Caroline Campanella is a CFP® professional at Ritholtz Wealth Management with two years of industry experience. She previously worked at Novare Capital Management and Corient, and earlier was employed by the University of Georgia. Ritholtz Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $9.4 billion in assets, emphasizing goal-based investing, asset allocation, and behavioral finance principles, and provides both advisor-led services and digital platforms for portfolio implementation and management.

Leah Maybry is a financial advisor at SignatureFD, LLC with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at SignatureFD since 2019, following four years at Rinehart Wealth Management/McShane Partners. In addition to her advisory role, she is a principal at Frazier & Deeter Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, where she provides tax compliance and consulting services for individuals and closely-held businesses. SignatureFD serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, business entities, and charitable organizations, offering wealth management, retirement plan management, and consulting services. The firm combines discretionary portfolio management with ongoing financial planning and integrates affiliated accounting and fund management capabilities.

Marissa Harris is a financial advisor at Rossby Financial, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 17 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Ally Invest Securities LLC, LPL Financial, and JLA Securities, LLC. Rossby Financial provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs a diversified investment approach tailored to client objectives, incorporating fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across multiple asset classes.

Jake Murphy is a financial advisor at CWA Asset Management Group with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining CWA, he worked at Raymond James and has a background that includes service at the United States Air Force Academy and in the United States Military. CWA Asset Management Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, family offices, and institutional investors. The firm employs a range of active and quantitative strategies, leveraging proprietary research, multi-factor stock selection models, and artificial intelligence to construct globally diversified portfolios tailored to client objectives.

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.

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.

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 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including B. Riley Wealth Management, National Securities Corporation, Oppenheimer, UBS Financial Services, and Citigroup Global Markets. Outside of his advisory work, he is a passive investor in a barbecue business and a coffee shop. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners is a multi-team investment adviser and broker-dealer serving over 7,000 clients with approximately $2.95 billion in assets under management. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach combining internally managed strategies with sub-advisory relationships and offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory.

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.

Jonathan Hogan is a financial advisor with Arkadios Wealth Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Kalos Capital, Inc., AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC, The Leaders Group, Inc., and Financial Independence Group. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in managing a wealth management firm and has authored articles on investment topics such as 1031 exchanges. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans through customized strategies, discretionary account management, and access to third-party money managers. The firm integrates an internal portfolio team that supports advisors with models and trade execution across various asset classes while serving as a fiduciary for retirement plan consulting.

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.

Peter Jespersen is a CFA® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Colony Family Offices, LLC since 2015. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Charlotte, NC. Colony Family Offices provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning primarily to ultra-high-net-worth families, trusts, estates, and related entities, managing approximately $3.32 billion in discretionary assets. The firm employs a priorities-based, customized planning process and combines passive and active investment strategies, often using third-party managers and independent research.

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.

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.