Steven Mrozek is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors with 28 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Maplewood Investments Inc., Bfc Planning, Inc., and Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. He is also the owner of Cohort Capital Advisors, LLC, operating under the DBA "Refined Retirement," and serves as treasurer of the Neshannock Lions Club. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor SEC-registered firm managing approximately $1.4 billion in client assets. The firm offers portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities, using a strategic-and-tactical investment framework that emphasizes globally diversified portfolios and trend-following rules.

William Herford is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 35 years of industry experience. He currently serves at Arkadios Wealth Advisors and Arkadios Capital, where he has worked since 2020. Prior to this, he was with Triad Advisors, Inc. from 2014 to 2020. He is also the owner and president of Exclusive Financial Resources, LLC, which manages marketing and operations for his securities business. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans through a variety of managed accounts and advisory solutions. The firm employs a discretionary management approach supported by an internal portfolio team and offers comprehensive reporting that includes assets held away from their programs.

James Newman is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC. His prior roles include positions at ORG Partners, Ameriprise, and UBS. Ascentis Independent Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and corporate clients. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning, utilizing a range of public and private securities and a distinctive Private Direct Investments program for select clients.

Erin Searcy is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and having four years of industry experience. She has worked with State Employees' Credit Union since 2016 and concurrently at SECU Life Insurance Company and SECU Brokerage Services since 2022. Outside of financial services, she also works as a food delivery driver in Charlotte. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves individual investors who are residents of North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and retirement planning. The firm emphasizes a long-term, goals-based approach using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs and operates within a credit union ecosystem as a wholly owned subsidiary of State Employees’ Credit Union.

Connor Crayne is a financial advisor at Modera Wealth Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Modera in 2026, he was associated with Trinity Wealth Securities, LLC and Florida Financial Advisors DBA Tristate Financial Advisors. He also served nine years in the U.S. Navy and was involved briefly with Hatch Homes, LLC. Modera Wealth Management provides wealth management, portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm employs diversified asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory and combines investment management with in-house accounting and tax capabilities, serving over 100 advisors and managing roughly $17.7 billion in regulatory assets.

Wesley Hodges is a financial advisor at OneAscent Financial Services LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Securities America Advisors and Securities America, Inc. Hodges is also a licensed insurance agent who occasionally sells term life insurance for client convenience and holds an ownership position in Pure Tax LLC. OneAscent Financial Services LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and institutions through multiple advisory teams. The firm offers a range of asset management and financial planning services utilizing individualized asset-allocation strategies and model-based platforms, with additional services including outsourced CIO, CCO support, and donor-advised fund technology.

Clinton Townsend is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license, with 7 years of industry experience. He is currently with Bragg Financial Advisors, Inc., where he has worked since 2023, following a seven-year tenure at Laurel Wealth Advisors, LLC. Bragg Financial Advisors, Inc. is a family-owned, SEC-registered investment adviser managing over $4.6 billion for individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and investment-company clients. The firm focuses on strategic asset allocation, diversification, and long-term holdings, offering discretionary portfolio management and managed-account services, including sub-advisory roles for mutual funds.

Kenneth Samuelson Jr. is a financial advisor with ValMark Advisers, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses, with 40 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Kestra Investment Services, American Financial Management Group, and IFG/Russell Advisors. He is owner and president of The Morehead Group, Inc., an insurance sales and consulting business, and serves as chairman of the Charlotte Estate Planning Council. ValMark Advisers, Inc. provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, plan sponsors, and institutions through a network of approximately 280 advisors. The firm emphasizes diversified, goal-based portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers, supported by proprietary platforms and a range of advisory and sub-advisory services.

James Johnson is a financial advisor at Lombard Advisers Incorporated with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with Lombard Securities Incorporated since 2007. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and manages real estate through entities separate from his investment activities. Lombard Advisers provides personalized investment management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management using fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis, and manages approximately $670 million in assets.

Wales Dixon IV is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Principal Life Insurance Company and Principal Financial Services, as well as positions outside the financial industry. Dixon also provides one-on-one investment advice to retirement plan participants as a Retirement Consultant. Principal Advised Services delivers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering a combination of non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program supported by proprietary models and third-party methodology.

Bradley Kellen is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Founders Financial Securities LLC and Fairway Financial since 2015. He is based in Matthews, NC, and holds the Series 66 designation. His work includes financial planning and insurance sales with a focus on variable annuities, long-term care, and variable life products. Founders Financial Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing multiple advisory platforms and a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, and sub-advised strategies.

Barrett Gray is a financial advisor at Earned Wealth Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Dimensional Fund Advisors and Choreo, LLC. Earned Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on doctors, dentists, and their practices. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary wealth management, and retirement-plan advisory services, utilizing independent investment managers and model portfolios guided by an internal Investment Strategy Committee and third-party consultants.

Matthew Pratt is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Arkadios Wealth Advisors since 2020. He previously worked at Triad Advisors, Inc. from 2014 to 2020. Pratt is also involved in financial services through his roles in Thompson Pratt Capital Management, LLC, and Pratt Investments, LLC. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans, utilizing a variety of managed accounts, third-party money managers, and financial planning. The firm supports advisors with an internal portfolio team and offers an integrated operating model combining advisory services, brokerage execution, and portfolio management.

Connor Tuerlings is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with two years of industry experience. He has held positions within several Principal Financial Group affiliates, including Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance, and Principal Securities, Inc. Prior to joining Principal, he worked in marketing and loan services. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm offers both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest, integrating proprietary models and third-party tools to support client portfolios.

Brian Barnes is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Financial Services, Robinhood Markets, Inc., and Wells Fargo Clearing, among others. 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 third-party tools and proprietary models and operates within the Principal Financial Group family, enabling access to affiliated products and services.

Paxton Wood is a financial advisor with USAA Investment Services Company, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ally Invest Advisors, Ally Invest Securities LLC, and The Vanguard Group. He also holds director-level roles in business line risk at Ally Invest Advisors and Ally Bank, assisting with third-party risk management and new product assessment. USAA Investment Services Company provides retirement-focused advice and referral services primarily to USAA members and individual investors, offering a Retirement Income Strategy Report and facilitating referrals to third-party broker-dealers and advisers. The firm operates mainly as a referral intermediary without managing client assets or charging percentage-of-assets fees.

Timothy Beldner is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 18 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Ausdal in 2020, he worked at Larson Financial Securities, LLC and Larson Financial Group LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in managing and developing real estate investments and assists his daughter with a coffee trailer business. Ausdal Financial Partners manages over $2 billion in client assets and provides investment advisory, retirement planning, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of investment programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios, through a network of advisors, combining advisory, brokerage, and insurance services.

Derek Hernquist is a financial advisor at Aptus Capital Advisors, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Aptus since 2018. Prior to that, he worked at Strategic Index Advisors and Adhesion Wealth Advisor Solutions. Aptus Capital Advisors manages approximately $14.47 billion on a discretionary basis and provides advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and registered investment companies. The firm employs primarily ETF-based strategies using both technical and fundamental analysis and offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services.

Thomas Clark is a financial advisor at Altitude Capital Management LLC in Charlotte, NC, with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has prior experience at the Clark Agency, Horace Mann Investors, Horace Mann Companies, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Clark is also involved in insurance sales as an agent, dedicating up to 30% of his working time to this activity. Altitude Capital Management LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and high net worth clients. The firm employs tailored strategies that include asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and technical analysis, managing $103.6 million in discretionary assets under a multi-team structure.

David Reid is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Securities LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Securities and Fairway Financial since 2015, where he also provides insurance advice and products as part of his other business activities. Founders Financial Securities serves a broad range of clients, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing multiple investment programs and combining advisory, broker-dealer, and insurance services within its platform.