Willis Heslep is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. He has operated his own tax and retirement planning business since 2021 and has managed Heslep Wealth Advisors, an insurance and investment advisory firm, since 2014. His background includes roles at several advisory and investment firms dating back to 1997. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies, including strategic asset allocation models and options-enhanced strategies, and offers portfolio management through a turnkey platform and wrap-fee programs.

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 Series 66-credentialed advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., bringing four years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Bankers Life Securities and BankersLife and Casualty Company, where he also serves as a unit field trainer recruiting and training insurance agents. Prior to his financial services career, he was involved with Backstreets Bar & Grill and held positions at Lenoir Rhyne University. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm’s investment approach focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to guide portfolio decisions.

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 at Primerica Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Guardian Life Insurance Company, Park Avenue Securities, and other firms throughout his career. Outside of his advisory role, Armstrong serves as president of a local BNI chapter and participates in peer-to-peer car rental through Turo. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a diverse retail client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporations, offering brokerage and advisory services alongside financial planning and retirement consulting. The firm utilizes a range of proprietary and third-party investment strategies delivered through various platforms and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Tonya McMahon is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 24 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and Wachovia Bank, N.A. 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, including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering a range of brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs.

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.

Lisa Hensarling is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Cetera Advisor Networks and LPL Financial. In addition to her advisory role, she is a commissioned Notary Public in North Carolina. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement plan consulting, employing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Joshua Bartholomew is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory in Matthews, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fortune Financial Services, Quasar Distributors, LLC, and two decades with Horizon Investments. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual investors. The firm offers a range of services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education, and supports complex investment solutions while managing approximately $79.8 billion in assets.

James Freeman is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has a background that includes long tenures at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Citigroup Global Markets. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves ultra-high and high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, charities, corporations, and retirement plans by providing wealth management, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers integrated services through affiliated trust and insurance entities, access to alternative and private investments, and a designated Private Advisor model.

Benjamin Cheaney is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience and previously worked at Ernst & Young and Morningstar. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting through a variety of proprietary and third-party investment programs.

Grace Pelino is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with five years of industry experience. She previously worked at Morgan Stanley and has held multiple roles within Rockefeller Financial and Rockefeller Capital Management since 2022. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services, including alternative investment placements and integrated trust and insurance capabilities.

Stuart Gardner Jr. is a CFP® with 43 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. He has held roles at Charlotte Wealth Management, LLC and LPL Financial. Gardner also serves as an agent of record for 1st Atlantic Brokerage, engaging in non-variable insurance activities. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a network model combining independent advisory representatives with access to third-party managers, technology platforms, and brokerage services through LPL Financial.

Daniel Barry Jr. is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BrightHouse Securities, MetLife, Guardian Life Insurance, and Park Avenue Securities. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering both brokerage and fee-based advisory services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through proprietary model portfolios, third-party managers, and digital advice solutions, managing approximately $15 billion in regulatory assets under management.

Stacy Bortle is a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 14 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LPL Financial, and BankPlus. Outside of her advisory work, she participates in online resale through Poshmark and is an independent distributor for Herbalife Nutrition. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, offering investment advisory programs alongside brokerage and insurance services. The firm provides a digital advisory program alongside managed account offerings and operates as a broker-dealer and insurance agency.

Elizabeth Younts is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She has worked at Sterling Financial Group, Lincoln Investment, USI Insurance Services, and Wells Fargo Insurance Services. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a trustee for a family member’s trust. Commonwealth Financial Network supports a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors, providing a range of advisory programs, technology, and operational support while allowing advisors discretion in portfolio construction through various investment and insurance products.

Joseph Mc Coy is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has five years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Fifth Third Bank and First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. offers investment advisory, brokerage, and insurance services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides portfolio management through various approaches, including model portfolios and separately managed accounts, and employs both strategic and tactical asset allocation methods.

Johnny Rutledge is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds the Series 66 designation. He has 18 years of industry experience, including roles at LPL Financial since 2014 and Independent Advisor Alliance since 2016. Outside of his advisory work, Rutledge is a part-owner of Red Key Ventures, an entertainment business. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm provides asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, using both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management approaches along with various analytical techniques and technology platforms.