Timothy Bain is a financial advisor with Spark Asset Management Group in Statesville, NC, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Spark Asset Management Group and StoneX Securities Inc. since 2010. Outside of finance, Bain is involved in MUSIC 49 INC., where he teaches music lessons and assists with marketing and bookkeeping. Spark Asset Management Group is a state-registered investment adviser offering discretionary asset management, retirement advice, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs tactical asset allocation using trend-following models combined with technical and fundamental research and manages a range of portfolios, including specialty accounts utilizing derivatives and leveraged products.

Mary Masters is a financial advisor at Masters Tax and Financial Planning LLC with 27 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Cetera Advisors. Mary is also a licensed insurance agent and offers insurance products through a broker on a limited basis. Masters Tax and Financial Planning LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, focusing on discretionary portfolio management and tax-aware investment strategies primarily using fundamental analysis of U.S. large-cap equities. The firm coordinates closely with accounting professionals and offers specialized services such as divorce financial planning and estate coordination.

Christopher Lee is a CFP® professional at Passport Wealth Management with experience starting in 2024. Prior to his current role, he held positions at several firms and organizations, including Choreo, SFMG Wealth Advisors, and Trustcore Financial. He also spent time at the University of Georgia and took a year for extended travel. Passport Wealth Management is an SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a passive investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers comprehensive financial planning, investment management, tax return preparation through a third-party provider, and retirement plan consulting.

Joe Silvas is a financial advisor at C2 Investment Group with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been co-owner of C2, LLC dba Tracker, a firm offering a portfolio accounting and reporting application, since 1997. Silvas’s career includes nearly three decades working within the same affiliated entities. C2 Investment Group provides non-discretionary investment consultation primarily to institutional clients such as municipalities, universities, and public funds. The firm specializes in government bond index tracking and uses a proprietary optimization application to assist clients with portfolio rebalancing while clients retain execution authority.

Lee Larson is a financial advisor at Everstar Asset Management, LLC with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including Fundamental Global Investors, CWA Asset Management Group, and Hayden Harper Wealth Advisory. Larson holds board and chairman roles in multiple non-investment companies based in Mooresville, North Carolina. Everstar provides investment advisory and management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and families, as well as sponsoring and managing private pooled funds. The firm’s investment approach is IPS-driven and focuses on long-term capital appreciation using proprietary models and a multi-step evaluation framework across public and private markets.

Fu Yuet is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fundamental Global Investors, LLC and CWA Asset Management Group, and has been employed by Caterpillar Inc. since 2002. Everstar Asset Management, LLC provides investment advisory and management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, and sponsors multiple private pooled funds. The firm follows an IPS-driven investment process focused on long-term capital appreciation through proprietary equity and fixed-income models, and implements strategies across public and private markets, including derivatives, private debt, and private equity.

Jerry Neal is a financial advisor with Everstar Asset Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Advanced Wealth Strategies, Inc., AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC, Park Avenue Securities, and Guardian Life Insurance. Outside of finance, he officiates NCAA football games. Everstar Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, foundations, and certain institutional accounts. The firm manages approximately $311 million in regulatory assets under management and sponsors multiple private pooled investment vehicles, employing a structured investment process that includes proprietary equity and fixed-income models, as well as the use of derivatives and options.

Thomas Kelly is a financial advisor at Aspire Private Capital with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Aspire since 2014. Kelly also owns Covenant Private Capital, an insurance and annuity product sales firm, and works as a marketing consultant for Aspire Insurance Solutions. Aspire Private Capital manages approximately $510 million for individuals, corporations, and retirement plans, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and often recommends third-party sub-advisers through the GeoWealth platform.

Matthew Ellis is a financial advisor at Fidelis Capital Partners, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Fidelis Capital in 2022, Ellis worked at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing Services from 2017 to 2022, and at Merrill from 2012 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for Centerstone Military Services in Nashville, Tennessee. Fidelis Capital Partners provides investment advisory and related services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, philanthropic and non-profit organizations, and other business entities. The firm employs a blend of quantitative, fundamental, technical, and economic analysis in its investment process and offers discretionary portfolio management along with business consulting and coordination of third-party providers.

Renee Simpson is a financial advisor with Everstar Asset Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 14 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC, Advanced Wealth Strategies, Inc., Park Avenue Securities, and Guardian Life Insurance. Outside of finance, she assists with operations at Mt. Pleasant Smokehouse, a restaurant in North Carolina. Everstar Asset Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and families with customizable financial planning and portfolio management, including sponsorship and management of private pooled funds. The firm’s investment approach is IPS-driven, focusing on long-term capital appreciation through proprietary equity and fixed-income models applied across public and private markets.

Thomas James is a financial advisor at Everstar Asset Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has a background that includes consulting roles and a long tenure at Sierra Wireless. Everstar Asset Management offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, foundations, and certain institutional accounts. The firm manages approximately $311 million in assets for about 1,077 clients and sponsors multiple private funds, employing a five-step investment process that incorporates proprietary equity and fixed-income models.

Nina Lloyd is President and CEO of Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. She holds the CFP® designation and has 15 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at FSC Securities Corporation and LPL Financial LLC. Outside of her advisory work, she is the owner and president of Lloyd Grading and Utilities, Inc. Opus Financial Advisors is a team-based firm serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing a range of sponsored and third-party investment programs primarily on the LPL platform.

Andrew Kelleher is a financial advisor with Aptus Financial, LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has been with Aptus Financial since 2026 and has prior work experience at Summit Coffee. Aptus Financial provides flat-fee financial planning and advisory services to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and employer-sponsored defined-contribution plans. The firm focuses on financial planning rather than discretionary portfolio management, emphasizing passive, long-term indexing, simple asset allocation, cash-flow management, and periodic rebalancing.

James Staples is a CFP® with 43 years of industry experience and serves as President of Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. He has worked at LPL Financial LLC and FSC Securities Corporation and has been with Opus Financial Advisors since 1982. Staples serves as a board member for Children's Homes of Iredell County and has held leadership roles in local nonprofit organizations related to education and community outreach. Opus Financial Advisors is a team-based firm serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting using a variety of sponsored and third-party programs primarily on the LPL platform, with a mix of fundamental and technical investment methods.

Wesley Taylor is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Aspire Private Capital. He previously worked for The Vanguard Group and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in individual insurance sales, focusing on annuities and life insurance. Aspire Private Capital manages approximately $510 million for individuals, corporations, and retirement plans, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and selective tax services. The firm employs a range of analytical approaches and frequently uses third-party sub-advisers and model portfolios through the GeoWealth platform.

Richard Jakiel is a financial advisor at Everstar Asset Management, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Advanced Wealth Strategies, Inc. and Cambridge Investment Research. Outside of his advisory role, he teaches private tennis lessons and is involved in community organizations such as the Queen City League and Kiwanis Uptown in Charlotte, NC. Everstar Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, foundations, and certain institutional accounts. The firm manages approximately $311 million in assets and offers a range of investment strategies including proprietary equity and fixed-income models, as well as managing multiple private funds with performance-based incentive structures.

Janna Deegan is a financial advisor at Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Opus Financial Advisors since 2015. Deegan also serves as the firm’s Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer and is a licensed notary public. Opus Financial Advisors is a state-registered, team-based firm serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting using a combination of firm-sponsored and third-party investment programs primarily administered on the LPL platform.

John Philpott is a financial advisor with Aspire Private Capital and holds a Series 65 designation. He has 16 years of industry experience, including five years at Global Financial Private Capital. Outside of financial advising, he owns and brokers real estate through Pier 28 Realty and serves as president of Estate and Retirement Consultants, which offers fixed life and annuity products. Aspire Private Capital manages approximately $510 million for individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across various asset classes and often employing third-party sub-advisers.

John Frechette is a CFP® affiliated with Foundry Financial LLC and has one year of industry experience. Before joining Foundry Financial in 2025, he worked at the Trust Company of the South, Huber Engineered Woods, Lowe's Companies, Inc., and Caterpillar. Foundry Financial provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm employs risk-based, diversified portfolios across various asset types with adviser-held discretion focused on long-term allocation and client coaching.

Thomas Hamilton is a financial advisor at Everstar Asset Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked for American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company for 20 years. Everstar Asset Management provides investment advisory and management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and families, as well as sponsoring and managing multiple private pooled funds. The firm uses an IPS-driven investment approach focused on long-term capital appreciation through proprietary equity and fixed-income models and operates across public and private markets with various strategies including derivatives and private equity.