Benjamin Small is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Planning in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at The Vanguard Group and several other companies outside financial services. Cornerstone Wealth Planning serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners with investment advisory, portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning, integrating in-house tax preparation and educational seminars alongside its investment services.

Nicholas Adkins is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Hobart Wealth. He previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and Edward Jones. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent involved in the sale of insurance products. Hobart Wealth is an SEC-registered advisory firm with a team of eight advisors managing approximately $430 million. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and estates, offering tailored asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting using a range of analytical methods and implementation strategies.

Esther Bodman is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Planning in Charlotte, NC, with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Cornerstone since 2018. Prior to joining Cornerstone, she worked at Senior Helpers from 2014 to 2018. Cornerstone Wealth Planning provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners. The firm applies Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis in its investment approach and offers in-house tax preparation and educational seminars as part of its service offerings.

Charles Randall is a financial advisor at Hobart Wealth in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential with 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at RBC Capital Markets, City National Bank, Charles Schwab, and Morgan Stanley. 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 and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and estates, offering tailored asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting using a variety of analytical methods and implementation strategies.

Barron Akins is a financial advisor at Oakworth Asset Management, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, Truist Wealth Journey Room and Portfolio Architecture, Bank of America, and Merrill. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of a rental property in Panama City, Florida. Oakworth Asset Management provides financial planning, consulting, and discretionary wealth and portfolio management to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm uses a top-down, macro-driven investment approach and employs a mix of mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, alternative investments, and Independent Managers.

Timothy Paschall is a CFP® professional with 35 years of industry experience, currently serving at WMS Advisors, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Grove Point Investments, and Concourse Financial Group Securities Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in agriculture and farming operations through The Deer Farm and Alexander Mountain Corporation. WMS Advisors is a team-based SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $281 million for individual and institutional clients. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, employing core asset-class strategies with ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and selective alternatives.

John Menser is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Novare Capital Management. His work history includes roles at Concorde Financial Resources, Westminster Financial Securities, and Bank of America. 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 using a client-specific Investment Policy Statement and proprietary strategies, supported by an investment committee and artificial intelligence tools.

Thomas Mack is a CFA® charterholder based in Charlotte, NC, with six years of experience at MBL Wealth, LLC and two years at McShane Partners Wealth & Investment Advisory, LLC. Prior to his advisory career, he worked for four years at Wake Forest University. MBL Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, providing discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $1.42 billion in discretionary assets and employs a goals-based investment process emphasizing diversified, long-term asset allocation informed by macroeconomic, fundamental, and technical analysis.

Alixandria Tucci is a CFP® with 11 years of experience in financial advising. She currently works at PCM Encore, LLC and has previously been with Q3 Advisors, Facet Wealth, Vanguard, and the NC YMCA. Outside of financial services, she operated Queen City Pet Sitting for six years. PCM Encore serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and organizations, providing wealth management, family office services, and retirement plan advisory. The firm focuses on diversified, long-term portfolio construction using primarily passive, low-cost funds and applies tax-aware strategies where appropriate.

William Pierce is a financial advisor with MBL Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 48 years of industry experience. He has worked at MBL Wealth since 2025 and is also president of TPG Consulting, LLC, where he consults and sells insurance and investment products. MBL Wealth provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a goals-based, broadly diversified investment approach and utilizes third-party models and research providers to support portfolio management and integrated planning services for its clients.

Jessica Carnes is a financial advisor with Worth Advisors in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 14 years of industry experience, including 10 years at Worth Financial Advisory Group, LLC. Worth Advisors provides fee-based financial planning and portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, businesses, qualified retirement plans, and other advisers. The firm is known for its CoachNetWorth platform serving college coaches and integrates tax and bookkeeping support through collaboration with accounting professionals.

Catherine Fisher is a financial advisor at CORE Advisory Group with a Series 65 license and one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial and Atrium Health, as well as work as a private nanny. 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 with a team of ten advisors, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting through a range of portfolio strategies and platform solutions.

Kathleen Focht is a financial advisor at Sapere Wealth Management, LLC with 21 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Sapere Wealth Management since 2005. Her prior experience includes roles at Sapere Wealth Creation, LLC and Carlton Dixon. Sapere Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional and trust entities. The firm employs a top-down, global-macro investment approach focused on absolute returns, combining public equities, registered funds, and privately offered vehicles with an emphasis on active liquidity management.

Shane Snively is a financial advisor at Eagle Wealth Management Group Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked with firms including Concorde Investment Services, Crown Capital Securities, and Securian Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, Snively is involved in multiple entrepreneurial ventures, including content creation and sports media with KazSource Inc., and serves on the Board of Advisors at Gardner-Webb University Pace, focusing on professional development programs. Eagle Wealth Management Group is a team-based SEC-registered adviser serving individuals across wealth levels and sponsor-level retirement plans, including governmental and church plans. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management through a mix of analytical approaches and offers both fiduciary and discretionary services tailored to retirement-plan clients.

Christopher Knight is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Planning. He previously worked at Asset Dedication and Ronald Blue & Co. Knight is co-executive director of the Men of Courage Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Cornerstone Planning, LLC provides investment advisory, portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners. The firm combines Modern Portfolio Theory with fundamental analysis and integrates in-house tax preparation and educational seminars into its multi-advisor team approach.

Giana Lombardo is a financial advisor at Blue Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Blue Wealth Inc. and Cobblestone Capital Advisors. Blue Wealth Inc. provides discretionary asset management and financial planning to individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs tailored investment strategies based on fundamental and technical analysis with a long-term orientation and offers educational seminars for clients and prospects.

Matthew Hastings is a financial advisor at Burgess Investment Group, LLC with 12 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. His prior roles include positions at JP Morgan Securities, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, and Merrill. Outside of finance, he is a minority owner of a small family market garden business. Burgess Investment Group provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, charities, and high-net-worth clients, employing a multi-method investment process and offering strategies ranging from long-term buy-and-hold to short-term trading. The firm includes alternative investments in its product universe and discloses both hypothetical and actual performance results.

Evan Grey is a financial advisor at Matauro, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Equitable Advisors and AxA Advisors. In addition to his advisory role, he has experience as an independent licensed insurance agent, focusing on life insurance and variable annuities. Matauro, LLC manages over $1 billion in assets and offers wealth management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and portfolio management to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm employs a diverse investment approach that includes fundamental, macroeconomic, technical, and ESG analysis across multiple asset classes, utilizing both in-house management and third-party managers.

Garrison Mc Afee is a financial advisor at Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with less than one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Laurel Wealth Advisors, his background includes roles at Recreational Equipment, Inc., LPL Financial, and several educational institutions including the University of Florida and Clarence High School. Laurel Wealth Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to individuals, charitable organizations, and business entities, tailoring strategies based on client goals and risk tolerance. The firm integrates fundamental analysis and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management alongside financial planning services without a separate charge.

Sophie Young is a CFP® professional with five years of experience at Novare Capital Management and a total of eight years in the financial industry. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Private Bank and Ameriprise Financial Services and has a background that includes five years at Green Valley Country Club. 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, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and financial institutions. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management services, using proprietary investment strategies and AI tools to support decision-making alongside human oversight.