Brett Shanklin is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has held roles at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Securities, Inc., and other firms in the Charlotte, NC area. Outside of advisory work, he serves as a retirement consultant providing one-on-one investment advice to retirement plan participants. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm combines third-party methodology and proprietary models to provide both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program, operating as part of the Principal Financial Group family.

Lauren Martinez is a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Verum Partners LLC, Novare Capital Management, LLC, and Staton Financial Advisors, LLC. Choreo serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, family offices, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, endowments, and institutional clients. The firm employs a quantitative and committee-approved investment process, offering a broad range of services such as portfolio management, wealth management consulting, outsourced CIO, and retirement plan consulting.

Carolyn Balzano is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC since 2021. She previously worked at Fifth Third Bank from 2014 to 2021. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $7.8 billion in discretionary assets for a range of clients, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and access to alternative investments, leveraging both in-house resources and third-party managers within an integrated framework affiliated with Fifth Third Bank.

Christopher Elliotte is a Series 65 credentialed advisor with 16 years of industry experience, currently with Colony Family Offices, LLC since 2014. He is based in Charlotte, NC and is part of a team of six advisors at the firm. Colony Family Offices provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning primarily to ultra-high-net-worth families, managing approximately $3.32 billion in discretionary assets. The firm employs a priorities-based, customized planning approach combining passive and active investment strategies, and utilizes third-party managers alongside independent research to support client portfolios.

Brandon Shephard is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, PNC, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Outside of finance, he has been involved with YES I CAN BASKETBALL since 2005. Ally Invest Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering discretionary portfolio management through automated and advisor-led services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing ETF-based model portfolios across various risk tiers with automated allocation and rebalancing.

Lance Bryan is a financial advisor with Cary Street Partners in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Matrix Private Capital Group and Neuberger Berman, LLC. Cary Street Partners provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial and retirement planning, access to alternative investments, and integrated lending and insurance solutions.

Lamaar Steadman is a financial advisor at Gradient Investments, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked previously at Civitas Financial LLC and Gradient Advisors LLC. Steadman is also involved with American Insurance Marketing Solutions in an insurance sales role. Gradient Investments, LLC provides discretionary investment management to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a proprietary investment framework and offers a range of model and custom portfolios managed on a discretionary basis.

Anthony Montanari is a financial advisor with Prospera Financial Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Prospera since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, Montanari is involved in several private business activities, including ownership and management roles in multiple LLCs. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is an enterprise-scale adviser and dually registered broker-dealer serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporate and charitable entities, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $12.4 billion across about 207 advisors and offers a range of investment advisory and financial planning services through multiple platforms and customizable portfolio approaches.

William Etheridge Jr. is a financial advisor at Hilltop Securities Inc. with 38 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at RBC Capital Markets Corporation for 17 years. Hilltop Securities Inc. provides brokerage, investment advisory, and retirement-plan consulting services to individuals, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $2.25 billion in assets and offers a range of portfolio management programs supported by an open-architecture platform and a variety of investment strategies.

Jonathan Heim is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Principal Financial Services and Principal Life Insurance Company. He also has experience in the parking management sector and the mortgage industry through Angel Oak Home Loans. 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. The firm integrates third-party tools and proprietary models and benefits from its affiliation with Principal Financial Group entities, providing access to a range of proprietary financial products.

Melissa Boyer is a CFP® professional at Modera Wealth Management, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. She has held positions at Keatley Wealth Management, LPL Financial, and MetLife Investors Dist Co prior to joining Modera in 2020. Modera Wealth Management, LLC 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 with mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and selected alternative strategies tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Eric Housman is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC since 2020. He previously worked at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. and Fifth Third, accumulating over two decades of experience within the Fifth Third organization. Outside of his advisory role, he is an owner and landlord of a rental property in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and access to separately managed accounts for a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, governmental entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored strategic asset allocation frameworks and typically manages portfolios on a discretionary basis, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers.

Jia Min is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at CG Advisory Services with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining CG Advisory Services, Jia worked at Eastern Bank, Canaccord Genuity, Oppenheimer & Co., and the U.S. Steel & Carnegie Pension Fund. CG Advisory Services is an SEC-registered firm that provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach supported by an Investment Committee and integrates AI tools alongside fundamental and technical analysis to tailor strategies to client objectives.

Thomas Worth III is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC and previously worked at Defender Capital and ORG Partner's LLC. Worth also operates as a Personal CFO. Ascentis Independent Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and corporate clients through a network of advisors. The firm offers a broad range of services including asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, and financial planning, utilizing portfolios composed of both public and private securities that are actively monitored and rebalanced.

Robin Slaughter is a CFP® with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Royal Fund Management, LLC. He has held positions at firms including Center Street Advisors, Alphastar Capital Management, and Maximum Advisory. Since 1997, he has been owner and president of Retirement & Estate Planning Services, Inc., where he provides retirement and estate planning strategies and tax consulting. Royal Fund Management, LLC serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations with portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm uses fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to implement customized investment strategies and offers services including options writing, third-party manager oversight, and defined contribution plan management.

Nickolas Sherek is a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at UBS and U.S. Bank. Choreo provides investment and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, family offices, endowments, retirement plans, and corporate clients. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes strategic asset allocation and diversified model portfolios managed by a centralized team and overseen by an Investment Committee.

Matthew Odom is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 16 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services and MSI Financial Services, as well as a decade at Odum Adjusting Company. He also serves as Manager-Compliance for Ally Invest Advisors. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based and virtual platforms, offering ETF-based Robo Portfolios and personalized advice services built on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers.

Anna Houser is a CFP® with five years of industry experience and has been with Prospera Financial Services, Inc. since 2014. She serves as president of the counsel and volunteers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where she also teaches Sunday school and leads Bible study. Additionally, she is the managing member of Sandy Ventures, LLC, a business focused on the sale of apparel, stickers, and accessories currently in early development. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is an enterprise-scale adviser and dually registered broker-dealer managing approximately $12.4 billion across 207 advisors and about 140 offices. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporate and charitable entities, and retirement plans, offering investment advisory and financial planning services through multiple platforms and customizable portfolio management options.

James Hartman is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with McAdam LLC in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2021. He has four years of industry experience, including prior roles at FMI Capital Advisors, Leedon Park Capital, and Covenant Capital LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in fixed insurance sales through McAdam Institutional Brokerage. McAdam LLC is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs fundamental analysis to build diversified portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, independent managers, and individual securities, and offers a range of specialized strategies alongside a subscription-based financial planning service.

Domenico Napolitano is a financial advisor at Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Wingate University before joining Ally Invest Securities and Ally Invest Advisors. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based solutions and virtual interactions. The firm offers ETF-based Robo Portfolios, automated investing pilots, and Financial Advisor-delivered Personal Advice services using model portfolios structured on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers.