Brenda Pressley is a financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth who holds the PFS™ designation along with Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has 11 years of experience in the industry. She has worked with Cornerstone Wealth Group since 2018 and previously spent two years at Cornerstone Financial Partners. Outside of her advisory role, she is president and sole shareholder of a tax and accounting services firm and serves as Secretary/Treasurer for a local nonprofit organization, Water Well Trust. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts and estates, employer retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate entities. The firm provides comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning, utilizing model portfolios with ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, while integrating affiliated strategies and conducting periodic portfolio reviews aligned with client objectives.

Andrew Parow is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 license and one year of industry experience. He has held roles within Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Principal Securities, Inc., focusing on retirement plan participant advice and related banking sales activities. 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. The firm’s approach combines third-party tools and proprietary models and benefits from integration with affiliated Principal Financial Group entities.

James Winters III is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having three years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Principal Financial Services, Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Cardinal Financial. He also has experience working outside the financial sector, including at Wofford College and Carolinas Animal Hospital. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm offers both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program, leveraging a combination of third-party methodologies and proprietary models within the Principal Financial Group family.

Darren Earnhardt is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Truist Investment Services and BB&T, where he worked for over two decades in various capacities. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset allocation strategies and often manages portfolios on a discretionary basis, leveraging both affiliated model strategies and third-party managers.

Charles Walters is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at The Vanguard Group and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Outside of his advisory work, Walters also works as a travel agent and has served as a driver for Uber. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party and proprietary methodologies to offer both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, which enables integration with affiliated entities to support its services.

Clayton Cross is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor at 49 Financial with one year of industry experience. Before joining 49 Financial, he worked briefly at Celonis and has a background as a college student. He is also a licensed insurance agent. 49 Financial serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, consulting, and fractional family office services, employing a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation strategy grounded in a derivative of Modern Portfolio Theory.

Ryan Dantinne is a financial advisor with StoneX Advisors Inc. in Cornelius, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and possessing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with StoneX Advisors since 2016 and StoneX Securities since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in selling insurance products through Synergy Insurance Group and manages a handyman services business. StoneX Advisors Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a variety of portfolio implementation strategies, including advisor-managed portfolios, proprietary models, and third-party money managers, supported by platforms such as Envestnet and Advyzon.

Jake Gregory is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and four years of industry experience. He has held various roles within the Principal Financial Group family, including positions at Principal Bank and Principal Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory work, he has conducted eBay sales on a small scale. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party tools and proprietary models. The firm operates within the Principal Financial Group network, providing access to affiliated products and integrated services while maintaining oversight through governance and supervision committees.

Michael Kirkendale Haak is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Core Planning since 2025. His prior roles include positions at Facet Wealth and The Vanguard Group. He has also held self-employed roles and worked briefly at Uber. Core Planning is a fee-only advisory firm that offers financial planning, wealth management, and portfolio management services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services. The firm uses third-party model portfolios and rule-based rebalancing tools to tailor investment strategies based on client objectives and risk tolerance.

Brian Williams is a financial advisor at Alphastar Capital Management with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been with Alphastar since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, Williams is involved in several business ventures, including ownership interests in fitness centers and an insurance product development company. Alphastar Capital Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base that includes individuals, trusts, small businesses, and pension plans. The firm employs strategic asset allocation combined with quantitative analysis and momentum evaluation, offering both model portfolios and customized strategies.

Katherine Kerns is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has eight years of industry experience and has worked with Members Trust Company, SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union. In addition to her advisory roles, she serves as a Financial Advisory Services District Manager at State Employees' Credit Union. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management and retirement planning with a focus on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates as a subsidiary of State Employees’ Credit Union and manages over $3.0 billion in non-discretionary advisory assets.

Jeremy Crawley is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked with multiple related entities including State Employees’ Credit Union, Secu Life Insurance Company, and Members Trust Company. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors who reside in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and asset allocation advice focused on long-term, goals-based strategies using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates within a credit union ecosystem and maintains a predominance of non-discretionary assets under management.

Nathan D'erminio is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 credential and has one year of industry experience. His background includes roles at Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Principal Securities, Inc. Outside of finance, he has experience working with a local gymnastics program and in retail food service. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm offers both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest, combining third-party methodologies and proprietary models while leveraging its affiliation with Principal Financial Group.

Jorden Masson is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Concord, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and with three years of industry experience. He has worked with SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union, where he provides financial advisory services to eligible members. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual investors residing in North Carolina, offering goals-based, non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning with a focus on long-term investment horizons primarily using mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed income products. The firm operates within a credit union ecosystem and emphasizes the use of low-cost index funds and salaried investment representatives.

John Potter is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Integrity Advisory Solutions, bringing 10 years of industry experience. Before joining Integrity Advisory Solutions in 2024, he worked at Strategic Planning Corporation for eight years and has been involved with The Potter Law Firm since 2012. He serves as treasurer for the North Carolina chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and provides estate planning and elder law services through his legal practice. Integrity Advisory Solutions is a multi-team firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and business clients through about 100 independent advisors, managing approximately $1.1 billion in client assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and sub-advisory services, utilizing a range of asset-allocation strategies and third-party platforms to support tailored client portfolios.

Carter Collins is a financial advisor at Advisory Services Network with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. He previously worked at DSP Wealth Strategies and Trading Composure. Outside of his advisory roles, he works as a gym attendant at Ballantyne Country Club in Charlotte, NC. Advisory Services Network serves individuals, families, corporations, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consulting, managing approximately $8.6 billion in client assets with a range of investment strategies and implementation options.

Peyton Pounds is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Advisory Services Network in Charlotte, NC, and has one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Adhesion Wealth, SilverRock Wealth, and Williams Wealth Advisors. Outside of finance, he was involved with Queen City Grill Cleaning from 2020 to 2022. Advisory Services Network offers investment advisory and planning services to individuals, families, corporations, and retirement plans through a large network of independent representatives. The firm’s approach includes discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and the use of diverse securities and third-party managers to meet client objectives.

Andrew Barnett is a financial advisor with AlphaStar Capital Management, holding a Series 65 credential and six years of industry experience. He has worked at AlphaStar Capital Management since 2020 and concurrently serves as Director of Technology Innovation at Financial Independence Group, LLC, where he leads software engineering efforts to develop solutions for financial professionals. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, small businesses, and other investment advisers. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing a strategic asset-allocation approach combined with quantitative analysis and tactical methods.

Andrew Smith is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving as a managing partner at Cornerstone Wealth Group, LLC. He has held roles at Mutual Securities, Inc. and Cornerstone Financial Advisors, among others. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in management activities through CWG Management Group, LLC. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to alternative investments and affiliate private funds.

Sara Milam is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor with three years of industry experience, currently with AlphaStar Capital Management. Her prior work includes roles at Financial Independence Group, Ann Taylor LOFT, and Target Corporation. She is also a licensed insurance agent. AlphaStar Capital Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and pension plans. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and subadvisory services, utilizing both predefined model portfolios and custom strategies based on quantitative analysis and tactical asset allocation.