Thomas Casey II is a financial advisor with Intellectus Partners, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 license and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Intellectus Partners since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of advisors for Marcus & Associates, LLC, an executive recruiting firm specializing in life sciences. Intellectus Partners provides wealth management, investment consulting, financial planning, and portfolio management services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, and private funds. The firm combines fundamental analysis with proprietary quantitative algorithms and alternative data, pursuing a generally long-term investment approach while accommodating shorter-term trades to meet client needs.

David Perkins is a CFP® and PFS™ with 30 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Verum Partners LLC, where he has worked since 2023, and previously spent over 19 years at Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he operates a sole proprietorship providing CPA services and tax return preparation. He also serves as trustee for a family trust. 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 transaction services and provides access to independent portfolio managers, focusing on client strategies aligned with goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

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.

Marion Peebles IV is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He has been with WestEnd Advisors, LLC since 2014. WestEnd Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management and third-party ETF model strategies to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, government entities, and corporations. The firm uses a macro-driven investment process and offers both quantitative and qualitative approaches within its Large-Cap Core Equity and ETF strategies.

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, holding Series 65 and Series 63 registrations and bringing 19 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wilson Wealth in 2024, he worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Company, and MetLife Securities Inc. Outside of financial advising, Willis owns a drone business that produces video and pictures and serves as CEO of a business referral company. Wilson Wealth Management Group serves high-income and high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and clients earlier in their careers. The firm offers investment management, comprehensive financial planning, estate-planning coordination, and insurance and annuity solutions, using a combination of model and customized strategies with a focus on technical analysis and incorporating third-party technology platforms.

Maurice Wilson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Wilson Wealth Management Group, LLC since 2004. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in the sale of life, long-term care, and disability insurance through the firm. Wilson Wealth Management Group serves high-income and high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and clients earlier in their careers, including college students and recent graduates. The firm offers investment management, comprehensive financial planning, estate-planning coordination, and insurance and annuity solutions using a combination of model and customized strategies and integrates third-party technology into its service delivery.

Matthew Wood is a financial advisor at Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for 13 years and has been self-employed for 8 years. Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC manages approximately $1.77 billion and provides wealth management services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory and operates proprietary index-enhanced portfolios designed to outperform benchmarks.

Julia Martinelli is a financial advisor at Strathmore Capital Advisors with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and four years of industry experience. She previously worked 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 driven investment approach using mutual funds and ETFs and integrates technology such as Wealth.com and AI for client service and administrative tasks.

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.

Niki Erb is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Insight Folios with six years of industry experience. Prior to joining Insight Folios and Durso Capital Management Co. in 2020, she worked at Frito Lay for over two decades. She is also involved in insurance and annuity sales. Insight Folios provides portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, along with ERISA plan consulting and participant advisory services. The firm often acts as a sub-adviser to other registered investment advisers and uses a team-of-advisers approach supported by proprietary planning software and artificial intelligence tools.

John Wilks is a CFP® and holds a Series 63 license with 16 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked with Novare Capital Management since 2009. 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 offers comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management using client-specific investment policies, proprietary strategies, and a combination of human oversight and AI tools for research and risk monitoring.

Robert Gammon is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Verum Partners LLC since 2019 and previously spent 11 years at Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. He holds a Series 63 license and is also a licensed insurance professional, dedicating less than 10% of his business time to that activity. 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, with a focus on client goals, risk tolerance, and ongoing portfolio oversight.

Perrin Berry is a financial advisor at Apollon Wealth Management, LLC with two years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 credential. Prior to joining Apollon Wealth Management in 2022, Berry has held roles at Crisp Event Rentals, Modern Woodmen, and the Secretary of State’s Office. Apollon Wealth Management is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, families, businesses, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm uses a combination of centrally managed and locally managed investment strategies, incorporating fundamental analysis, ESG models, tax management tools, and offers specialty services including UIT portfolio consulting and private funds programs.

Anthony Bykovsky is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with Bragg Financial Advisors Inc, where he has worked since 2021. His prior roles include positions at Barings Securities and Bedel Financial Consulting. Bragg Financial Advisors is a family-owned, multi-advisor firm providing financial planning and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and broad diversification, offering specialized small-cap value investment programs and serving as a sub-advisor to mutual funds.

Murray Kinlaw III is a financial advisor at Mariner Independent with a Series 65 designation and over 18 years of industry experience, including a long tenure at TIAA-CREF. He has also worked at Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC and Mariner Platform Solutions. Mariner Independent provides investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers a range of portfolio management options and retirement plan services, supported by institutional resources and affiliations that enhance its investment capabilities.

Shepard Ottaway is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and six years of industry experience. He previously worked at Securities America, Inc., among other firms. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers as an assistant track and field coach for High Point Christian Academy. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor SEC-registered firm managing approximately $1.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofits, employing a globally diversified investment approach that incorporates a proprietary strategic-and-tactical framework to adjust asset-class allocations based on price-driven trend-following and momentum rules.