James Waters is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Questar Capital Corporation, Wells Fargo Investment Institute Inc., Global Alternative Investment Services Inc., and Nyes Ledge Capital Management LLC. Waters is also the sole proprietor of HighStreet Partners and a partner in two entities based in North Carolina. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices, as well as institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, and operates as a registered broker-dealer offering securities transactions, variable insurance products, and investment banking services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform.

Hayden Askea is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, based in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services since 2026 and has prior experience at The Home Depot and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and utilizes a diversified investment approach combining passive and active managers with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Harper Hicks is a CFP® professional with 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Rockefeller Financial LLC and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., among other firms. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations. The firm combines a Private Advisor model with a consolidated investment platform, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services.

Jeffrey Davis is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2020. Prior to this, he worked at TD Ameritrade, Inc. from 2014 to 2020. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines multiple managed-account options with features like direct indexing and tax-overlay services, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank.

Kelli Little is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC. She holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license, and has 14 years of industry experience. She has been with Eagle Strategies since 2018 and also has affiliations with Nylife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Co dating back to 2015. Eagle Strategies serves a broad range of individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm provides multiple program options and emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives, with a significant portion of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Alvin Riley II is a CFP® certificant with 13 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He spent 10 years at LPL Financial prior to joining his current firm. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse clientele, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of independent advisory representatives and integrates technology platforms to support portfolio management and estate planning solutions.

Denise Johnson is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 21 years of industry experience. She has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2011 and maintains long-standing roles with Nylife Securities Inc and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of advisory work, she serves as a Notary Public. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, defined contribution and benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients, with a focus on tailored solutions and non-discretionary asset management.

Michael Arner is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 17 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Securities America Advisors, Investacorp, and Highland Brokerage Capital. Additionally, he is involved with Modern Life as a brokerage manager and wholesaler of insurance products. TLG Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering services through independent advisors and a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

Leila Evans is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience. She has worked at MAI Capital Management since 2021 and previously spent 12 years with Solamere Advisors and Capital Guardian, LLC. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides investment management, wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutions. The firm offers customized portfolio management across multiple strategies and serves in both product-sponsor and advisory roles, managing significant assets and related private funds.

Benjamin White is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with one year of industry experience. He holds the CFP® certification and Series 63 license. Prior to joining Truist Advisory Services, he worked at Truist Bank from 2013 to 2025 in various roles. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes both traditional research and AI-enabled tools in its investment approach and offers a range of advisory services, including manager selection and ongoing portfolio monitoring through partnerships with Envestnet.

Madeline Huffman is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with three years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Financial LLC and FinTrust Capital Advisors, LLC. Her background also includes roles outside finance, such as employment at Wells Fargo Bank and Olympian Grill. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and employs a diversified investment process that blends passive and active strategies, supported by an internal Investment Committee.

Brenton Simonson is a Certified Financial Planner® with 17 years of industry experience. He currently works at Creative Planning and previously held roles at LPL Financial and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Willis Heslep is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has operated Heslep Tax & Retirement Planning since 2021, providing tax preparation and planning services alongside his advisory role. His career includes previous positions at several firms, including Retirement Wealth Advisors, Inc. and AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC. Brookstone Capital Management offers fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm utilizes a variety of strategic asset-allocation models and investment vehicles, including ETFs, mutual funds, and options-enhanced strategies, and provides services through both its own representatives and sub-advisory arrangements.

Chad Pannell is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with LPL Financial and Independent Advisor Alliance since 2016. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm utilizes a network model of independent advisory representatives and combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with technology platforms for account aggregation and estate planning.

Brett Oconnor is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2025, with prior roles at Fifth Third Bank, Woodforest National Bank, and Banfield Animal Hospital. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and business entities. The firm offers investment advisory and brokerage services through various program types on the Passageway Managed Account platform, combining multiple portfolio management strategies and third-party offerings.

Karl Mount III is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked in various roles within the Bankers Life organization since 2018 and previously operated a bar and grill. In addition to his advisory duties, he recruits and trains insurance agents as a unit field trainer for Bankers Life & Casualty. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and manages portfolios across multiple securities, with support from affiliated broker-dealer and insurance entities.

David Curry is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes six years at Second Half Strategies and three years at HoneyBaked Ham. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a network model with over 300 advisors and employs various portfolio management strategies supported by technology platforms and third-party managers.

Lauren Grames is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at LPL Financial, Mutual of Omaha, and National Life Group. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of advisory representatives and combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party platforms and services.

Robert Armstrong is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with Guardian Life and associated with Park Avenue Securities, where he has worked since 2021. Armstrong has held prior roles at Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC, Advisory Services Network, LLC, Regulus Advisors, LLC, Greater Media, and Avantax Advisory Services. Outside of advising, he serves as president of a local BNI chapter and participates in peer-to-peer car rental activities. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management, model-based strategies, and digital advisory solutions tailored to client needs, with access to insurance products, alternative investments, and integrated lending options.

Eugene Musselwhite III is a financial advisor at Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation since 2017, as well as Transamerica Retirement Solutions since 2016. Prior to that, he was with Lincoln Financial Advisors and has operated a self-employed advisory practice since 2009. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs that include implemented portfolios and non-discretionary recommendations. The firm leverages Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary software and model portfolios to guide asset allocation, contribution rates, and retirement age decisions for a large client base.