Matthew Pratt is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Arkadios Wealth Advisors since 2020. He previously worked at Triad Advisors, Inc. from 2014 to 2020. Pratt is also involved in financial services through his roles in Thompson Pratt Capital Management, LLC, and Pratt Investments, LLC. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans, utilizing a variety of managed accounts, third-party money managers, and financial planning. The firm supports advisors with an internal portfolio team and offers an integrated operating model combining advisory services, brokerage execution, and portfolio management.

Connor Tuerlings is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with two years of industry experience. He has held positions within several Principal Financial Group affiliates, including Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance, and Principal Securities, Inc. Prior to joining Principal, he worked in marketing and loan services. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm offers both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest, integrating proprietary models and third-party tools to support client portfolios.

Brian Barnes is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 18 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Financial Services, Principal Bank, Robinhood Markets, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both nondiscretionary recommendations and a discretionary wrap-fee investment management program. The firm integrates third-party methodologies with proprietary models and operates within the Principal Financial Group family, enabling access to a range of affiliated financial products and services.

Sean Bandazian is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Group with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including The Leaders Group, Alphastar Capital Management, and LPL Financial. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plans, other advisers, and corporations. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning, implementing model-based portfolios that use ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and third-party managed alternatives.

Derek Hernquist is a financial advisor at Aptus Capital Advisors, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Aptus since 2018. Prior to that, he worked at Strategic Index Advisors and Adhesion Wealth Advisor Solutions. Aptus Capital Advisors manages approximately $14.47 billion on a discretionary basis and provides advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and registered investment companies. The firm employs primarily ETF-based strategies using both technical and fundamental analysis and offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services.

John Helmers is a financial advisor at 49 Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 credential. He has one year of experience in the industry and previously worked at Forward Wealth Management, Rinse N Repeat, and Aptive. Outside of advisory roles, he is also a licensed fixed insurance agent. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans, offering comprehensive financial planning, advanced planning, and investment management. The firm utilizes a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation strategy and provides tiered fractional family office services.

Audrey Blanke is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 10 years of industry experience. She is currently with Choreo, LLC and has previously worked at firms including Robert W. Baird and Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. Choreo serves a diverse client base ranging from individuals to institutional investors and offers a range of advisory services including portfolio management, financial planning, and outsourced CIO consulting. The firm employs a strategic, quantitative investment process and provides specialized services such as 1031 exchange advisory and Deferred Sales Trusts™ consulting.

Edward Wood III is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 28 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC, where he has worked since 2018, and has held positions at several firms including Mutual Securities, Inc., Cornerstone Financial Partners, Inc., and LPL Financial. Wood is also involved in insurance-related activities through Cornerstone Risk Management Advisors, LLC. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, advisers, and corporations. The firm provides comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing model-based portfolios that include ETFs, mutual funds, equities, bonds, and alternative investments when appropriate.

Jeremy Fisher is a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with RSM US Wealth Management LLC since 2012. Choreo provides investment and advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, family offices, endowments, foundations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and diversified model portfolios managed by a centralized team and overseen by an Investment Committee.

Casey Hepburn is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with Principal Financial Services, Principal Bank, and Truist Financial. Hepburn provides investment advice to retirement plan participants regarding their distribution options. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party tools like Morningstar with proprietary models. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, providing access to affiliated mutual funds, bank products, and trading services through integrated operations.

Isaiah Smith II is a financial advisor with Integrity Advisory Solutions, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Integrity Advisory Solutions in 2025, he worked at AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC for five years and Regal Investment Advisors LLC for four years. He also serves as Senior Vice President of Annuity Sales at The Assurance Group, where he is involved in training and mentoring agents. Integrity Advisory Solutions serves individual, trust, estate, corporate, and business clients through a network of approximately 100 independent advisors, managing about $1.1 billion in client assets. The firm offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and uses both fundamental and technical analysis supported by various asset allocation strategies and third-party platforms.

Michael Ames is a financial advisor at StoneX Advisors Inc. with 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at StoneX Advisors since 2020, following roles at Fifth Third Securities and Truist Investment Services. Ames is also involved in insurance sales as an agent with Synergy Insurance Group and Buckhead Brokerage Group. StoneX Advisors serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through a combination of independent advisors and an in-house Private Client Group. The firm utilizes a variety of strategies and platforms to support customized investment solutions.

Andrea Pine is a financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mutual Securities, Inc. since 2017 and at Cornerstone Financial Partners since 2014, with prior experience at LPL Financial from 2013 to 2017. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, other advisers, and corporations. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related services, implementing model-based portfolios with a mix of ETFs, mutual funds, equities, bonds, and alternative investments when appropriate.

Matthew Sandberg is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at Cornerstone Wealth Group since 2017. His prior roles include positions at Mutual Securities, Inc., Cornerstone Financial Partners, and LPL Financial, LLC. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, other advisers, and corporations. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related services, employing model-based portfolios guided by an investment committee and providing both discretionary and non-discretionary solutions.

Orlando Ricci is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and six years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Securities Inc., and New York Life, among others. Outside of finance, Ricci officiates high school wrestling in North Carolina and South Carolina and has published two novels, with a third in progress. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program. The firm integrates third-party tools and proprietary models, benefiting from its affiliation with the Principal Financial Group family.

Katherine Burak is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC. Her prior roles include positions at Vanguard Marketing Corporation and Cleary University. Choreo serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm’s investment process emphasizes strategic asset allocation combined with quantitative screening and due diligence, implementing portfolios through a variety of managed accounts and specialized advisory services.

Brett Shanklin is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. He has held roles at several Principal Financial Group affiliates, including Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Principal Securities, Inc. Prior to joining Principal, his work experience spans multiple industries including banking and staffing. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party methodologies with proprietary models. The firm leverages its affiliation with Principal Financial Group to offer a range of advisory services and investment products supported by dedicated governance and supervision.

Lauren Martinez is a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Verum Partners LLC, Novare Capital Management, LLC, and Staton Financial Advisors, LLC. Choreo serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, family offices, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, endowments, and institutional clients. The firm employs a quantitative and committee-approved investment process, offering a broad range of services such as portfolio management, wealth management consulting, outsourced CIO, and retirement plan consulting.

Carolyn Balzano is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC since 2021. She previously worked at Fifth Third Bank from 2014 to 2021. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $7.8 billion in discretionary assets for a range of clients, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and access to alternative investments, leveraging both in-house resources and third-party managers within an integrated framework affiliated with Fifth Third Bank.

Arron Price is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and serves as the COO of Financial Independence Group, where he oversees the strategic direction of operations and technology. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, and institutions. The firm offers both predefined model portfolios and customized strategies, employing a quantitative and tactical investment approach that incorporates third-party research and momentum evaluation.