James Baker is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is a co-owner of Three Eagle Ventures, LLC. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank with integrated banking and advisory functions.

James Martin II is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with 28 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wachovia Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-owner involved in rental property maintenance. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client-focused process using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Matthew Duffey is a CFP® certificant with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. He was also involved with the Notre Dame Student Activities Organization during his university years. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s advice is based on Charles Schwab & Co.’s asset-allocation models and internal research, with trades executed only upon client authorization.

Brandon Bastuba is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with NewEdge Advisors. His prior roles include positions at Assetmark, Inc., Brinker Capital Securities, and Intelliflo. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a broad range of services, including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party advisory programs, utilizing centralized due diligence, technology tools, and a variety of program structures.

Mary Kane is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with Truist in various capacities since 2024. Prior to joining Truist, she was employed at Pearson and involved with other business activities including Hermitage Country Club and Hampden Hill Custom Building. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a broad client base including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research and due diligence with AI-enabled tools, offers ongoing portfolio monitoring, and utilizes a network of affiliated financial entities in its client solutions.

Kyle Thomas is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 12 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Bank of America and Merrill from 2014 to 2023. Kyle also operates Founders Private Wealth, LLC, an investment advisory business affiliated with his current firm. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with a technology-driven approach and maintains a unique network model supported by its partial ownership by LPL Financial.

Michael Mcglinsky is a CFP® and ChFC® with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., having joined in 2025. His previous roles include positions at Thrivent Financial and Prudential. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities by providing advisory and brokerage services through investment adviser representatives and third-party portfolio managers. The firm employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to construct diversified portfolios across various asset classes.

William Walker III is a financial advisor with D.A. Davidson & Co. in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and 66 licenses and has 20 years of industry experience, including 14 years at LPL Financial before joining D.A. Davidson in 2022. He serves as the Outreach Committee Chairman for St. John's Episcopal Church, organizing volunteer events for the congregation. D.A. Davidson & Co. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a broad client base, including employer-sponsored retirement plans, individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers ERISA retirement plan advisory, comprehensive financial planning, and a private wealth program for clients with over $20 million in net worth, operating under fiduciary standards and using both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Stuart Vaughn is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. He has previously worked at Northwestern Mutual in various capacities from 2016 to 2023 and at LPL Financial LLC starting in 2023. Vaughn is also involved with The Cason Group, a non-variable insurance business. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, using both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by model portfolios and technology platforms.

John Godfrey Jr. is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial and Cornerstone Wealth. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services, utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management supported by various analytical techniques and technology platforms.

Bruce Putnam is a financial advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with LPL Financial since 2011 and Cornerstone Financial Advisors from 2011 to 2018. Beyond his advisory role, he has been involved in mortgage and real estate services and acts as an agent for fixed insurance products. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a network of advisory representatives utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies, supported by technology platforms and a governance model that integrates supervised advisors, sub-advisors, and third-party managers.

Thomas Cline is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing. He serves as a board member for the United Way of Roanoke Valley. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm’s approach involves IAR-led assessments and combines fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Tiffany Ku is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining TLG Advisors, she worked at The Leaders Group Inc. and CTBC Bank USA. Ku also serves as a Client Services Manager and Writing Agent for a life insurance brokerage business. TLG Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on investment supervisory services and portfolio management through a manager selection process informed by fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, and offers a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

Hannah Smith is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at various Truist entities since 2021, as well as prior roles at Beneficial Investments and Robinson & Stith Insurance. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of fiduciary and advisory services through its affiliation with Truist Financial and partnerships with Envestnet.

William Magill is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 license and eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones for four years and has been with both Private Advisor Group and LPL Financial since 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he has worked as an Uber driver and is employed by Primal Brewery. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various managed account solutions. The firm employs a fiduciary-based model that utilizes both proprietary and third-party strategies and technology platforms.

Shawn Thompson is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial and Retirement Clearinghouse. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services 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 approach integrates proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates, with service delivery closely tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Jacob Schmidt is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at The Vanguard Group and Facet, as well as self-employment. Outside of finance, Schmidt performs as a singer. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s services emphasize client authorization for trades and rely on Charles Schwab’s asset-allocation models and internal research tools.

Natasha Allen is a financial advisor with Carson Wealth in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes roles at Edward Jones and LPL Financial, among others. Outside of advising, she owns Natasha N. Allen, LLC, a coaching business focused on helping women with emotional eating and weight loss, and serves as a skills development coach at the Life Purpose Institute. Carson Wealth is an SEC-registered investment adviser operating an enterprise platform with over 650 advisors managing approximately $50.6 billion. The firm serves corporate, institutional, and high-net-worth clients with discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing a model portfolio approach overseen by an Investment Committee.

Vincenzo Atkinson is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked with SunTrust Advisory Services LLC and SunTrust Bank since 2016. He is based in Charlotte, NC, and currently serves as an advisor at Truist Advisory Services. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and provides ongoing client reviews, partnering with Envestnet platforms to deliver customized asset allocation and manager selection.

Eduardo Gelpi is a financial advisor at T. Rowe Price Advisory Services, Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Edelman Financial Engines, LPL Financial LLC, Ameriprise Financial Services, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. T. Rowe Price Advisory Services, Inc. provides retirement-focused financial planning and discretionary investment management for individual investors and households, utilizing model portfolios invested exclusively in T. Rowe Price mutual funds and ETFs. The firm employs goal-based planning, tax-aware rebalancing, and Monte Carlo simulations, with an emphasis on proprietary funds and electronic client engagement.