Walter Kennedy IV is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Suntrust Advisory Services and Suntrust Investment Services since 2018, Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2018, and UBS Financial Services from 2001 to 2008. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation and manager selection through the Envestnet platform, offering ongoing reviews and reporting.

Tyler Fiorenza is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with three years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Fifth Third Securities since 2022 and Fifth Third Bank since 2020, with prior experience in insurance and retail sectors. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. 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 programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Jennifer Vaughan is a financial advisor at Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Bankers Life Securities Inc. since 2017 and Bankers Life & Casualty since 2015. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, non-discretionary investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis methods to develop tailored asset allocations, offering both wrap and non-wrap programs and working with a range of securities within customized portfolios.

Andrew Tate is a financial advisor with Rockefeller Financial LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He worked at UBS Financial Services for 10 years prior to joining Rockefeller Financial in 2024. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the Board of Governors and as Treasurer of the Quail Hollow Club, a golf club in Charlotte, NC. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting, and operates as a registered broker-dealer offering a range of investment services through its Private Advisor model and consolidated investment platform.

Craig Faile is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds the CFP® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 29 years of industry experience, including over a decade each at Independent Advisor Alliance and LPL Financial. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes various portfolio management strategies and technology platforms to support client services and maintains a network of advisory representatives with ties to LPL Financial.

Brandon Hatcher is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He is currently with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. and has previously worked at Serenity Investment Advisors, Edward Jones, and PNC. Outside of his advisory role, he manages a sports league as a league manager. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a national network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm provides portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party managers, and multiple managed account solutions.

Cynthia Piacentino is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 15 years of industry experience. She is currently with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and has prior experience at LPL Financial, CETERA Advisor Networks LLC, and Carroll Financial Associates, Inc. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in regulatory assets under management and employs a diversified investment approach that blends passive and active management, overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Joseph Baumgartner is a financial advisor at RBC Rochdale, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at New York Life insurance company for 14 years before joining CNR Securities, LLC. RBC Rochdale serves a diverse client base including high net worth individuals, investment companies, corporations, and government entities. The firm employs a multi-strategy investment process combining quantitative screening, statistical modeling, and fundamental analysis, and offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with sub-advisory and model delivery services.

Herman Freitag III is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Corient in Charlotte, NC. His prior roles include positions at The Vanguard Group and Ci Brightworth. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that combines internal security selection and fixed-income strategies with third-party manager solutions and customized asset allocation.

Robert Hopkins is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently with Schwab Wealth Advisory and has previously worked at Northwestern Mutual, Brighthouse Financial, Allstate Life Insurance, and MetLife Investors. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning for clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s approach uses proprietary asset-allocation models and research tools to deliver tailored recommendations with client authorization required for trades.

Linda Mander is a CFP® with 33 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC. Her prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Carroll Financial Associates. She is a board member of a local Boy Scout troop in Charlotte, NC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm that serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and retirement plan consulting through a mix of passive and active investment strategies overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Denis Curcio is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 26 years of industry experience. He is currently with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, where he has worked since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, and Carroll Financial Associates, Inc. Curcio also holds licenses for Series 63 and Series 66. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a large network of advisors. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement consulting, utilizing a strategic investment approach that combines passive and active management with quantitative and fundamental research.

John Kamel is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to his current role beginning in 2023, he worked at UBS Financial Services for two years and spent seven years at Movado Company Store. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a range of services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management supported by various investment strategies and technology platforms.

Aubrey Elam is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. and holds a Series 66 credential. He has three years of industry experience, including roles at The Leaders Group Inc., Vanbridge, and Dixon Wells. Outside of advisory work, Elam serves as an Associate Vice President involved in the sale of fixed insurance products at EPICVanbridge LLC. TLG Advisors serves a diverse client base ranging from individuals and high-net-worth clients to institutional investors and retirement plans. The firm employs a manager selection and monitoring approach grounded in fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, and offers both sub-advised portfolios and a direct-to-consumer digital platform called Starlight Portfolios.

Andrew Brincefield is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with 21 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has been with Guardian Life since 2004, also working at Park Avenue Securities since 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner and CEO of Consolidated Planning Holdings, Inc., a financial planning firm focusing on insurance and wealth management solutions. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Securities, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers tailored financial planning and advisory solutions combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and access to insurance products and alternative investments.

John Callaway Jr. is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at HomeTrust Bank, Truist Advisory Services, Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Wells Fargo Clearing, and PNC Investments. OSAIC Institutions serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through a broad network of investment adviser representatives, offering customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan support, and brokerage and insurance products across discretionary and non-discretionary account types.

Michele Stutts is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience and is currently with MAI Capital Management, LLC, where she has worked since 2021. Prior to that, she spent eight years at Solamere Advisors. MAI Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base, including high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm manages $72.3 billion in assets and offers customized portfolio strategies implemented through a mix of in-house and third-party managers, integrating financial planning and tax services into many client relationships.

Katherine Eaker is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Indian Trail, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Capital Analysts and has experience in education through her time with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with FFG Companies, Inc. as a sales assistant while studying for the SIE and Series 7 exams. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a particular history of working with educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management, and access to third-party managers, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that creates strategic model portfolios and adaptive investment strategies.

Daneen Gimson is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Securities America Advisors. First Citizens Investor Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations, providing a range of advisory and brokerage services such as portfolio management, model portfolios, and financial planning. The firm’s approach employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate investments across various asset classes.

Michael Trotter is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at TIAA-CREF from 2014 to 2019 before joining PNC Investments, where he has been since 2019. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only, discretionary digital portfolio solution for employees with existing PNC Bank online banking credentials. The firm uses approved model strategies implemented via mutual funds and ETFs, with portfolio management delegated to third parties and enrollment guided by an algorithmic questionnaire.