Zachary Spainhour is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently advising at A4 Wealth Advisors LLC in Huntersville, NC. His background includes roles at Highland Capital Group and LPL Financial, and he is also the managing member of Spainhour Tax Prep, LLC, a seasonal tax preparation business. A4 Wealth Advisors is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $265 million for around 600 clients. The firm offers personalized financial planning, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and integrates alternative investments into client allocations, while providing regular reviews and educational seminars.

William Kernodle is a financial advisor at Strathmore Capital Advisors with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Strathmore Capital since 2009. Strathmore Capital Advisors serves individuals, trusts, endowments, and participant-directed retirement plans with discretionary portfolio management and ongoing, goals-based financial planning. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven investment approach focused on mutual funds and ETFs, complemented by technology tools for client service and an integrated offering that includes tax preparation and a securities-backed lending strategy.

Linda Walden is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience and has been with Novare Capital Management since 2004. She is based in Charlotte, NC, and holds the Series 65 designation. Novare Capital Management is an SEC-registered 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 incorporates AI tools alongside human oversight in its investment process.

Angela Connolly is a financial advisor at Verum Partners LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at SPX Technologies, The Broadway, MFS Investment Management, and Fidelity Investments, as well as academic experience at Northeastern University. Verum Partners LLC provides customized wealth management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and estates, offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm incorporates independent managers in client portfolios while maintaining oversight and uses a wrap-fee structure that combines transaction costs.

Jonathan Bolston is a financial advisor at Wilson Wealth Management Group, L.L.C. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses with 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Empower Financial Services, Fort Bend ISD, and Edward Jones, among others. Wilson Wealth Management Group is a team-based registered investment advisor serving high-income and high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and early-career investors. The firm combines model and customized portfolios using a mix of technical analysis and passive ETF strategies, while also offering financial planning, estate planning coordination, and insurance and annuity solutions.

Leslie Watson is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Tru Independence Asset Management, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and A.G. Edwards & Sons. Watson is also involved in managing YellowWood Financial Advisors, LLC, an investment advisory firm. Tru Independence Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs diversified portfolios using both active and passive strategies and integrates independent managers, third-party sub-advisors, and digital platforms to serve over one thousand accounts.

Justin Louis is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Verum Partners LLC since 2023. His prior roles include work at Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC and Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. He also works as an assistant for a CPA firm during tax season. Verum Partners LLC provides customized wealth management services and discretionary portfolio management primarily for high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and estates. The firm sponsors a wrap-fee program and commonly engages Independent Managers while maintaining oversight and client access to its portfolio managers.

Eric Lockerman is a financial advisor at Novare Capital Management with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Bank and Tiaa. 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, employing proprietary strategies and AI-supported research overseen by an investment committee.

Claudia Stern is a financial advisor with Lebenthal Global Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Merrill from 2005 to 2016, Fusion Analytics Securities LLC, and Avenir Private Advisors before joining Lebenthal Global Advisors in 2020. Lebenthal Global Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, retirement accounts, and small business pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs model-based portfolio strategies managed through an affiliated sub-adviser, offering diversified, tax-sensitive, and specialty investment options with ongoing monitoring and rebalancing tailored to client objectives.

Luther Lockwood II is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 36 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with MBL Advisors and MBL Wealth, where he has held leadership roles since 1996. Lockwood serves as vice chairman of the Atrium Health Foundation and is involved with the University of Georgia Foundation’s Patrick H. Mell Leadership Fund selection committee, among other nonprofit and corporate board positions. MBL Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, providing discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $1.42 billion in discretionary assets using a goals-based, diversified investment approach supported by macro, fundamental, and technical analysis.

Cormac Lynch is a financial advisor at Cannon Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Cannon Advisors, he was a financial consultant at Florida Financial Advisors (DBA Tristate Financial Advisors). Cannon Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and limited financial consulting. The firm employs a variety of analytical approaches and strategies such as options trading and tax-efficient asset-location tools, managing approximately $181.6 million across roughly 228 clients.

Michael Klaiber is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Verity Investment Partners since 2017. He previously worked at UBS from 2015 to 2017. Klaiber is a board member and finance chair for Lowcountry Legal Volunteers and also serves on the Duke Fuqua School of Business Alumni Board. Verity Investment Partners is a 12-advisor team providing discretionary investment management, ongoing financial planning, and family office consulting to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets and emphasizes portfolios constructed with dividend-paying equities, fundamental and technical analysis, and client suitability.

Thomas Farrell is a CFP® with 18 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He currently serves at Aspire Private Capital and has prior experience with Global Financial Private Capital, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Edward Jones. In addition to his advisory role, he works as an independent insurance sales agent focusing on insurance and annuity product sales. Aspire Private Capital is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $510 million for individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement and tax consulting, utilizing third-party sub-advisers and a blend of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across various asset classes.

Jack Lawrence is a CFP® professional with recent experience at Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC and prior roles at West Financial Services and Sandy Spring Bank. He has worked in financial services since 2018 and is currently based in Charlotte, NC. Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC manages approximately $1.77 billion and provides wealth management services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment approach is based on modern portfolio theory and includes proprietary index-enhanced portfolios and diversified strategies tailored to client tax and investment needs.

Brian Alderson is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Providence Capital Advisors, LLC. He has been with the firm and its predecessor entity since 2016. Providence Capital Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and small businesses. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes fundamental analysis enhanced by technical and cyclical analysis, with a focus on individual securities and customized portfolio construction, including the use of derivatives and margin within separately managed accounts.

Nathan Carey is a financial advisor at Blue Financial with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Equitable Advisors and Roanoke College. Carey is also a licensed insurance agent involved in insurance planning activities. Blue Wealth Inc., the firm where Carey works, 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 across about 324 client relationships and emphasizes tailored investment strategies without the use of short sales, margin, derivatives, leverage, or options.

Nicholas Lloyd is a CFA® charterholder and Series 66 licensed advisor with six years of industry experience. He is currently with Novare Capital Management, where he has worked since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at M Holdings Securities and Greenberg & Rapp. Before entering the financial industry, he worked at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster and attended Virginia Tech University. 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, trusts, estates, and institutions. The firm employs client-specific investment strategies across various asset types, utilizing both proprietary methods and AI tools combined with human oversight.

Glen Wright II is a CFP® with over 21 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Worth Financial Advisory Group since 2011. Glen holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Charlotte, NC. Worth Advisors is a fee-based financial planning and investment management firm serving individuals, college coaches, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm constructs portfolios tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances, often utilizing ETFs, no-load index mutual funds, and third-party money managers while maintaining oversight.

Robert Cannon is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Cannon Advisors in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Regulus Financial Group, LLC, and Advisory Services Network, LLC. He is also a licensed agent for life, long-term care, fixed annuity, and disability insurance products. Cannon Advisors is an SEC-registered firm with a team of five advisors managing approximately $142 million for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, employing diverse analytical methods and strategies that include long- and short-term trading, margin, short sales, and options.

Stephen Thomas is a financial advisor with Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC and currently leads Indexperts, LLC alongside his role at Linden Thomas Advisory Services. Linden Thomas Advisory Services provides wealth management, investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory-based investment approach, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management through separately managed accounts, proprietary enhanced-index portfolios, and passive index programs.