Laura Olney is a CFP® professional with six years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with Tru Independence Asset Management, LLC, where she works as part of a seven-advisor team. Her background includes roles at Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and RSM US, LLP. Tru Independence Asset Management, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm manages diversified portfolios using active and passive strategies, employs a combination of digital and held-away platforms, and sponsors the YellowWood Wealth Solutions wrap program.

Sean Casullo is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience. He has worked at Crown Wealth Group LLC since 2022 and previously spent eleven years at Sanderson Wealth Management, LLC. Casullo is based in Charlotte, NC. Crown Wealth Group LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs a goals-based investment process using diversified, low-cost ETFs and mutual funds, supported by an Investment Committee to tailor portfolios according to documented objectives and risk tolerances.

Jesse Wideman Jr. is a CFP® professional at Zenith Wealth Partners with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group and Facet Wealth before joining Zenith in 2025. Between 2024 and 2025, he took time away from the industry to be a full-time parent. Zenith Wealth Partners serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations with a range of financial planning and portfolio management services. The firm combines low-cost, diversified index strategies with selective active management and alternative investments, supported by a documented investment policy and ongoing portfolio reviews.

Victoria Waldman is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in financial services. She is currently with Tru Independence Asset Management, LLC and YellowWood Wealth, where she manages client relationships. Her prior experience includes roles at The Vanguard Group, UBS Financial Services, and Duke Energy. 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, utilizing a combination of active and passive strategies and offering access to independent managers, third-party sub-advisors, and digital platforms.

Don Stamas is a CFP® professional at Defender Capital with 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Defender Capital since 2013 and also manages D.J.S. Investments, LLC, a real estate investment and management company. Defender Capital provides fee-based investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, private funds, and corporate clients. The firm employs a customized, discretionary investment approach focused on fundamental analysis and primarily recommends exchange-traded equity securities using both long- and short-term strategies.

David Caivano is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Planning in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been in the industry since 2026. Prior to joining Cornerstone, he worked at Cogent Analytics, Augusta National, and Bed Bath & Beyond. Cornerstone Wealth Planning serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners with investment advisory services, portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning. The firm integrates in-house tax preparation with its advisory services and offers a range of planning engagement formats, including hourly work, retainers, and comprehensive plans.

Alexander Hill is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC since 2018 and previously spent three years at Wells Fargo Advisors. Hill holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. 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 offers proprietary index-enhanced portfolios, serving a large client base through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Adam Coleman is a financial advisor at Nectarine with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at SmartPath Financial Education and Core Planning. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a mortgage loan originator at Loan Pronto and provides remote financial coaching through SmartPath Financial Education. Nectarine serves individual and high-net-worth clients by offering consultative financial planning through selected advisor representatives. The firm emphasizes long-term asset allocation using low-cost, index-based funds and provides services on a fee-for-service basis without managing client investment portfolios.

Tyler Kolbenschlag is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Crown Wealth Group LLC since 2018 and previously held roles at GCG Wealth Management and Questar Asset Management. Outside of his advisory work, Tyler is a licensed real estate broker and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Crown Wealth Group LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, including Personal CFO support and estate-planning facilitation. The firm employs a goals-based investment process using an Investment Committee and offers a range of asset classes, including low-cost ETFs and mutual funds, with additional services such as insurance and real estate brokerage through affiliated entities.

Jamie Esler is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Sparta Wealth Partners. Prior to joining Sparta Wealth Partners, he worked at High Flows Capital Group LLC for eight years and has held roles at Capital Management Group of Washington D.C., Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Sparta Wealth Partners provides advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA retirement-plan advisory services, utilizing a mix of fundamental and technical analysis alongside third-party managers and model-based strategies.

Tamrah Bordini is a financial advisor at Belleair Wealth Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has a background spanning roles at Inspire Advisors, LLC and Perry's Diamonds and Estate Jewelry. Outside of her advisory work, she owns Antique Jewelry Love, LLC, an online retail boutique specializing in jewelry. Belleair Wealth Management, LLC is a fee-based, fiduciary wealth manager serving individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management and wealth-planning services. The firm employs multiple analytical methods and diverse investment strategies while maintaining formal affiliations with accounting and insurance firms.

Shon Mc Carley is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Planning in Charlotte, NC, with experience in legal and financial services. He is a member and attorney at McCarley Legal, PLLC, where he provides estate planning and related legal advice. His prior work includes roles at Arnot & Haley, PLLC and Consilio, LLC. Cornerstone Wealth Planning serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners, offering portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis. The firm also provides in-house tax preparation and structured retirement-planning courses, with flexible planning options and no minimum account size.

Wade Menzies is a financial advisor at Insight Folios with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Tactical Investment Advisors for 12 years. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in insurance sales. Insight Folios provides portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as ERISA plan consulting and participant advisory services. The firm also serves other registered investment advisers through sub-advisory relationships and employs a team-of-advisers approach supported by proprietary planning software and artificial intelligence tools.

Ryan Kilmartin is a financial advisor at Stark Financial Advisers, Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Stark Financial Advisers since 2023 and at R.M. Stark & Co., Inc. since 2012. 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 that incorporates fundamental and technical analysis, offering portfolios from conservative to aggressive and utilizing a range of strategies including derivatives and options.

Zachary O'Brien is a CFP® with 17 years of experience in financial advisory services. He has worked at Crown Wealth Group LLC since 2020 and previously spent 11 years with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management Inc. O'Brien serves as a board member for several nonprofit organizations, including the LLK Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Davie County, and the Winston Chamber of Commerce, where he leads a leads group and participates in community events. Crown Wealth Group LLC provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a goals-based investment process with documented Investment Policy Statements and offers personalized services such as estate-planning facilitation, executive compensation planning, and concierge lifestyle support.

William Sugg IV is a CFP® professional with 25 years of experience, currently serving at Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He has worked at APW Capital, Inc. for 14 years and has been with Laurel Wealth Advisors since 2007. Outside of advisory work, Sugg is involved in several investment ventures focused on real estate and early-stage electric vehicle and battery storage companies. Laurel Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing discretionary and non-discretionary asset management alongside financial planning. The firm manages nearly $1 billion in client assets with a team of seven advisors, offering customized investment programs based on fundamental analysis and regular portfolio reviews.

Walker Shelton is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at Verum Partners LLC since 2023. He previously worked at Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC and Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he assists a CPA firm in Charlotte, NC, during tax season. 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.

Charles Doran is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with one year of industry experience. He is currently with Verum Partners LLC in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2024. Prior to joining Verum Partners, he was employed at Bank of America from 2021 to 2024 and has experience in hospitality and education sectors. 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, employs independent portfolio managers, and maintains institutional relationships with Schwab and Fidelity for research and technology support.

John Kernodle is a financial advisor at Strathmore Capital Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Strathmore Capital Advisors since 2005 and holds the Series 65 designation. Strathmore Capital Advisors serves individuals, trusts, endowments, and participant-directed retirement plans through discretionary portfolio management and goals-based financial planning. The firm emphasizes an asset-allocation-driven investment approach using mutual funds and ETFs, incorporating technology for client service and offering distinctive services such as a securities-backed lending strategy and integrated tax preparation.

Christopher Hobart is a financial advisor with Hobart Wealth in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with firms including G.F. Investment Services, LLC and Global Financial Private Capital. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a marketing consulting business and serves as secretary for a local business park homeowners association. Hobart Wealth provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and trusts, offering tailored asset management, financial planning, and ERISA retirement plan consulting. The firm constructs portfolios based on client objectives and employs a range of investment strategies, including third-party managers and model providers.