Michael Bono is a financial advisor with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TIAA-CREF and Western Southern Life. Bono is also involved with Sloan Financial Group, LLC, a financial services business operating in Clover, SC. Madison Avenue Securities serves individual and high-net-worth clients, offering investment advisory and brokerage services along with pension consulting, college-savings assistance, and services for charitable entities. The firm manages approximately $2.0 billion across 14,000 clients and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through multiple investment models and third-party managers.

Leighton Becker is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work experience with Clemson Football and several other organizations. 49 Financial serves a diverse client base including retail and high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, advanced planning, retirement-plan consulting, and discretionary and non-discretionary investment management. The firm’s investment approach focuses on disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation combining fundamental, cyclical, technical, and behavioral analysis, supported by proprietary and third-party model portfolios.

Horace Carney IV is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors holding the CFP® designation and Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. He has 12 years of industry experience, including 11 years at The Vanguard Group, Inc., and is currently based in Charlotte, NC. Outside of his advisory work, he is a drummer for a local church and teaches drum lessons. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based and virtual solutions, offering ETF-based Robo Portfolios and personalized financial advice using model portfolios across five risk tiers.

Karisha Reel is a financial advisor at Apollon Wealth Management, LLC with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Motley Fool Wealth Management, LLC, THE Vanguard Group, Inc., and Wallah Richardson State Farm. Early in her career, she also held roles outside of finance, including at Sunflour Baking Co. Apollon Wealth Management is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $11.56 billion in client assets across a network of 145 advisors and 67 offices. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, trusts, estates, businesses, and other institutional clients using a combination of centrally managed strategies and locally managed portfolios supported by a range of research tools and investment approaches.

Derek Lightner is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and six years of industry experience. He has worked at Ally Invest Advisors since 2021 and has prior experience with Ally Invest Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Ally Invest Advisors serves a large retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, providing discretionary portfolio management through automated services and advisor-led guidance. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing ETF-based model portfolios with automated allocation and rebalancing, supported by digital tools and online performance reporting.

Eric Ridenour is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) and Personal Financial Specialist™ (PFS™) with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Colony Family Offices, LLC since 2013. Colony Family Offices, LLC provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning primarily to ultra-high-net-worth families, managing approximately $3.32 billion in discretionary assets across more than 600 client relationships. The firm employs a priorities-based, customized planning process and combines passive and active investment strategies supported by third-party managers and independent research.

Shane Pouliot is a CFP® and CFA® associated with Modera Wealth Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC, with five years of industry experience. He previously worked at Boston Hill Advisors and Charles Schwab Investment Advisory. Modera Wealth Management provides wealth management, portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm employs a diversified asset allocation strategy based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers integrated accounting, tax, and business coaching services alongside investment management.

Margarite Lynch is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. She previously worked at LPL Financial, LLC, and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a suite attendant at the Bank of America Stadium for the Carolina Panthers. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm that serves individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and institutional clients. The firm focuses on long-term, diversified asset allocation using centrally managed model portfolios and employs an internal investment management team alongside third-party managers and sub-advisers.

Leah Williams is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors with 10 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Blueprint, she worked at firms including Hornor, Townsend & Kent LLC, Eagle Strategies LLC, and New York Life. Outside of her advisory role, Leah co-owns Empower-Her, a networking group focused on supporting women through events and motivational speaking, and co-hosts a podcast that highlights local female business owners and nonprofits in Fort Mill, SC. Blueprint Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm offering portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm employs a proprietary strategic-and-tactical investment approach that utilizes price-driven trend-following and momentum rules across multiple asset classes to manage approximately $1.4 billion in client assets.

Christopher Spalthoff is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining 49 Financial, he has held roles at PKS Investments and Northwestern Mutual, among others. In addition to his advisory work, he has experience in the restaurant industry. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, advanced planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm employs a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation strategy and offers tiered fractional family office services alongside third-party manager access.

William Grasty is a financial advisor with The Fiduciary Alliance in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. Prior to joining The Fiduciary Alliance in 2024, he spent 11 years at Lakeview Capital Partners / Bison Wealth, LLC. He is also a licensed independent insurance agent specializing in life, accident, and health insurance. The Fiduciary Alliance provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as retirement plans and other investment advisers. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and charting analysis to build individualized investment policies and offers discretionary portfolio management alongside written financial plans and estate-planning support.

Henry Soule is a financial advisor with Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He holds the Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Forvis Mazars, he worked at Restoration Hardware and has an academic background from Purdue University and Charlotte Christian. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors serves individuals, families, retirement plans, institutions, and nonprofit organizations by providing financial planning, investment management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a customized investment approach that blends active and passive strategies with an emphasis on diversification, cost control, and long-term discipline, operating within an integrated service model connected to its parent accounting and professional services firm.

Nicholas Skudlarick is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior experience at Equitable Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is engaged in fixed insurance sales through 49 Financial’s Financial Independence Group. 49 Financial serves a variety of clients including individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans, providing financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm employs a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation strategy grounded in a derivative of Modern Portfolio Theory and offers tiered fractional family office services.

Jaime Musa is a financial advisor with Insigneo Advisory Services, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Citibank NA and UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he is an owner and director of MZM21 LLC, a pass-through tax entity. Insigneo Advisory Services provides investment advisory and consulting services to both retail and institutional clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with a blend of committee-driven model portfolios and individualized advisor-led portfolio construction that incorporates global asset classes and emerging-market exposures.

Randy Leclair is a financial advisor at Zacks Investment Management, Inc. with 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at Zacks and Company and Zacks Investment Management since 2006, following prior roles at Optsecurities, LLC, Quasar Distributors, and Fisher Investments. Zacks Investment Management provides discretionary investment management services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, pooled investment vehicles, and institutional clients. The firm employs a combination of proprietary quantitative models and qualitative portfolio management across a diverse range of strategies and manages affiliated mutual funds and ETFs.

William Brinkley is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 25 years of industry experience. He is currently with First Heartland Consultants, Inc. and has prior experience at First Citizens Bank and several wealth management firms. Brinkley holds the Series 66 license and is based in Charlotte, NC. First Heartland Consultants provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, businesses, and retirement plan participants. The firm offers personalized asset management, third-party asset management services, and model-based self-directed brokerage account programs delivered through independent investment adviser representatives using a mix of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Michael Mahoney is a financial advisor at Coastal Bridge Advisors with 32 years of industry experience. He previously worked at firms including Trinity Point Wealth, LLC, Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., and Voya Investment Management CO. LLC. Mahoney serves as Treasurer for American Legion Post 503 and the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Investment & Wealth Institute committee. Coastal Bridge Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach and constructs diversified portfolios, often incorporating external managers and specialized advisory services.

Brian Corbett is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include over a decade at BMO Harris Financial Advisors and BMO Harris Bank, followed by five years at LPL Financial. First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, municipalities, and institutions. The firm offers multi-asset class model portfolios utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis with discretionary investment management focused on strategic asset allocation and risk control.

Logan Tingley is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at 49 Financial with two years of industry experience. Based in Charlotte, NC, he joined 49 Financial in 2024 after completing eleven years as a student. 49 Financial serves a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, advanced planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm emphasizes disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation and manages proprietary model portfolios combined with behavioral coaching.

Keith Stabasefski is a CFP® professional with 14 years of experience in financial advisory services. He is currently with Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC and has previously worked at BGW Wealth Advisors, BGW CPA, Capital One Investing, United Income, Secrest Blakey & Associates, and Cavok Wealth Consulting. Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC provides investment advisory services through a network of independent advisors and multi-advisor teams, serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $13.45 billion in client assets and offers a wide range of investment products and platforms with both discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.