William Sugg IV is a CFP® professional with 25 years of experience, currently serving at Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He has worked at APW Capital, Inc. for 14 years and has been with Laurel Wealth Advisors since 2007. Outside of advisory work, Sugg is involved in several investment ventures focused on real estate and early-stage electric vehicle and battery storage companies. Laurel Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing discretionary and non-discretionary asset management alongside financial planning. The firm manages nearly $1 billion in client assets with a team of seven advisors, offering customized investment programs based on fundamental analysis and regular portfolio reviews.

Walker Shelton is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at Verum Partners LLC since 2023. He previously worked at Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC and Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he assists a CPA firm in Charlotte, NC, during tax season. Verum Partners LLC 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 that combines advisory and securities transaction services and offers access to independent portfolio managers.

Charles Doran is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with one year of industry experience. He is currently with Verum Partners LLC in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2024. Prior to joining Verum Partners, he was employed at Bank of America from 2021 to 2024 and has experience in hospitality and education sectors. Verum Partners LLC 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 that combines advisory and securities transaction services, employs independent portfolio managers, and maintains institutional relationships with Schwab and Fidelity for research and technology support.

John Kernodle is a financial advisor at Strathmore Capital Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Strathmore Capital Advisors since 2005 and holds the Series 65 designation. Strathmore Capital Advisors serves individuals, trusts, endowments, and participant-directed retirement plans through discretionary portfolio management and goals-based financial planning. The firm emphasizes an asset-allocation-driven investment approach using mutual funds and ETFs, incorporating technology for client service and offering distinctive services such as a securities-backed lending strategy and integrated tax preparation.

Melissa Wall is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Providence Capital Advisors, LLC. She previously worked at Bank of America for thirteen years. Outside of her advisory role, she operates a seasonal tax preparation and schedule fee business. Providence Capital Advisors provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and integrated financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and small businesses. The firm employs fundamental security selection combined with technical and cyclical analysis across various strategy sleeves, including Core Equity, Diversified Income, and Covered Call programs, and incorporates derivatives and margin transactions in some strategies.

Heather Fowler is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with A4 Wealth Advisors LLC in Huntersville, NC. She has two years of industry experience and previously worked at Thrive Mortgage and Covius Services LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she owns HeatherGrown, LLC, where she teaches yoga and assists with plant sales. A4 Wealth Advisors is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $265 million for about 600 clients. The firm offers personalized financial planning, portfolio management, and coordinates with third-party money managers for individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable organizations.

Chandler Smith is a financial advisor with Four Financial Management in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has been with Four Financial Management since 2018 and also provides administrative support to independent investment advisor firms and assists in tax preparation operations. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as an author. Four Financial Management serves individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, as well as non-profits, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting with a focus on customized asset allocation strategies. The firm manages accounts on a discretionary basis and utilizes both proprietary and third-party model portfolios, operating within a network of industry affiliations including LPL Financial and related advisory and tax services.

Jared Mccutcheon is a financial advisor at Cannon Advisors in Charlotte, NC, with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, and Quasar Distributors, LLC. Cannon Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and limited consulting services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a variety of analytical approaches and investment strategies, including alternatives and options trading, and manages approximately $181.6 million across about 228 client accounts.

Matthew Costa is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Foundation Wealth & Tax Advisors, LLC. He has held roles at several firms including Bestgate Wealth Advisors, LLC and RSM US LLP. Outside of investment advisory, he is an accountant and principal at RCN & Associates LLC and provides tax consulting and preparation services through MRC Financial Services, LLC. Foundation Wealth & Tax Advisors, LLC offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm integrates multiple analytical approaches and uses third-party managers and platforms, including services for externally held digital assets and pension consulting.

Edward Deaton is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at MBL Advisors. His prior experience includes six years at Edge Capital Group, LLC, as well as roles at Carolina Capital Consulting, Inc. and periods of unemployment. MBL Wealth provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a goals-based, broadly diversified investment approach that integrates macroeconomic, fundamental, and technical analysis, utilizing stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, and other alternatives in portfolio construction.

David Perkins is a CFP® and PFS™ professional with 31 years of experience in financial planning and wealth management. He has worked at Verum Partners LLC since 2023 and previously held positions at Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC and Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. In addition to advising, Perkins operates a sole proprietor CPA firm focusing on tax return preparation and financial planning and serves as a trustee for a family trust. 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 utilizes independent managers for client portfolios while maintaining oversight and provides direct access to its portfolio managers.

Thomas Maclennan is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently a partner and Chief Compliance Officer at WMS Advisors, LLC and also has ownership in TGM Capital, LLC, a holding company for interests in WMS Advisors. He serves on the board and finance committee of Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, a nonprofit organization. WMS Advisors is a team-based SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $281 million for individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm employs asset-class oriented portfolios using ETFs, index funds, individual securities, and select alternatives, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside financial planning and retirement-plan consulting.

Michael Grimes is a CFA® charterholder and Series 63 licensee with six years of industry experience. He has worked at MBL Advisors since 2022 and previously held positions at Barings Securities LLC and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory role, he is a residential landlord in Charlotte, NC. MBL Wealth (MBL Advisors) provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm manages over $1.14 billion in discretionary assets through a team of ten advisors, employing a goals-based, broadly diversified investment approach that incorporates macroeconomic, fundamental, and technical analysis.

John Stamas is a financial advisor at Defender Capital with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Defender Capital and its related entities since 2011. He is also involved in managing D.J.S. Investments, LLC, a real estate investment entity. Defender Capital provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a customized, discretionary investment approach focused on fundamental analysis and primarily recommends exchange-traded equity securities.

James Harlow is a CFA® charterholder and holds the Series 66 designation, with 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Novare Capital Management since 2012. 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, employing proprietary investment strategies and utilizing both human and AI tools for research and risk monitoring.

Charles Dann is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving at Novare Capital Management since 2021. He previously worked at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors and Fidelity Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance sales. Novare Capital Management is an SEC-registered wealth management firm with a team of 18 advisors managing approximately $1.9 billion for individuals, trusts, estates, and institutions. The firm utilizes a client-specific Investment Policy Statement with proprietary strategies and incorporates artificial intelligence tools alongside human oversight in its portfolio management.

Brian Willis is a financial advisor with Wilson Wealth Management Group, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 19 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wilson Wealth Management Group, he worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Company, and MetLife Securities Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Willis owns a drone video and photography business and serves as CEO of a business referrals company. Wilson Wealth Management Group is a team-based RIA that advises high-income individuals, families, business owners, and early-career investors. The firm offers investment management and comprehensive financial planning, combining model portfolios, technical analysis, and customized strategies alongside estate planning coordination and insurance solutions.

Maurice Wilson is a financial advisor with Wilson Wealth Management Group, L.L.C. in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 19 years of industry experience, including over two decades with his current firm. Wilson Wealth Management Group is a team-based RIA serving high-income and high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and early-career investors. The firm combines model and customized portfolios with technical analysis and passive ETF strategies, offering comprehensive financial planning, estate planning coordination, insurance, and annuity solutions.

Julia Martinelli is a financial advisor at Strathmore Capital Advisors with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. Her prior experience includes roles at Dimensional Fund Advisors, The Vanguard Group, and Hightower Advisors. Strathmore Capital Advisors serves individuals, trusts, endowments, and participant-directed retirement plans with discretionary portfolio management and goals-based financial planning. The firm employs an asset-allocation approach utilizing mutual funds and ETFs, integrates technology for client service, and offers distinctive services such as a synthetic lending strategy and integrated tax preparation.

Brian Huff is a CFP® professional with one year of experience at Providence Capital Advisors, LLC. He previously worked for Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. from 2018 to 2025 and held roles at American University and Live Nation. Providence Capital Advisors, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and small businesses. The firm employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis with customized portfolio construction and incorporates derivatives, borrowing, and alternative investments within some separately managed accounts.