Austin Tilles is a CFA® charterholder based in Charlotte, NC, with five years of industry experience. He has worked at Verum Partners LLC since 2022 and previously at The Vanguard Group, Inc. from 2019 to 2022. Verum Partners LLC provides customized wealth management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and estates, offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs Independent Managers for client portfolios while maintaining oversight and utilizes a wrap-fee program with institutional custody relationships.

William Kernodle is a financial advisor at Strathmore Capital Advisors with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Strathmore Capital since 2009. Strathmore Capital Advisors serves individuals, trusts, endowments, and participant-directed retirement plans with discretionary portfolio management and ongoing, goals-based financial planning. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven investment approach focused on mutual funds and ETFs, complemented by technology tools for client service and an integrated offering that includes tax preparation and a securities-backed lending strategy.

Linda Walden is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience and has been with Novare Capital Management since 2004. She is based in Charlotte, NC, and holds the Series 65 designation. Novare Capital Management is an SEC-registered 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 incorporates AI tools alongside human oversight in its investment process.

Angela Connolly is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Verum Partners LLC in Charlotte, NC, with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Verum Partners, she held roles at SPX Technologies, The Broadway, MFS Investment Management, and Fidelity Investments. She also has experience working at Northeastern University and Crescent Ridge Ice Cream & Dairy. Verum Partners provides customized wealth management services primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and estates. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, incorporating independent managers for client portfolios while maintaining oversight and offering direct access to its portfolio managers.

Sterling Alexander is a financial advisor at Insight Folios with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Insight Folios, he served multiple terms in the North Carolina Army National Guard from 2013 to 2024. Insight Folios provides portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, while also offering ERISA plan consulting and sub-advisory services to other registered investment adviser firms. The firm employs a team-of-advisers approach combined with proprietary planning software and artificial intelligence tools in its long-term, discretionary management process.

Jonathan Bolston is a financial advisor with Wilson Wealth Management Group, L.L.C. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Empower Financial Services, Fort Bend ISD, and the University of Houston Systems, among others. Wilson Wealth Management Group serves high-income and high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners, as well as early-career investors. The firm employs a combination of model portfolios and customized stock selections, integrating technical analysis with longer-term passive ETF strategies, and offers comprehensive financial planning and insurance solutions.

Leslie Watson is a CFP® with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with tru Independence Asset Management, LLC and has prior experience at APW Capital, Bank of America, and Merrill. Watson holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and serves as Managing Director at YellowWood Financial Advisors, LLC. tru Independence Asset Management, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $337 million in assets using diversified portfolios that combine active and passive strategies and offers both standalone financial plans and integrated portfolio management.

Justin Louis is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with Verum Partners LLC, where he has worked since 2023, following prior roles at Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC and Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he assists a CPA firm during tax season. Verum Partners LLC offers customized wealth management and discretionary portfolio management services primarily for high net worth individuals, families, trusts, and estates. The firm sponsors a wrap fee program that combines advisory and securities transaction services and provides access to independent portfolio managers.

Meredith Strosser is a financial advisor at CORE Advisory Group with 14 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at LPL Financial since 2014. Strosser is involved in tax preparation services through CORE Tax Advisors in addition to her advisory role. CORE Advisory Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, utilizing a range of investment strategies and platform solutions tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Eric Lockerman is a financial advisor at Novare Capital Management with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Bank and Tiaa. 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, employing proprietary strategies and AI-supported research overseen by an investment committee.

James Scharff is a financial advisor with Stark Financial Advisers, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 26 years of industry experience. His career includes over two decades at R.M. Stark & Co., Inc., where he serves as assistant branch manager with responsibilities in client account management, portfolio supervision, and trading. Stark Financial Advisers, Inc. manages approximately $94.7 million in discretionary assets for individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and other entities. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven approach using both fundamental and technical analysis and offers a range of portfolio strategies from conservative to aggressive, including the use of derivatives and options.

Claudia Stern is a financial advisor with Lebenthal Global Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. She has worked at Lebenthal Global Advisors since 2020 and previously held roles at Avenir Private Advisors and Fusion Analytics Securities LLC. Lebenthal Global Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, retirement accounts, and small business pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management through a wrap fee program, utilizing model-based strategies managed by an affiliated sub-adviser and providing financial planning at no additional charge to portfolio management clients.

Ryan Knight is a financial advisor at Family Wealth Partners, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Founders Federal Credit Union. Prior to his financial career, he was employed at Liberty University, Pelican's Snoballs, and Lancaster County School District. Family Wealth Partners serves individuals, business entities, charitable organizations, and pension/profit-sharing plans, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, pension consulting, and estate plan coordination. The firm employs a diversified, model- and research-driven investment process that includes fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and a range of traditional and alternative securities.

Luther Lockwood II is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with 35 years of industry experience, currently serving at MBL Advisors. He has held leadership roles at MBL Wealth, LLC and M Holdings Securities, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Lockwood is active in nonprofit and healthcare organizations, including serving as vice chairman of the Atrium Health Foundation board and as a member of the board of directors for One Direct Health Network, Inc. MBL Wealth (MBL Advisors) 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 that incorporates macroeconomic, fundamental, and technical analysis, and uses modern portfolio theory to guide asset allocation and risk management.

Cormac Lynch is a financial advisor with Cannon Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Florida Financial Advisors (DBA Tristate Financial Advisors) and TARGAN, as well as academic positions at the University of North Carolina. Cannon Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and limited financial consulting. The firm employs a range of analytical approaches and strategies, including options and derivatives trading, and manages approximately $181.6 million for around 228 clients.

Michael Klaiber is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Verity Investment Partners since 2017. He previously worked at UBS from 2015 to 2017. Klaiber is a board member and finance chair for Lowcountry Legal Volunteers and also serves on the Duke Fuqua School of Business Alumni Board. Verity Investment Partners is a 12-advisor team providing discretionary investment management, ongoing financial planning, and family office consulting to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets and emphasizes portfolios constructed with dividend-paying equities, fundamental and technical analysis, and client suitability.

Jack Lawrence is a CFP® professional with recent experience at Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC and prior roles at West Financial Services and Sandy Spring Bank. He has worked in financial services since 2018 and is currently based in Charlotte, NC. Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC manages approximately $1.77 billion and provides wealth management services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment approach is based on modern portfolio theory and includes proprietary index-enhanced portfolios and diversified strategies tailored to client tax and investment needs.

Brian Alderson is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Providence Capital Advisors, LLC. He has been with the firm and its predecessor entity since 2016. Providence Capital Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and small businesses. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes fundamental analysis enhanced by technical and cyclical analysis, with a focus on individual securities and customized portfolio construction, including the use of derivatives and margin within separately managed accounts.

Henry Barringer is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Alpha Financial Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Alpha Financial Advisors since 2013. Alpha Financial Advisors provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, small businesses, and certain retirement plans. The firm employs strategic asset allocation primarily using no-load mutual funds and ETFs, managing client portfolios on a discretionary basis with regular reviews and rebalancing.

Nathan Carey is a financial advisor at Blue Financial with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 license and previously worked at Equitable Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is also a licensed insurance agent involved in insurance planning activities. Blue Wealth Inc., where Nathan serves on a seven-person team, provides discretionary asset management and financial planning to individuals, small businesses, trusts, and estates. The firm’s investment approach focuses on long-term strategies without the use of margin, short sales, derivatives, leverage, or options, and it offers client educational seminars and workshops.