Erik Merkau is a CFA® charterholder with 29 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Choreo, LLC and has prior experience at Edelman Financial Engines Advisors, JPMorgan Securities LLC, and Chase. Choreo serves a diverse client base ranging from individual investors to institutional clients, offering services that include portfolio management, financial planning, and outsourced CIO solutions. The firm follows a rigorous investment process centered on strategic asset allocation and a combination of quantitative screening and due diligence to manage portfolios through various vehicles, including model portfolios and separately managed accounts.

Charles Robinson is a financial advisor with Summit Financial, LLC based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and having 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Keebeck Wealth Management, Cornerstone Wealth Group, Cornerstone Financial Partners, and LPL Financial. Robinson serves as a board member of MS4MS (Mission Stadiums 4 Multiple Sclerosis), contributing to strategic decisions for the nonprofit’s growth. Summit Financial, LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm with approximately $26.35 billion in assets under management and 216 advisors serving around 17,800 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and portfolio management programs alongside financial planning and retirement plan advisory services, operating both discretionary and consultative platforms tailored to client needs.

Jonathan Hogan is a financial advisor with Arkadios Wealth Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Kalos Capital, Inc., AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC, The Leaders Group, Inc., and Financial Independence Group. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in managing a wealth management firm and has authored articles on investment topics such as 1031 exchanges. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans through customized strategies, discretionary account management, and access to third-party money managers. The firm integrates an internal portfolio team that supports advisors with models and trade execution across various asset classes while serving as a fiduciary for retirement plan consulting.

Vikalp Agrawal is a financial advisor at Tucker Asset Management LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at DXC Technologies for 17 years. He is also the owner and CEO of Desiretree Financial Services LLC, a life and health insurance agency based in Charlotte, NC. Tucker Asset Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as foundations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing discretionary investment management and financial planning through a network of independent adviser representatives. The firm employs a top-down, macroeconomic asset-allocation approach and incorporates a range of strategies including alternative investments and direct indexing.

Lorraine Tomlin is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience, currently with Waverly Advisors, LLC. She has been associated with Rinehart Wealth & Investment Advisory since 2011. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, serving a diverse client base that includes both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients.

Matthew Oneil is a CFP® and ChFC® with 18 years of experience in financial advisory. He is currently with CG Advisory Services and previously worked at Geneos Wealth Management Inc and WFG Investments, Inc. Outside of advisory, he is involved with Capital Asset Insurance Services, which offers fixed insurance products. CG Advisory Services is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $4.02 billion for a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and consulting through both proprietary model portfolios and customized account solutions.

Peter Jespersen is a CFA® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Colony Family Offices, LLC since 2015. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Charlotte, NC. Colony Family Offices provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning primarily to ultra-high-net-worth families, trusts, estates, and related entities, managing approximately $3.32 billion in discretionary assets. The firm employs a priorities-based, customized planning process and combines passive and active investment strategies, often using third-party managers and independent research.

Elizabeth Newton is a financial advisor with Archer Investment Corporation in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 65 designation and has two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at Newton Wealth Management and Wray Ward, as well as five years at Cory's Audio Visual. Archer Investment Corporation provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and investment companies through separately managed accounts and The Archer Funds. The firm manages approximately $900 million on a primarily discretionary basis, offering customized portfolio management and model-based strategies across a diversified range of asset classes.

Rebecca Chazen is a financial advisor at USAA Investment Services Company with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has held prior roles at Ally Invest Securities LLC, Truist Investment Services, and The Vanguard Group. USAA Investment Services Company provides retirement-focused advice and referral services primarily to USAA members and individual investors through phone and digital channels. The firm delivers Retirement Income Strategy Reports and facilitates referrals to third-party broker-dealers and advisers rather than managing client assets directly.

James Carson III is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 15 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at SVB Wealth, First Citizens Asset Management, and Truist Investment Services. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Rusty's Rods LLC, a business that designs and sells custom fishing rods. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio management through wrap programs and automated platforms, employing risk- and outcomes-based asset allocation, and benefits from its affiliation with a bank holding company, which integrates banking resources and referral relationships.

Sean Kayes is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cary Street Partners. His prior roles include positions at Exencial Wealth Advisors and Willingdon Wealth Management, LLC. He is also a general partner in LOG Ventures, an investment group. Cary Street Partners provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutions. The firm offers portfolio management, financial and retirement planning, access to alternative investments, and lending and insurance solutions, employing a range of traditional and opportunistic investment strategies.

Alex Yarem is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and serves as an adjunct professor for Campbell University’s graduate program, teaching Advanced Investment Analysis. Prior to joining First Citizens Asset Management in 2026, he worked at various affiliates of First Citizens Bank since 2019. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutions. The firm constructs global multi-asset class model portfolios using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with discretionary management focused on strategic asset allocation and risk control.

Nathan Allen is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Oakwood Capital Securities, Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, and 49 Wealth Management LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is an associate at Financial Independence Group, where he is involved in fixed insurance sales. 49 Financial serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment management, consulting, and tiered fractional family office services. The firm employs a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation approach using proprietary and platform model portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds and ETFs.

Duncan Porter is a financial advisor with United Capital Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at United Capital since 2021 and previously spent 12 years with Harbor Capital Management, Inc. United Capital Financial Advisors provides financial planning and investment management services nationally to individual investors, corporations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis using asset-allocation models and offers portfolio customization, client-facing technology, and a platform for other advisors.

Patricia Van Pelt is a financial advisor at A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus and Grandview Financial Group. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach with an emphasis on international investing and offers portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services.

James Vande Logt is a CFP® and ChFC® with 20 years of experience in financial advisory roles. He currently serves at VestGen Advisors, LLC and Private Client Services, having previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and Valmark Securities, Inc. Outside of advising, he is involved as a co-founder and member of VestGen Wealth Partners Holdings, a financial services holding company. VestGen Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.47 billion for over 9,400 clients. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing a variety of analytical methods and third-party managers to implement client portfolios.

Anaiss Zamora is a financial advisor at Savvy with one year of experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and previously worked at Northwest Asset Management, Better Mortgage, and GCG Wealth Management among other firms. Savvy provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts and estates, businesses, ERISA plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a primarily index-based, long-term approach while also offering active equity portfolios and tax-aware direct indexing, utilizing third-party sub-advisers, fintech tools, and integrated tax and estate-planning support.

Nabeel Shums is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Principal Securities. Outside of finance, he has experience in the car wash industry and studied at the University of North Carolina. 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 and third-party methodology to tailor advice and operates within the Principal Financial Group family, which allows access to affiliated products and services.

Spencer Harrison is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with McAdam LLC in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2022. He has three years of industry experience, including prior roles at Croghan Colonial Bank and two winery companies. McAdam LLC is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, and retirement-plan consulting, implementing portfolios primarily through fundamental analysis and a multi-advisor platform managing approximately $2.29 billion in discretionary assets.

Jake Daigle is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with a Series 65 credential and less than one year of industry experience. His work history includes roles outside finance such as teaching and entrepreneurship. 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 tiered fractional family office services through a multi-team structure managing approximately $1.4 billion in assets.