The firm manages approximately $338 million across 1,141 clients and utilizes a combination of proprietary model portfolios and multiple platform solutions to deliver tailored investment strategies.

Scott Drake is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Crown Wealth Group LLC in Charlotte, NC, with 1 year of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo for 22 years. Crown Wealth Group LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm uses a goals-based investment process with tailored asset allocation and model portfolios, focusing on low-cost, diversified ETFs and mutual funds, while offering additional services including estate planning facilitation and executive compensation planning.

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.