Thomas Worth III is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC and previously worked at Defender Capital and ORG Partner's LLC. Worth also operates as a Personal CFO. Ascentis Independent Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and corporate clients through a network of advisors. The firm offers a broad range of services including asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, and financial planning, utilizing portfolios composed of both public and private securities that are actively monitored and rebalanced.

Robin Slaughter is a CFP® with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Royal Fund Management, LLC. He has held positions at firms including Center Street Advisors, Alphastar Capital Management, and Maximum Advisory. Since 1997, he has been owner and president of Retirement & Estate Planning Services, Inc., where he provides retirement and estate planning strategies and tax consulting. Royal Fund Management, LLC serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations with portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm uses fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to implement customized investment strategies and offers services including options writing, third-party manager oversight, and defined contribution plan management.

William Smiley is a financial advisor at Coastal Bridge Advisors with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at TrinityPoint Wealth, LLC, and Penland Legacy Advisors. He serves on the board of directors for the Winthrop University Foundation, providing volunteer leadership in community outreach and university engagement. Coastal Bridge Advisors offers financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach to construct diversified portfolios and provides specialized advisory services including retirement plan consulting and HSA investment management.

Nickolas Sherek is a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at UBS and U.S. Bank. Choreo provides investment and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, family offices, endowments, retirement plans, and corporate clients. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes strategic asset allocation and diversified model portfolios managed by a centralized team and overseen by an Investment Committee.

Matthew Odom is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 16 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services and MSI Financial Services, as well as a decade at Odum Adjusting Company. He also serves as Manager-Compliance for Ally Invest Advisors. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based and virtual platforms, offering ETF-based Robo Portfolios and personalized advice services built on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers.

Anna Houser is a CFP® with five years of industry experience and has been with Prospera Financial Services, Inc. since 2014. She serves as president of the counsel and volunteers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where she also teaches Sunday school and leads Bible study. Additionally, she is the managing member of Sandy Ventures, LLC, a business focused on the sale of apparel, stickers, and accessories currently in early development. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is an enterprise-scale adviser and dually registered broker-dealer managing approximately $12.4 billion across 207 advisors and about 140 offices. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporate and charitable entities, and retirement plans, offering investment advisory and financial planning services through multiple platforms and customizable portfolio management options.

Jeremy Grant is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Cornerstone Wealth. He has worked at multiple financial firms, including Mutual Securities, Cornerstone Financial Partners, Cornerstone Financial Advisors, and LPL Financial. Grant is also involved with an insurance agency as part of his other business activities. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to affiliate-managed private investment vehicles.

James Hartman is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with McAdam LLC in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2021. He has four years of industry experience, including prior roles at FMI Capital Advisors, Leedon Park Capital, and Covenant Capital LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in fixed insurance sales through McAdam Institutional Brokerage. McAdam LLC is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs fundamental analysis to build diversified portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, independent managers, and individual securities, and offers a range of specialized strategies alongside a subscription-based financial planning service.

Domenico Napolitano is a financial advisor at Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Wingate University before joining Ally Invest Securities and Ally Invest Advisors. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based solutions and virtual interactions. The firm offers ETF-based Robo Portfolios, automated investing pilots, and Financial Advisor-delivered Personal Advice services using model portfolios structured on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers.

Sheri Bartyzel is a financial advisor at Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with eight years of industry experience. She has worked at Ally Invest Advisors since 2022 and previously at LPL Financial from 2013 to 2017. Ally Invest Advisors serves a large retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, providing discretionary portfolio management through automated services and advisor-led guidance. The firm’s investment approach employs Modern Portfolio Theory with model allocations across multiple risk tiers and uses primarily ETFs, combining automated algorithms with supervised monitoring.

Lekshmi Rajaram is a financial advisor with CG Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, and UBS Financial Services. CG Advisory Services is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a largely model-driven investment approach, supplemented by fundamental and technical research, options strategies, and alternative investments, supported by AI tools and an Investment Committee.

Mitchell Roth is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Sovran Advisors, LLC and holds a Series 66 license. His prior experience includes positions at The Vanguard Group, LPL Financial, Equitable Advisors, and Ameriprise Financial Services. Sovran Advisors serves individuals, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors by providing financial planning, advisory services, and portfolio management across various program types. The firm employs both active and passive investment strategies and utilizes multiple custodial platforms to support its clients' diverse objectives.

Mariana Vega Ortega is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Arete, she worked at H & Co LLP for four years. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of Blackbull Holding Group LLC, a business involved in the import and export of classic cars. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations, third-party sub-advisers, and acts as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

William Richmond is a financial advisor with Cary Street Partners, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Luxe Lifestyle Magazine. Richmond has been with Cary Street Partners since 2020. Cary Street Partners serves a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of services such as portfolio management, financial planning, and fiduciary services, utilizing proprietary strategies and AI tools alongside human oversight.

Riley Wolfram is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services and holds a Series 66 designation. Based in Charlotte, NC, Wolfram has one year of industry experience, including roles at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Bank, and Wells Fargo. Prior to entering the financial sector, Wolfram worked in various positions including at Davidson College and Girls on the Run Greater Charlotte. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm offers both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest, leveraging proprietary and third-party models supported by affiliated entities within the Principal Financial Group.

Jonathan Faynik is a financial advisor at Earned Wealth Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Schenley Capital and Northwestern Mutual. His background also includes roles outside finance, such as teaching at Denfeld High School and Robert Morris University. Earned Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, focusing particularly on doctors, dentists, and their practices. The firm provides financial planning, discretionary wealth management, and retirement-plan advisory services, employing a diversified, buy-and-hold investment approach supported by an internal Investment Strategy Committee and third-party consultants.

Andrew De Angelis is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with Venture Visionary Partners LLC and previously worked at KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and Sidoti & Company, LLC. Venture Visionary Partners LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and modern portfolio theory approaches to customize portfolios and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside retirement-plan consulting and implementation.

Neill Nelson is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at various entities within the Principal Financial Group, including Principal Bank and Principal Life Insurance Company. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, leveraging proprietary models and affiliated resources to serve its clients.

Austin Palmer is a financial advisor with Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. He is a founding partner of Destination Wealth Advisors, where he contributes to firm growth through the acquisition of new advisors and clients. Kestra Private Wealth Services manages approximately $10.2 billion in client assets through a network of nearly 200 independent advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm supports advisor-managed discretionary and non-discretionary accounts and offers a range of financial planning, consulting, and investment solutions while maintaining supervisory oversight.

Christopher Kemper is a financial advisor with Blueprint Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Kingswood Capital Partners and Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Outside of advisory roles, he is a fitness instructor at Fitness Connection and serves as president of Fulcrum Wealth Advisors, a firm involved in life insurance and long-term care sales. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor firm that provides portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting to individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets, employing a proprietary strategic-and-tactical framework to build globally diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes.