Thomas Pfaff is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services and affiliated firms since 2015, including BB&T Investment Services and BB&T Securities. Based in Waxhaw, NC, Pfaff currently serves clients through Truist Advisory Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation and manager selection, offering ongoing reviews and client consultations through its affiliates and partnerships.

Brett Schmidt is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently advising at Rockefeller Financial LLC. He previously worked at Truist Advisory Services and BB&T, accumulating extensive experience in wealth management. He also serves as the Charlotte Chapter President for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, organizing community events and raising awareness for inherited retinal diseases. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, and operates as a registered broker-dealer with a comprehensive investment platform that includes equities, fixed income, and alternatives.

William Crocker is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Lockton Investment Advisors, Lockton Companies, and Lockton Financial Advisors from 2014 to 2021. Crocker is based in Indian Land, South Carolina. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process that combines low-cost indexing with supplemental strategies, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Matthew Kalajian is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2006. He is based in Charlotte, NC, and holds a Series 63 license. Outside of his advisory role, Kalajian is involved in community organizations, serving on the boards of the Charlotte Economics Club and Camp Rockmont. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs through a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Bradford Brinkley is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 credential and 18 years with the firm. He has experience as an insurance agent selling life and health insurance, including Medicare Supplement and annuity products. Bankers Life Advisory Services provides discretionary portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals, focusing on customized asset allocation, tax efficiency, and a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to guide investment decisions.

Nicholas Miles is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Centennial Group, Princor Financial Services Corporation, and Principal Life Insurance Company. His professional activities include providing investment advisory services through Independent Advisor Alliance. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing a network model with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management supported by various analytical strategies and technology platforms.

David Johnson is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies and New York Life Insurance Company since 2013. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisers, focusing largely on non-discretionary assets and tailored recommendations aligned with client objectives and plan sponsor criteria.

Eric Dade is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and 66 licenses. He has 23 years of industry experience and has been with Bankers Life and its affiliated entities since 2001. In addition to advising clients, he serves as a unit sales manager, overseeing other agents. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to create tailored asset allocations and manage portfolios across a range of securities.

Stephen Kanode is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has eight years of industry experience. He has worked with various entities under the Bankers Life umbrella since 2016. In addition to his advisory role, Kanode is an insurance agent specializing in Medicare-related products, long-term care options, and final expense planning. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Thi Le Tram Hoang is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having four years of industry experience. She has worked at Eagle Strategies LLC and Sen Vang Wealth Strategies LLC, and previously operated a nail spa. Hoang is also engaged as an insurance broker for non-registered products. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of advisors. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs with a focus on tailored recommendations, managing a majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Blake Bishop is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and two years of industry experience. He has worked at Hamilton Henry Wealth Strategies, LLC, Eagle Strategies, NYLIFE Securities LLC, and New York Life since 2023. Prior to his financial career, he was employed at DuckWorth's Grill and Taphouse and has experience in education at Appalachian State University and Providence Highschool. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm offers a variety of programs tailored to client and plan sponsor needs, with a significant portion of assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Tony Montini is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Investors Services, Ameriprise, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley. He is also active in insurance sales, licensed with multiple carriers under competitive underwriting. Park Avenue Securities, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian Life, provides brokerage and advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary and model-based investment management, and access to proprietary and third-party advisory platforms.

Gregory Snoor is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He is also the owner of Main View Wealth, LLC, which brokers non-registered insurance products and sells New York Life products and services. Snoor's prior experience includes roles at South State Bank and LPL Financial. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individual investors and institutional plans, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple advisory programs and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with most assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Austin Dantzler is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked with NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company for two years and was involved in real estate through Dantzler Properties for 11 years. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, as well as charitable and corporate clients. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, emphasizing tailored recommendations and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Brett Covert is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Corient with 15 years of industry experience. His career background includes roles at Merrill, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Ci Brightworth, among others. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and employs risk management tools and alternative investments where appropriate.

Timothy Jones is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior work includes positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Deutsche Bank Securities, RBC Capital Markets, and Morgan Stanley. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC manages approximately $110 billion in client assets, serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients. The firm offers brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs, combining in-house portfolio management with third-party managers across various wrap programs and unified managed accounts.

Shalenee Yalla is a Series 66 credentialed advisor with Truist Advisory Services, bringing 10 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC from 2017 to 2021 before joining Truist Investment Services, Inc. in 2021. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support client portfolios and provides ongoing reviews and reporting through its affiliated platforms.

Donald Smith Jr. is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 20 years of industry experience. He has worked with Bankers Life entities since 2005, including roles at Bankers Life Advisory Services and Bankers Life Securities. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Kevin Reed is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill Lynch and Bank of America NA for 12 years. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting through a Private Advisor model and consolidated investment platform, and operates as a registered broker-dealer that offers securities transactions, variable insurance products, placement, and investment banking services.

Kevin Runge is a CFA® charterholder with 14 years of experience in the financial industry. He currently works at MAI Capital Management, LLC and has previously been employed by Queens Oak Advisors and Sterling Capital Management LLC. MAI Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm manages a broad range of strategies and offers additional services such as trust administration and insurance through affiliated entities.