Carly Hensley is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments since 2024 and has been with Merit Financial Advisors since 2010. Prior to that, she was associated with LPL Financial from 2010 to 2024. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment strategy using model portfolios and customizable sleeves, with oversight by a central Investment Management team and Investment Committee.

Jonathan Lindner is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently with Arkadios Wealth Advisors in Charlotte, NC, having joined in 2025. His prior roles include positions at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Raymond James Financial Services, Cygnus Asset Management, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is president and CEO of The Barly Group LLC, which manages certain investment-related activities. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans through a combination of advisor-managed accounts, wrap programs, third-party money managers, and financial planning. The firm supports discretionary portfolio management with an in-house team that delivers models and trade execution across multiple asset classes, employing fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Alberto Esparza is a financial advisor with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Dream Builders, Inc., and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Outside of advisory work, he is an independent sales agent for health insurance products affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Transamerica Financial Advisors. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on customized portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm integrates a range of analytic approaches and offers access to third-party investment advisors, emphasizing service to non-high-net-worth individuals.

Ryan Leake is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been working in the industry since 2023, including prior roles at firms such as Capstone Financial and Cetera Advisors LLC. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm combines third-party and proprietary models, leveraging its membership in the Principal Financial Group family to offer access to proprietary funds and affiliated services.

Derek Ahrens is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several Principal affiliates since 2025. Prior to his financial services career, he held various roles in the automotive and retail sectors. He previously sold life insurance from April to October 2024. 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 wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates proprietary models with third-party methodologies and leverages its affiliation with Principal Financial Group to offer access to proprietary funds, bank products, and trading services.

Alexander Coggins is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining 49 Financial, he held various roles including positions at Homefront Brands and the YMCA. He is also involved in fixed insurance sales through Financial Independence Group. 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 investment approach based on diversified asset allocation and model portfolios.

Richard Westover Jr. is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Securities America Advisors and OSAIC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a deacon on the leadership board of Westover Church and teaches a high school finance course at The Covenant School. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor firm offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting to individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofits. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach with a proprietary strategic-and-tactical framework designed to manage assets with an emphasis on trend-following and momentum.

William Van Pelt is a financial advisor with A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and 53 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, and UBS Financial Services. He serves as an arbitrator with FINRA and is a board member of the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York, a genealogy society supporting the history of New York. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners is a multi-team platform with approximately 131 advisors managing around $2.95 billion for over 7,000 clients. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach combining internally managed strategies and sub-advisory relationships, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement-plan advisory, and brokerage services.

David Block is a CFP® professional with 33 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC in Charlotte, NC. His prior roles include positions at Lifemark Securities Corp. and Invest Financial Corp. Outside of financial advising, he is the owner of Destiny Results Coaching LLC, which focuses on life and business coaching, and serves as a board member for NYC Basket Brigade Inc., a nonprofit that organizes Thanksgiving food basket distributions to families in need. He is also the CEO of TaxMaster Financial Service Corporation, a firm providing tax planning, payroll tax services, fractional CFO services, and advisory support. IP Financial Advisory Services LLC primarily serves individual retail clients through portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, including access to third-party investment managers. The firm emphasizes tailored investment strategies with discretionary management options and offers specialized advisory services such as actuarial analysis and insurance consulting.

Michael Radford is a CFP® and PFS™ with 26 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Choreo, LLC since 2022 and previously spent 15 years at RSM US Wealth Management LLC. Choreo, LLC provides investment and advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, family offices, endowments, foundations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm’s investment process emphasizes strategic asset allocation and diversified model portfolios managed by a centralized team and overseen by an Investment Committee.

Eric Mohammed is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 11 years of industry experience. His prior work includes six years at Wells Fargo Advisors and ongoing roles with multiple Principal entities since 2021. He also serves as a retirement consultant, providing one-on-one investment advice to retirement plan participants eligible for distribution. Principal Advised Services delivers investment advice and related services mainly to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates third-party methodologies with proprietary models and benefits from its affiliation with the Principal Financial Group family, enabling access to a range of proprietary products and resources.

Evan Normile is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 license with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ryder System, Inc. and Dick's Sporting Goods, and he currently serves as a retirement consultant providing one-on-one investment advice to Principal retirement plan participants. Evan also holds an assistant vice president role at Principal Bank, where he is involved in sales of bank deposit products. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm offers non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program, leveraging both proprietary models and third-party methodologies within the Principal Financial Group family.

Andrews Browne is a financial advisor at IFG Advisory, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations and has worked at IFG Advisory since 2022 and LPL Financial since 2017, with additional experience at Integrated Support Services. IFG Advisory, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a multi-faceted investment approach incorporating fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and provides specialized services such as real estate-oriented planning and business valuation.

William Swecker is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Swecker holds roles across multiple Principal affiliates, including serving as an investment adviser representative providing retirement plan distribution advice. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party methodologies and proprietary models. The firm operates within the Principal Financial Group family, providing integrated access to affiliated products and discretionary investment management through its SimpleInvest program.

Kyle Trokey is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2026. Prior to joining Principal Advised Services, he held various positions in education and staffing. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party methodologies and proprietary models in both non-discretionary and discretionary investment programs. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, providing integrated access to affiliated products and services through a multi-team structure.

Noah Plotkin is a financial advisor at 49 Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with one year of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Capital Square and other positions unrelated to finance. 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 family office services using a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation approach implemented through proprietary and third-party model portfolios.

Edward Barnard is a financial advisor at Sound Income Strategies, LLC with 18 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at multiple firms, including Formula Folios Investments and Family Legacy Wealth Management. Barnard is also involved with Family Legacy Group, Inc., where he provides fixed insurance products, fixed annuities, and Medicare and long-term care services. Sound Income Strategies, LLC manages approximately $4.0 billion in client assets and serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm emphasizes fixed-income analysis alongside equity review and offers a range of services such as discretionary asset management, financial planning, and insurance planning through affiliated channels.

Stephen Litman is a financial advisor at Diversify Wealth Management, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Stifel and Compass. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in performance coaching for real estate agents and leads a business focused on helping Compass agents organize their CRMs and manage virtual assistant support. Diversify Wealth Management provides investment management, financial planning, retirement plan fiduciary services, corporate consulting, and family office services to a diverse client base, including individuals and institutions. The firm employs a tactical diversification and asset allocation approach, utilizing a wide range of investment instruments and multiple platform options to meet client objectives.

Laura Fellows is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and seven years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Principal Financial Services, MWA Financial Services, Eagle Strategies, and New York Life. Outside of her advisory duties, she serves as a board member for Many Paws, a nonprofit focused on care for abandoned older dogs with special medical needs. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients through a range of non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm leverages proprietary models and third-party tools, serving clients with products integrated across the Principal Financial Group family.

James Vick is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Bank, and Principal Securities, Inc., all part of the Principal Financial Group. Outside of finance, he has experience working in various roles at East Carolina University and involvement with small businesses in the food and hospitality sector. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party methodologies with proprietary models. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group, which provides access to affiliated products and integrated operational support.