Michael Kearney is a financial advisor at Arkadios Wealth Advisors with 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Thrivent Investment Management and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for over 15 years. He is registered as a Series 66 advisor. Outside of Arkadios, he is involved with SouthPark Capital and owns Solipo LLC, both related to financial advising and commission-based compensation. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans, offering advisor-managed accounts, third-party money management, and financial planning. The firm employs a blend of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, supports discretionary portfolio management through its internal Arkadios Managed Solutions team, and operates an integrated model combining advisory services, brokerage, and in-house portfolio support.

Ross Marynell is a financial advisor with Advisory Alpha, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Advisory Alpha since 2020 and has prior experience with Planners Alliance LLC, Vertex Capital Advisors, LLC, and AlphaStar Capital Management. Outside of his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent involved in selling annuities, health, and life insurance products through Vertex Capital Advisors. Advisory Alpha serves individual and high-net-worth investors with portfolio management, financial planning, and specialty solutions such as retirement plan services and donor-advised funds. The firm also acts as a subadvisor or co-advisor for other registered investment advisors, offering a broad menu of managed portfolio series that include factor, hedged, and manager-of-managers strategies.

Connor Crayne is a financial advisor at Modera Wealth Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC, with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Modera in 2026, he worked at Trinity Wealth Securities, LLC and Florida Financial Advisors (DBA Tristate Financial Advisors) from 2024 to 2026. He previously served nine years in the U.S. Navy. Modera Wealth Management provides wealth management, portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes diversified asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory and combines investment management with in-house accounting and tax services.

James Johnson is a financial advisor at Lombard Advisers Incorporated with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with Lombard Securities Incorporated since 2007. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and manages real estate through entities separate from his investment activities. Lombard Advisers provides personalized investment management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management using fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis, and manages approximately $670 million in assets.

Bradley Kellen is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Founders Financial Securities LLC and Fairway Financial since 2015. He is based in Matthews, NC, and holds the Series 66 designation. His work includes financial planning and insurance sales with a focus on variable annuities, long-term care, and variable life products. Founders Financial Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing multiple advisory platforms and a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, and sub-advised strategies.

Thomas Clark is a financial advisor at Altitude Capital Management LLC in Charlotte, NC, with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has prior experience at the Clark Agency, Horace Mann Investors, Horace Mann Companies, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Clark is also involved in insurance sales as an agent, dedicating up to 30% of his working time to this activity. Altitude Capital Management LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and high net worth clients. The firm employs tailored strategies that include asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and technical analysis, managing $103.6 million in discretionary assets under a multi-team structure.

David Reid is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Securities LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Securities and Fairway Financial since 2015, where he also provides insurance advice and products as part of his other business activities. Founders Financial Securities serves a broad range of clients, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing multiple investment programs and combining advisory, broker-dealer, and insurance services within its platform.

Marcus Anderson is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, LPL Financial, and Uvest Financial Services Group. Anderson is also licensed to provide fixed insurance advice tailored to client needs. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, retirement plans, ESOPs, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, diversified asset allocation strategy managed through centrally coordinated models and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Hailey Hall is a financial advisor with Advisory Solutions Group and holds the Series 66 designation. She has five years of industry experience, including roles with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services and LPL Financial. Advisory Solutions Group, operating as FocusPoint Solutions, serves retail clients through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives and provides turnkey business and back-office services to other registered investment advisory firms. The firm employs a diversified investment approach combining quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis, and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies with regular client reviews.

Michael Ziemer is a CFP® professional with 23 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has worked at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2023 and previously spent 19 years at Parsec Financial Management, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member for Ziemer Funeral Homes. Modera Wealth Management, LLC provides fiduciary, fee-only advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an allocation-driven investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers a range of services including portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, financial planning, and tax-related services.

Lewis Kayes is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Cary Street Partners, having joined the firm in 2026. Prior to this, he worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors for three years and at Willingdon Wealth Management Inc. for 17 years. Cary Street Partners provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a broad investment menu and proprietary strategies, serving both retail and specialized institutional niches such as state and municipal government entities.

Leslie Moise is a financial advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Arete Wealth Management LLC in 2022, Leslie worked at National Securities Corp for 11 years. Outside of investment advising, Leslie is the owner and president of LIANMAC, Inc., a small accounting and tax-related business. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm primarily manages assets on a discretionary basis using both advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations, and integrates with affiliated financial businesses and product channels.

Thomas Braun is a financial advisor at Gradient Investments, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Goldenguard Wealth Management, GoldenGuard Financial, Thrivent Investment Management, and Worth Financial Group. He is also the owner of GoldenGuard Financial, an insurance services business based in Matthews, NC. Gradient Investments, LLC provides discretionary investment management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and various entities. The firm uses a proprietary Wright Investment Strategies framework and offers a variety of model and custom portfolios managed on a discretionary basis.

Christopher Elliotte is a Series 65 credentialed advisor with 16 years of industry experience, currently with Colony Family Offices, LLC since 2014. He is based in Charlotte, NC and is part of a team of six advisors at the firm. Colony Family Offices provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning primarily to ultra-high-net-worth families, managing approximately $3.32 billion in discretionary assets. The firm employs a priorities-based, customized planning approach combining passive and active investment strategies, and utilizes third-party managers alongside independent research to support client portfolios.

Lance Bryan is a financial advisor at Cary Street Partners with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Matrix Private Capital Group, Neuberger Berman, and Ameriprise. Cary Street Partners provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of investment options and proprietary strategies, serving notable institutional niches such as state and municipal government entities and insurance company clients.

John Bly is a financial advisor with Aprio Wealth Management, LLC in Matthews, NC, holding a Series 66 license and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Aprio Advisory Group and Aprio Risk Management since 2019, as well as prior experience at HK Financial Services, Proequities Inc, and L B & A, CPA, PLLC. Bly is also a partner at a CPA firm and is involved in insurance sales. Aprio Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm focuses on tailored portfolio management, financial planning, and uses a combination of asset allocation, specialist sub-advisers, and various investment strategies to help preserve clients’ purchasing power over the long term.

Lamaar Steadman is a financial advisor at Gradient Investments, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Civitas Financial LLC and Gradient Advisors LLC prior to his current roles. Steadman is also involved in insurance sales and investment advisory through American Insurance Marketing Solutions. Gradient Investments, LLC provides discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and other entities using a proprietary investment framework. The firm offers a variety of portfolios, including strategic, tactical, private wealth, and tax-aware strategies, managing assets on a fee-only basis without serving as custodian.

Katrina Hayes is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience. She has worked at Prospera Financial Services since 2013, following roles at TCA Financial Group and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of her advisory work, she is active in community and professional organizations, including serving as Chair of the Charlotte chapter of Ellevate, a global professional networking association, and holding leadership roles in a local nonprofit wine tasting social club. Prospera Financial Services is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors and approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and other entities, offering financial planning and portfolio management through multiple advisory programs and platforms.

William Etheridge Jr. is a financial advisor at Hilltop Securities Inc. with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at RBC Capital Markets Corporation for 17 years. Hilltop Securities Inc. provides brokerage, investment advisory, and retirement-plan consulting services to individuals, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $2.25 billion in assets and offers a range of portfolio management programs supported by an open-architecture platform and a variety of investment strategies.

Melissa Boyer is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2020. Her prior experience includes roles at Keatley Wealth Management, LLC, LPL Financial, LLC, and MSI Financial Services, Inc. Modera Wealth Management provides wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm employs a diversified asset allocation strategy based on Modern Portfolio Theory and integrates investment management with accounting, tax, and business coaching services.