David Vespoli is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Stratos Wealth Partners since 2010 and has also worked with LPL Financial and Osaic Wealth Inc. Outside of advisory services, he is licensed to conduct the sale and servicing of fixed insurance products including annuities, term, universal, whole life, long-term care, disability, and health and dental insurances. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC-registered enterprise wealth management firm with approximately $18.6 billion in assets under management, serving over 24,000 clients through about 366 advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management services and financial planning engagements using an open-architecture approach that incorporates external platforms and third-party manager programs.

Kiara Hackshaw Gary is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2022 and has prior experience at Fifth Third Bank, Bananas & Caviar, Rick Erwin's Dining Group, Ingles Market, and Johnson & Wales University. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in a home-based pastry baking business in Statesville, NC. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate and business clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and combines third-party portfolio managers with advisor-managed options, supported by services such as direct indexing and tax-overlay, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Evangeline Lodwick is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 28 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials. Her prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors, TIAA-CREF, and Encompass Investments. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services feature an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and consistent rebalancing within established plan lineups.

Robert Steele is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked with various Truist-affiliated firms since 2000. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, implementing advice through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and manager arrangements.

Derek Smith is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Principal Securities Inc since 1993 and with PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY since 1998, and he founded Smith Financial Corporation in 2008. He serves as a board member at large for the South Cove Homeowners' Association. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Raymond Yackel Jr. is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Commonwealth and Diversified Wealth Strategies, LLC since 2012, and has operated the Raymond A. Yackel Agency, Inc. since 1977. Outside of advisory work, he maintains ownership of the Raymond Yackel Agency Inc., which is a non-investment related business. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors, offering a range of advisory programs and services including wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party asset managers. The firm provides operations, trading, technology, compliance, and practice-management support, enabling advisors to construct client portfolios using various securities and insurance products alongside discretionary model portfolios managed by its Investment Management and Research team.

Joshua Mcneil is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses, and has six years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, as well as previous positions at The Vanguard Group, Northwestern Mutual, and Online Trading Academy. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, utilizing third-party platforms and manager arrangements to support its investment programs and ongoing due diligence.

Justin Baldwin is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group, Baldwin worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank, NA, and has experience in both educational and retail sectors. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and focus on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates.

Kimberley Foster is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with Series 63 and Series 65 designations and two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank, along with experience at New Rez Mortgage and Verizon. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program combining discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, supported by AI-enabled research and inter-affiliate integration.

Bedford Plummer is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank, Truist Bank, CLA USA, and Puritan Financial Group. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, utilizing third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools to support its investment offerings.

Ehrnest Ballagh III is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and having 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Private Advisor Group since 2015 and was previously associated with LPL Financial, LLC starting in 2004. In addition to his advisory work, he has professional experience as a CPA, bookkeeper, and tax preparer. Private Advisor Group serves a diverse client base including individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm provides access to various advisory programs, third-party asset managers, and a proprietary WealthSuite separately managed account program.

Jaclyn Mcgrew is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 65 and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Fifth Third Securities in 2021, she worked at Fifth Third Bank starting in 2019 and was involved with D9 Brewing Company from 2015 to 2019. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through various program types on the Passageway platform. The firm operates as a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and provides access to multiple third-party portfolio managers, with an emphasis on customizable investment strategies.

Robert Palmer is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Mooresville, NC, and has 17 years of industry experience. He has been with SunTrust Advisory Services since 2013, including a decade at SunTrust Advisory Services. Outside of his advisory role, he holds a 50% ownership interest in an LLC formed to purchase a rental property in Myrtle Beach. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled equity research, and integrates closely with affiliated broker-dealer and banking entities.

Austin Smith is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Mooresville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He has previously worked at American Express and MThree Consulting, and is currently associated with Smith Financial Corp. outside of his role at Principal. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel abroad. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Colby Clark is a financial advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Aspire Private Capital and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as an independent insurance sales agent and has advisory-related activities through C SQUARED CAPITAL LLC. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a network model combining independent advisory representatives with access to various portfolio management strategies and technology platforms.

Jeffrey Bulger is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and Bb&T Securities. He owns a rental property in Mooresville, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platform arrangements.

Angela Lessor is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors. Her prior roles include positions at Journey Strategic Wealth LLC, Bleakley Financial Group LLC, LPL Financial, and Northwestern Mutual Investment Management. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers, with capabilities in discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting.

Mark Sumner is a financial advisor with SPC in Mooresville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at SPC and Parkland Securities LLC since 2020 and previously spent seven years at Securities Service Network, Inc. Sumner is also a licensed insurance agent involved with Sumner Wealth Management, Inc., where he provides life, Medicare Supplement, long-term care, and disability insurance. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, managing approximately $5.66 billion in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement plan services, delivering strategies through discretionary and nondiscretionary management options.

Kelsey Neal is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has prior experience with BDS Financial Network and service in the Army National Guard. Neal is also the owner of Waypoint Wealth Solutions, LLC, a private entity involved in securities, advisory, and insurance business. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and support services, including operations, trading, compliance, and investment management, allowing advisors to offer customized portfolio solutions under Commonwealth’s supervision.

Blair Homesley is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, following over two decades at Bb&T Investment Services and three years at Bb&T Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, utilizes third-party platforms and managers, and integrates inter-affiliate resources to support its client offerings.