William Smith is a financial advisor with Blueprint Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. His prior work includes nearly a decade at Securities America Advisors and Securities America Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Smith serves as the chairman of a church board and is involved in nonprofit activities, including serving on the board of a ministry and acting as treasurer for a youth basketball program. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor, SEC-registered firm managing approximately $1.4 billion in client assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting for individuals, trusts, pension plans, and nonprofits, utilizing a proprietary investment strategy that combines diversified asset allocation with price-driven trend-following and momentum rules.

Shawn Sigler is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and serves as Executive Vice President of Financial Independence Group, an independent marketing organization representing multiple insurance carriers. In this role, he dedicates significant time to consulting and supporting insurance agents. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for individuals, trusts, businesses, and other advisers, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning and retirement consulting. The firm employs a strategic asset-allocation approach with quantitative analysis and works with subadvisers, underlying funds, and exchange-traded products.

Ava Smagacz is a financial advisor at 49 Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with three years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Oakwood Capital Securities, Inc. and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc. She also provides fixed insurance services alongside her advisory work. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients with comprehensive financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm emphasizes disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation supported by fundamental, cyclical, technical, and behavioral analysis, and offers tiered fractional family office services for high-net-worth clients.

Andrew Paolini is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Principal Financial Services, Principal Bank, and Wells Fargo in various roles. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Treasurer for the Charlotte Adult Baseball League, managing budgets and financial reporting for the organization. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both nondiscretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program. The firm integrates proprietary models with third-party tools and operates within the Principal Financial Group family, enabling access to a range of affiliated products and services.

Robert White is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 designations and has held positions at several firms including Bank of America, Merrill, Fidelity Investments, and Vanguard. Prior to his advisory career, he worked at the Internal Revenue Service and Shenandoah University. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, providing both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates third-party methodologies and proprietary models, leveraging its affiliation with Principal Financial Group to access proprietary funds and affiliated services.

Gary Stewart is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at TIAA-CREF for 15 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is the Owner and President of I RUN ZERO, Inc., a retail business selling bumper stickers. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates third-party methodologies with proprietary models and operates within the Principal Financial Group family, enabling access to affiliated products and services.

Kyle Corgan is a financial advisor at NFSG Corporation with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked at NewBridge Securities Corporation since 2018 and Fidelity Investments from 2011 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent and is involved with HomeVestors, marketing 1031 exchanges and DST investments. He also operates an insurance sales business under Goosehead Insurance Agency, LLC. NFSG Corporation provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutional participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers diversified portfolio management and employs internal and third-party asset management resources to support its advisors.

Jennifer Jost is a financial advisor at Simplicity Wealth with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including LifePro Asset Management, Ameritas Investment Corp, and Edward Jones. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner and speaker for Diamond Life Strategies, where she conducts motivational speaking and workshops for various women's groups, and hosts a weekly podcast called Rock My Finances. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, corporate and institutional clients, and other financial firms. The firm uses a fund-of-funds approach with ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, offering model portfolios that are actively monitored and rebalanced, along with technology and operational services for other advisers.

John Capets is a financial advisor at United Capital Financial Advisors with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at United Capital since 2021, following long tenures at Capital Investment Group, Inc. and Harbor Capital Management, Inc. United Capital Financial Advisors provides financial planning and investment management services nationally to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm employs discretionary portfolio management using asset-allocation models developed by an Investment Policy Committee and offers customized strategies including ESG and faith-based options.

Rutherford Bryson III is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cary Street Partners since 2011. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he acts as a trustee for the Sanders Family Trust, overseeing asset management and discretionary distributions. Cary Street Partners provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management and advisory services to individual investors, charitable organizations, corporations, retirement plans, and other institutions. The firm employs a comprehensive investment approach that includes portfolio management, financial and retirement planning, access to alternative investments, and proprietary strategies managed through affiliated entities.

James Pinzker is a financial advisor at A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at firms including UBS Financial Services, Citigroup Global Markets, and Oppenheimer. Outside of his advisory role, he is a passive investor in non-investment businesses such as Rowdydow BBQ and Sambalatte coffee shop. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners operates a multi-team platform with approximately 131 advisors managing about $2.95 billion for over 7,000 clients. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement-plan advisory, and brokerage services, using an open-architecture investment approach that includes internally managed strategies and sub-advisory relationships.

Erik Merkau is a CFA® charterholder with 29 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Choreo, LLC and has prior experience at Edelman Financial Engines Advisors, JPMorgan Securities LLC, and Chase. Choreo serves a diverse client base ranging from individual investors to institutional clients, offering services that include portfolio management, financial planning, and outsourced CIO solutions. The firm follows a rigorous investment process centered on strategic asset allocation and a combination of quantitative screening and due diligence to manage portfolios through various vehicles, including model portfolios and separately managed accounts.

Vikalp Agrawal is a financial advisor at Tucker Asset Management LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at DXC Technologies for 17 years. He is also the owner and CEO of Desiretree Financial Services LLC, a life and health insurance agency based in Charlotte, NC. Tucker Asset Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as foundations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing discretionary investment management and financial planning through a network of independent adviser representatives. The firm employs a top-down, macroeconomic asset-allocation approach and incorporates a range of strategies including alternative investments and direct indexing.

Lorraine Tomlin is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience, currently with Waverly Advisors, LLC. She has been associated with Rinehart Wealth & Investment Advisory since 2011. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, serving a diverse client base that includes both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients.

Craig Rubrecht is a financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth Group, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Mutual Securities, Inc., Cornerstone Financial Advisors, LPL Financial, and Securities America Advisors, Inc. He serves as a board member of the Focus Strategic Advisory Board, which meets biannually to provide strategic guidance. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, other advisers, and corporations. The firm uses model-based portfolios incorporating ETFs, mutual funds, equities, bonds, and alternative investments, guided by an investment committee, and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary solutions.

Rebecca Chazen is a financial advisor at USAA Investment Services Company with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has held prior roles at Ally Invest Securities LLC, Truist Investment Services, and The Vanguard Group. USAA Investment Services Company provides retirement-focused advice and referral services primarily to USAA members and individual investors through phone and digital channels. The firm delivers Retirement Income Strategy Reports and facilitates referrals to third-party broker-dealers and advisers rather than managing client assets directly.

James Carson III is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 15 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at SVB Wealth, First Citizens Asset Management, and Truist Investment Services. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Rusty's Rods LLC, a business that designs and sells custom fishing rods. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio management through wrap programs and automated platforms, employing risk- and outcomes-based asset allocation, and benefits from its affiliation with a bank holding company, which integrates banking resources and referral relationships.

Kane Alvarez Del Pino is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has been with Principal Advised Services and affiliated Principal entities since 2026. His work background includes roles outside of finance, such as involvement with the Georgia Soccer Officials Association and experience at Trader Joe's. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates third-party and proprietary tools supported by governance committees and benefits from operational connections within the Principal Financial Group family.

Sean Kayes is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cary Street Partners. His prior roles include positions at Exencial Wealth Advisors and Willingdon Wealth Management, LLC. He is also a general partner in LOG Ventures, an investment group. Cary Street Partners provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers portfolio management, financial and retirement planning, access to alternative investments, and lending and insurance solutions, employing a range of traditional and opportunistic investment strategies.

Alex Yarem is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and serves as an adjunct professor for Campbell University’s graduate program, teaching Advanced Investment Analysis. Prior to joining First Citizens Asset Management in 2026, he worked at various affiliates of First Citizens Bank since 2019. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutions. The firm constructs global multi-asset class model portfolios using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with discretionary management focused on strategic asset allocation and risk control.