Zoe Bender is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience. She is currently with Summit Financial, LLC and has prior experience at Bank of America, Merrill, and other financial firms. Summit Financial, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $26.35 billion in assets with 216 advisors serving around 17,800 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and portfolio management programs, combining discretionary and consultative services to tailor client portfolios.

Ronald Balkus is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Gradient Advisors, LLC, based in Greenville, SC, and has two years of industry experience. He has also been involved with Palmetto Senior Benefits since 2013. Balkus owns and operates Balkus Wealth Management and Balkus Insurance Services Inc., focusing on advisory and insurance services. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm primarily operates through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives and third-party money managers, using a largely non-discretionary approach that incorporates risk analysis and various investment methods.

Jonathan Polson is a financial advisor at Silver Oak Securities, Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Southern Trust Wealth Management and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, he is also employed in outside sales at Waste Management and provides life insurance and fixed annuity options through Southern Trust Wealth Management. Silver Oak Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and business entities, managing approximately $2.4 billion in discretionary assets. The firm offers a range of advisory programs with a primarily discretionary investment approach tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Anthony Hanley is a financial advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Fairfax Global Investment Management LLC and Center Street Securities, Inc. He is also the founder, along with his spouse, of Matthew’s Hope Children’s Ministries, a charitable organization. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both advisor-driven and proprietary model-based investment strategies and offers access to third-party money managers and wrap programs.

Thomas Mcdonald is a financial advisor with United Capital Financial Advisors in Anderson, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 43 years of industry experience. His career includes positions at Integrity Alliance, Lion Street Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and other firms. Outside of advising, he manages a commercial office building in Anderson. United Capital Financial Advisors offers national financial planning and discretionary investment management to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth households, retirement plans, and corporate accounts. The firm provides customized portfolio solutions, access to alternative investments, and supports independent advisors through its FinLife Partners platform.

Helena Benedetto Erman is a financial advisor at Jacobi Capital Management, LLC with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at NorthStar Financial & Retirement Planning and Koch Insurance Brokers. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in fixed insurance sales, including life, fixed annuities, and long-term care products. Jacobi Capital Management serves individual, institutional, and retirement plan clients by offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a proprietary investment process combining fundamental analysis with a multidisciplinary framework, providing personalized investment strategies and access to algorithm-driven model portfolios under adviser oversight.

Jerome Long III is a financial advisor with International Assets Investment Management, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America and Merrill. He is the founder and president of Loyal Trust Private Wealth, LLC, a private label entity for his financial business. International Assets Investment Management provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and corporations through a national network of independent advisers. The firm offers customized, long-term portfolio management using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income, and may utilize third-party money managers and wrap programs.

Robert Gardner Jr. is a financial advisor with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC in Greenville, SC. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 35 years of industry experience. His prior roles include long tenures at Wsg Advisors and Wsg Partners, LLC. IP Financial Advisory Services LLC primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting. The firm offers personalized portfolio construction, discretionary management, and access to third-party managers, emphasizing analytical approaches and services tailored to non-high-net-worth investors and retirement plan participants.

Blane Bailley is an investment advisor representative with Regal Investment Advisors LLC based in Greenville, SC. He holds the Series 65 designation and has four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Regal, Bailley worked at Benefits in a Card, Cintas, and Southern Valet & Transportation. He also operates Bailley Group Wealth Management, providing financial and insurance services. Regal Investment Advisors LLC, doing business as LionShare, offers discretionary investment management services to independent advisers and their clients, including individuals and corporate accounts. The firm provides proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary implementation and rebalancing authority.

John Dickey is a financial advisor at Vanderbilt Advisory Services with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at firms including Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. and WealthWave. Outside of advising, he is involved with Netlaw Inc, a technology company focused on estate planning software. Vanderbilt Advisory Services serves a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, proprietary model portfolios, and financial planning services, emphasizing strategic asset allocation and a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis.

Christopher Barton is a financial advisor at Gradient Advisors, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at JEHM Wealth & Retirement, Brookstone Capital Management, and MassMutual. In addition to his advisory role, he is engaged in individual life, health, and group insurance sales. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other entities. The firm operates primarily through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives and third-party money managers, employing a largely non-discretionary approach that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Stuart Knobel is a financial advisor with Capitol Securities Management, Inc. in Anderson, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 52 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. Inc. for 10 years before joining Capitol Securities Management in 2019. Knobel also operates an investment-related business under the name Knobel Investments. Capitol Securities Management serves individuals, corporate and charitable clients, trustees, and plan sponsors by providing brokerage and investment advisory services, financial planning, pension consulting, and insurance products. The firm uses a range of investment strategies and offers access to third-party money managers and model portfolios.

Paul Bailley is a financial advisor with Regal Investment Advisors LLC in Greenville, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Regal Investment Advisors since 2015 and also operates Bailley Group Wealth Management. Bailley is a licensed insurance agent offering life insurance, disability, fixed, and fixed indexed annuities, and he holds a passive ownership stake in the Maine Nordiques junior hockey team. Regal Investment Advisors LLC, operating as LionShare, provides discretionary investment management services to independent advisers and their clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers proprietary and third-party model portfolios with a range of asset classes and uses a discretionary approach implemented through financial advisers.

Micah Usry is a financial advisor at Altitude Capital Management LLC based in Greenville, SC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Altitude Capital Management in 2026, he worked at Whitney and Associates and The Leazer Group Life Insurance, as well as had roles at Bridgeway Church and Legacy Church. Altitude Capital Management LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and high net worth clients. The firm customizes strategies based on client objectives and risk tolerance, employing a variety of approaches including asset allocation and technical analysis, and manages $103.6 million in discretionary assets.

William Flowers is a financial advisor at Integrity Advisory Solutions with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Prudential Insurance Company of America and BB&T Investment Services. He is also licensed as an insurance agent, selling fixed life, annuity, health, disability, property and casualty, and long-term care insurance. Integrity Advisory Solutions serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and other business clients through a network of independent advisors, managing approximately $1.1 billion in client assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and model portfolio programs, using various asset-allocation strategies and third-party platforms.

Jon Olson is a financial advisor at Arkadios Wealth Advisors with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Resource Investment Architects, Inc. and Investment Architects, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Olson serves as a wrestling official at the high school and college levels and is president of an insurance sales business. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers a variety of advisory solutions, including discretionary portfolio management supported by an internal portfolio team, and integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in its investment approach.

Welton Smith Jr. is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 63 designation and 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Advisory Services since 2009 and has worked with Capital Investment Group, Inc. since 2004. Smith serves on the board of Civitan International, a charitable organization involved in allocating charitable gifts and reviewing investment policies. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, employing a variety of analytical methods and conducting ongoing portfolio reviews.

Charles Crews Jr. is a financial advisor at Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 certifications and has previously worked at firms including Crews Financial Advisors, Arkadios Capital, Wealth Management Advisors, Triad Advisors, SFA Financial LLC, and Citigroup Global Markets. In addition to his financial advisory work, he is a practicing attorney specializing in estate planning and probate and serves on the board of the South Carolina Transplant Foundation. Fortis Capital Advisors is an SEC-registered multi-team investment adviser serving individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, institutional clients, and other advisers. The firm offers customized portfolio management and financial planning, utilizing a range of active, passive, tactical, and ESG-aware strategies, as well as third-party sub-advisors and specialist strategies.

Joshua Speese is a financial advisor with TD Private Client Wealth LLC in Greenville, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 11 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Wells Fargo Bank NA, Wells Fargo Advisors, Bank of America, and Merrill. TD Private Client Wealth LLC provides discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional clients, high-net-worth private clients, and retail investors, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various investment products through a combination of affiliated and third-party sub-managers.

Joel Swaney is a financial advisor with TD Private Client Wealth LLC in Greenville, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America from 2010 to 2021 before joining TD in 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner of the podcast Cartoon Dumpster Dive, where he discusses classic cartoons and provides historical context. TD Private Client Wealth LLC offers discretionary wrap‑fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional clients, high‑net‑worth individuals, and retail clients, utilizing a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation with investments from affiliated and third‑party managers.