Ryan Dantinne is a financial advisor with StoneX Advisors Inc. in Cornelius, NC, holding a Series 66 license and 24 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at StoneX Advisors and StoneX Securities since 2012, as well as positions with Synergy Investment Group and other financial firms. Outside of advising, he is involved in insurance sales and manages a handyman services business. StoneX Advisors Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations with portfolio management, financial planning, ERISA consulting, and related services. The firm utilizes multiple account structures and model-based solutions, delivering investment strategies through advisor-managed portfolios, proprietary models, and third-party money managers.

Aaron Ruen is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Financial Services, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Wells Fargo in various roles since 2010. In addition to his advisory work, he provides one-on-one investment advice specifically for Principal retirement plan participants at benefit events. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party tools like Morningstar with proprietary models. As part of the Principal Financial Group, the firm integrates bank products, proprietary funds, and model services through affiliated entities to deliver non-discretionary recommendations and discretionary investment management.

Edwin Peacock III is a financial advisor with ValMark Advisers, Inc., holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. He has 27 years of industry experience, including extensive tenure at Northwestern Mutual from 2003 to 2019 before joining ValMark in 2019. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a trustee of The Seymour Family Foundation and is a volunteer council member for the Leading on Opportunity Council in Charlotte, NC. He is also an elected city council member for Charlotte, beginning a part-time term in mid-2025. ValMark Advisers provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes diversified, goal-based portfolios and asset allocation, implementing strategies through mutual funds, ETFs, and separate-account managers, with ongoing monitoring and rebalancing overseen by its investment committee.

George Trabookis is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ally Invest Advisors and Ally Invest Securities since 2019 and previously at Mass Mutual Investors Services and MetLife Securities. He also serves as a manager for Ally Invest Advisors, providing managerial, operational, and customer service support. Ally Invest Advisors serves a large retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management through automated services and advisor-led advice. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using ETF-based model portfolios across multiple risk tiers, with automated allocation and rebalancing supported by online performance reporting and optional tax-sensitive features.

Miteshkumar Patel is a CFA® charterholder and a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors, based in Charlotte, NC, with eight years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Elevation LLC for two years. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a crypto mining operation and leads the development of various digital ventures. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based solutions and virtual interaction, offering ETF-based Robo Portfolios, automated investing, and personalized advice services. The firm uses model portfolios grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers and emphasizes tax-sensitive features within its advisory offerings.

William Freidinger is an advisor at 49 Financial with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining 49 Financial, he worked in the hospitality sector at Chapter 6 - Rare Roots Hospitality and has educational experience from Furman University and Cannon School. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans, offering financial planning, advanced planning, and investment management. The firm employs a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation approach, managing proprietary model portfolios and providing tiered fractional family office services.

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.

Rand Gordon is a CFP® with 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at United Capital Financial Advisors since 2021 and previously spent over two decades at Harbor Capital Management, Inc. in various roles. United Capital Financial Advisors provides financial planning and investment management services nationwide to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm employs discretionary portfolio management using asset-allocation models and offers customized strategies including ESG and faith-based options, supported by client-facing technology and research resources.

John Potter is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Integrity Advisory Solutions with 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Strategic Planning Corporation and also maintains a legal practice focusing on estate planning and elder law. Potter serves as treasurer for the North Carolina chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Integrity Advisory Solutions serves individuals, trusts, estates, and business clients through approximately 100 independent advisors, managing around $1.1 billion in 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.

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.

Ryan Russell is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Ally Invest Securities LLC and E*TRADE Securities LLC. Ally Invest Advisors offers discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based and virtual solutions, including ETF-based Robo Portfolios and personalized financial advice. The firm uses model portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and provides services such as tax-sensitive allocations and tax-loss harvesting.

Michael Ortiz is a financial advisor at United Capital Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding the CFP®, Series 65, and Series 63 designations with seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Mercer Allied, and The AYCO Company, L.P. United Capital Financial Advisors provides national financial planning and discretionary investment management to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth households, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm offers customized investment solutions supported by a broad affiliate network and technology platform, FinLife Partners, which also serves independent advisors.

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 experience in the financial services industry. He is currently a managing partner at Cornerstone Wealth Group, LLC, where he has worked since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at Mutual Securities, Inc., Cornerstone Financial Advisors, and LPL Financial. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, other advisers, and corporations. The firm employs model-based portfolios with a range of investment vehicles and provides comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related services.

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.

Rebecca Hoover is a financial advisor with Waverly Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and seven years of industry experience. She previously worked at McShane Partners for five years and KPMG for five years. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as president of Windsor Partners, LLC, a consulting business focused on financial matters. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser that manages portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm integrates traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, offering a range of investment management and financial planning services.

Zachary Popovec is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at AlphaStar Capital Management. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Churchill Finance LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, and Man Global Private Markets. AlphaStar Capital Management serves individual, corporate, and retirement plan clients, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and subadvisory services through model portfolios that combine strategic and tactical approaches, utilizing a range of investment vehicles and third-party portfolio technologies.

Natalia Ruiz is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Dallas, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Wells Fargo Bank. She currently serves as a retirement consultant, providing one-on-one investment advice to Principal retirement plan participants. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party tools and proprietary models to deliver both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, integrating affiliated products and services with robust governance and supervision.