Lekshmi Rajaram is a financial advisor with CG Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, and UBS Financial Services. CG Advisory Services is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a largely model-driven investment approach, supplemented by fundamental and technical research, options strategies, and alternative investments, supported by AI tools and an Investment Committee.

Mariana Vega Ortega is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Arete, she worked at H & Co LLP for four years. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of Blackbull Holding Group LLC, a business involved in the import and export of classic cars. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations, third-party sub-advisers, and acts as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

William Richmond is a financial advisor at Cary Street Partners with 36 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley, Raymond James & Associates, Credit Suisse Securities, and Luxe Lifestyle Magazine. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Cary Street Partners offers discretionary and non‑discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm employs a broad investment menu and proprietary strategies through its affiliated asset manager, serving niche institutional clients such as state and municipal government entities and insurance companies.

Riley Wolfram is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services and holds a Series 66 designation. Based in Charlotte, NC, Wolfram has one year of industry experience, including roles at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Bank, and Wells Fargo. Prior to entering the financial sector, Wolfram worked in various positions including at Davidson College and Girls on the Run Greater Charlotte. 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, leveraging proprietary and third-party models supported by affiliated entities within the Principal Financial Group.

Jonathan Faynik is a financial advisor at Earned Wealth Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Schenley Capital and Northwestern Mutual. His background also includes roles outside finance, such as teaching at Denfeld High School and Robert Morris University. Earned Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, focusing particularly on doctors, dentists, and their practices. The firm provides financial planning, discretionary wealth management, and retirement-plan advisory services, employing a diversified, buy-and-hold investment approach supported by an internal Investment Strategy Committee and third-party consultants.

Andrew De Angelis is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with Venture Visionary Partners LLC and previously worked at KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and Sidoti & Company, LLC. Venture Visionary Partners LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and modern portfolio theory approaches to customize portfolios and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside retirement-plan consulting and implementation.

Neill Nelson is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at various entities within the Principal Financial Group, including Principal Bank and Principal Life Insurance Company. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, leveraging proprietary models and affiliated resources to serve its clients.

Austin Palmer is a financial advisor with Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley. He is a founding partner of Destination Wealth Advisors, where he actively contributes to firm growth through advisor and client acquisition. Kestra Private Wealth Services delivers investment advisory services through a network of independent advisors and multi-advisor teams, serving individuals and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of investment products and specialized services, combining operational resources with advisor discretion within an approved product menu.

Christopher Kemper is a financial advisor with Blueprint Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Kingswood Capital Partners and Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Outside of advisory roles, he is a fitness instructor at Fitness Connection and serves as president of Fulcrum Wealth Advisors, a firm involved in life insurance and long-term care sales. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor firm that provides portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting to individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets, employing a proprietary strategic-and-tactical framework to build globally diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes.

Graham Jones is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors with nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Securities America Advisors and Deep River Capital Advisors. He is also a foster care parent, providing housing for children placed through the local Department of Social Services. Blueprint Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing a proprietary strategic-and-tactical investment approach that incorporates global diversification and trend-following rules.

Kyle Sellers is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Financial Services, and Florida Financial Advisors, as well as experience in the hospitality sector as a cook. Outside of advisory work, he is employed as a cook at QC Pour House. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates third-party and proprietary methodologies and benefits from operational ties to the Principal Financial Group family of companies.

Paige Hardaway is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with four years of industry experience. She has held roles at Principal Financial Services and Principal Life Insurance Company, and her background includes positions at Amerit Fleet Services and Reliance First Capital. Hardaway also serves as a Retirement Consultant, providing one-on-one investment advice to retirement plan participants on their distribution options. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm utilizes a blend of third-party methodologies and proprietary models to provide both non-discretionary recommendations and discretionary investment management, supported by its affiliation with Principal Financial Group and its related entities.

Kara Kunz is a CFP® with two years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Group. She previously worked at Bragg Financial and spent 16 years at the Community School of Davidson. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, other advisers, and corporations. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related services using model-based portfolios and access to affiliated investment vehicles and subadvisors.

Derek Vasko is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with Choreo, LLC and has prior experience at RSM US Wealth Management LLC, London Stock Exchange Group, and LPL Financial. Choreo provides investment and advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, family offices, endowments, foundations, retirement plans, and corporate clients. The firm’s investment approach focuses on strategic asset allocation and diversified model portfolios managed by a centralized team and overseen by an Investment Committee.

Reilly Treadwell is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining 49 Financial, he worked at Wofford College and Clemson University. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management with an emphasis on diversified asset allocation and behavioral coaching. The firm provides tiered fractional family office services and utilizes a combination of proprietary and third-party investment models.

William Grace is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Principal in 2026, he worked for five years at The Vanguard Group. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice 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 combines third-party and proprietary models to tailor advice and benefits from its integration within the Principal Financial Group family.

Janet Correll is a financial advisor at Arkadios Wealth Advisors with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked with Kalos Capital and SouthPark Capital. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as President and Directing Member of Janet Long LLC, providing independent investment advisory services. Arkadios Wealth Advisors offers investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans through a combination of advisor-managed accounts, wrap programs, third-party money managers, and financial planning. The firm’s integrated operating model includes an in-house portfolio team that supports advisors with model strategies and trade execution across various asset classes.

Tammy Le June is a financial advisor at Modera Wealth Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Parsec Financial and the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston. Modera Wealth Management provides fiduciary, fee-only advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an allocation-driven investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing diversified portfolios of mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and selected alternative strategies tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Patrick Duggan is a financial advisor at Leavell Investment Management, Inc. in Mobile, Alabama, with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and previously worked at Cambridge Associates and 1919 Investment Counsel. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a soccer referee for the Alabama Soccer Association. Leavell Investment Management manages approximately $3.0 billion in discretionary assets and offers portfolio management, financial planning, and family-office services to a broad client base including individuals, families, businesses, and institutional entities. The firm emphasizes fundamental investment strategies focused on diversification, risk control, and long-term compounding, with client accounts managed by dedicated teams and oversight that includes quarterly reviews and periodic rebalancing.

James Hardison IV is a financial advisor at Stephens with 46 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Stephens since 2010. Prior to that, he spent 30 years at Citigroup Global Markets and 17 years at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Hardison serves on the board and finance committee of the Ronald McDonald House of Winston Salem. Stephens is a multi-team investment adviser with approximately 243 advisors and about $18 billion in assets under management. The firm serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—retirement plans, foundations, corporations, and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory, brokerage, investment banking, and research services.