Gavin Gochnour is a financial advisor at BNA Wealth with a Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. His background includes roles at The Vanguard Group and Egan, Berger, and Weiner, as well as entrepreneurial experience running K-Coast Surf Shop. BNA Wealth provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, with a focus on both discretionary and predominantly non-discretionary portfolio management. The firm also offers estate-planning assistance through a digital platform combined with optional attorney consultations.

Jennifer Fuller is a financial advisor at Defender Capital with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at TIAA and Trader Joe’s. She has also been involved with organizations such as Advantage Living, The Charlotte Church, and Life to the Full. Defender Capital serves individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs fundamental analysis and custom portfolio strategies, focusing on exchange-traded equities and tailored investment approaches.

Andrew Poston is a financial advisor at Fortress Private Ledger, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones and as a self-employed advisor. Outside of finance, he is involved in youth sports as a scheduler for Piedmont Sports Officials and serves as a self-contracting umpire for high school and college baseball. Fortress Private Ledger serves individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and other entities by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized advisory services including Qualified Opportunity Zone consulting. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach combining technical analysis with fundamental and thematic strategies and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

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 with Cornerstone Wealth Planning in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Asset Dedication from 2017 to 2021 and has been with Cornerstone Planning since 2015. Cornerstone Planning serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners with investment advisory, portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning. The firm integrates in-house tax preparation with its advisory services and employs a client-specific, research-driven investment process that includes the use of independent sub-advisers.

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.

Phillip Smiley is a financial advisor at Burkett Financial Services, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked for Westminster Financial Securities for 15 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in the real estate company Prorentals, LLC. Burkett Financial Services advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plans, managing approximately $573 million across 476 client relationships. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting, with investment strategies primarily focused on mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed income instruments, supported by a five-advisor investment committee and a close affiliation with an accounting firm providing integrated tax-planning support.

Greg Derderian is a financial advisor at Capitalwize, LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Strategic Advisers, LLC and Fidelity Brokerage Services, LLC. Outside of advising, he is a senior recruiter for Talent Retriever LLC. Capitalwize is a fee-only financial planning firm serving individuals and business entities, primarily those who are not high-net-worth. The firm offers various advisory engagements and educational programs, often using third-party managers for portfolio management while providing ongoing oversight.

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.

Phoebe Son Oh is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Verum Partners LLC. She previously worked at Equitable Advisors, LLC and has experience in educational roles. Outside of her advisory work, she is a commissioned artist and volunteers as a childcare worker at a local church. Verum Partners LLC provides customized wealth management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and estates, offering discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning. The firm engages independent managers for client portfolios while maintaining oversight and due diligence.

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, with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms, including 49 Wealth Management and Oakwood Capital Securities. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Financial Independence Group, focusing on due diligence for insurance products suitable for clients. Blue Wealth Inc. 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, tailoring investment strategies to client goals and employing a long-term approach without using margin, options, or leverage.

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 financial advisor with Crown Wealth Group LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo for 22 years before joining Crown Wealth Group. Crown Wealth Group LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs a goals-based investment process using low-cost, diversified ETFs and mutual funds, supported by an Investment Committee that customizes asset allocation and model portfolios.

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.

Joseph Giordano is a financial advisor with CORE Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Edward Jones, and Park Avenue Securities. Outside of advisory work, he is employed at Novant Health and has experience with Guardian Life Insurance Company. CORE Advisory Group serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and charitable organizations with discretionary asset management and financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $338 million for over 1,100 clients through a team of ten advisors, providing portfolio management using proprietary model portfolios alongside multiple third-party platforms.

John Waddill is a Series 65 credentialed advisor with two years of industry experience. He currently works at Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC and has prior experience at Park National Bank and Ridgetop Research LLC. Laurel Wealth Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to individuals, charitable organizations, and business entities, combining fundamental analysis with customized strategies tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerance. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside financial planning services integrated into its asset management.