Andrew Dilz is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. He has worked at Fifth Third Wealth Advisors since 2021 and was previously employed at Fifth Third Bank from 2015 to 2021. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC offers discretionary investment management, separately managed account access, performance reporting, and financial planning to 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 third-party managers, affiliated model strategies, and ongoing advisor oversight.

Eric Smith is a CFP® professional with one year of industry experience, currently serving at Ritholtz Wealth Management. His prior work includes roles at Corient Services LLC, CIPW Service Company, and Brightworth. Outside of financial advising, he has experience with Miami Ice Snowcones, a business he was involved with for five years. Ritholtz Wealth Management advises individual and institutional clients, offering comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm uses a goal-based investment approach that incorporates behavioral finance principles, diversified ETFs, tactical overlays, and alternative investments, supported by both advisor-led services and digital platforms.

Luke Gentry is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. He has been with Ally Invest Advisors since 2022 and also supports Ally Invest Securities LLC in a dually licensed capacity. Ally Invest Advisors serves a large retail client base with discretionary portfolio management through automated web-based services and advisor-led advice, using ETF-based model portfolios grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory across multiple risk tiers. The firm integrates digital automation and detailed performance reporting while managing tens of thousands of client accounts.

Matthew Mc Nabb is a financial advisor with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Innovation Partners LLC, The Vanguard Group, Inc., Park Avenue Securities, and Guardian Life Insurance. IP Financial Advisory Services LLC primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a range of analytical approaches and offers personalized portfolio construction with discretionary management, catering mainly to non–high-net-worth investors and retirement plan participants.

Jacob Logan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He currently works at Forefront and previously held roles at Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities, LLC. Forefront Wealth Partners is a team-based, SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, business owners, and corporate clients with discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and estate-planning coordination. The firm uses customized portfolios and third-party managers to implement allocation models and offers a range of planning services including special-needs planning and online estate-plan creation.

Christopher Gee is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Axa Advisors, LLC, and Ally Invest Securities LLC. Outside of finance, he is involved in music artist management and event DJ services in Charlotte, NC. Ally Invest Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering discretionary portfolio management through automated and advisor-led services. The firm employs Modern Portfolio Theory-based models with various strategy options and integrates digital tools for portfolio monitoring, tax optimization, and performance reporting.

Christopher Oden is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with nine years of industry experience, currently with Arkadios Wealth Advisors in Charlotte, NC. His prior roles include seven years at The Vanguard Group and four years at BB&T. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Oden Enterprises LLC, a financial services business. Arkadios Wealth Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered firm that serves individuals, trusts, businesses, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm creates customized investment plans using a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, deploying portfolios through various internally managed solutions and selected third-party managers.

Toya Pollard is an investment adviser representative at Principal Advised Services with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as Assistant Vice President for Advice, Education, and Sales at Principal Bank. 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. The firm combines third-party and proprietary methodologies and operates within the Principal Financial Group family, leveraging affiliated entities to offer a range of financial products and services.

Christian Cancello is a financial advisor with 49 Financial in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of experience in the financial industry. Prior to joining 49 Financial, he held positions at Resurgent Capital Services and Indaco Greenville. 49 Financial serves a diverse client base including retail and high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans, providing financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm emphasizes a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation approach and offers tiered fractional family office services.

Joseph Leary is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and 66 licenses with 15 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at ORG Partners, Defender Capital, Silver Oak Securities, JMP Securities, Citizens Capital Markets, Citizens Bank, and U.S. Bancorp Investments. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm’s investment approach includes discretionary management, third-party managers, and a Private Direct Investments program, offering tailored advice across a range of asset classes with ongoing portfolio monitoring and rebalancing.

Austin Portelance is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC and Kestra Investment Services, LLC, having joined in 2024 following six years at Edward Jones. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved with Destination Wealth Advisors, where he creates and executes financial plans and manages client assets. Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC provides investment advisory services through a network of independent advisors and multi-advisor teams, serving both individual and institutional clients with a broad range of investment products and specialized offerings. The firm oversees advisor recommendations while allowing flexibility within an approved product menu.

Cheryl Thompson is a financial advisor at Ally Invest Advisors with 25 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked with Ally Invest Advisors since 2020, following roles at Ally Invest Securities LLC and Fifth Third Securities. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as the treasurer and a board member for the local Carolina chapter of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). 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 financial advice. The firm employs model portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers and incorporates features such as tax-sensitive allocations and tax-loss harvesting.

Devin Young is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Young has diverse work experience across multiple industries, including retail and management positions. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm combines third-party methodologies and proprietary models to deliver both non-discretionary and discretionary investment solutions, supported by integration within the Principal Financial Group family.

Bryant Trombly is a financial advisor with Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC, holding the Series 66 designation and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and Morgan Stanley spanning over a decade. Outside of his primary advisory role, he is a partner at Destination Wealth Advisors and serves as an adjunct instructor facilitating online graduate classes. Kestra Private Wealth Services provides investment advisory services through a network of independent advisors and multi-advisor teams, managing approximately $13.45 billion in client assets. The firm offers access to a broad range of investment products and specialized services, serving both individual and institutional clients.

Ryan Whitley is a CFP® professional with 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with RFG Advisory, LLC and has prior experience at Waddell & Reed Inc. and Signator Investors, Inc. Whitley is also involved in managing rental property investments. RFG Advisory serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to alternative investments, leveraging model strategies, third-party platforms, and acting as sub-adviser to multiple ETFs.

Russell Martin is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill and Truist Advisory Services. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through largely web-based and virtual solutions, offering ETF-based Robo Portfolios and personalized advice delivered via a third-party asset management platform.

Oliver Gooden is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with CG Advisory Services and has previously worked at Geneos Wealth Management, Wealth Advisory Group, and Steben & Company Inc. Gooden also works as a registered assistant for the Wealth Advisory Group. CG Advisory Services is an SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management through proprietary and customized models, along with financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and fiduciary advice, using a combination of fundamental and technical research and AI tools to support investment decisions.

Brendan Grady is a Series 65 licensed advisor at Gibbs Wealth Management, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at multiple firms, including FormulaFolios, Gradient Investments, Clarity Financial Group, and Questar Asset Management. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent and holds seminars on fixed insurance products through his business, Grady Group, Inc. Gibbs Wealth Management provides discretionary investment advisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients through an advisor-directed Model Management program that utilizes third-party platforms and strategists. The firm focuses on selecting and monitoring model portfolios based on clients’ financial situations, goals, and risk tolerance rather than constructing proprietary portfolios.

John Walker is a financial advisor at Stephens with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 43 years of industry experience. He has worked at Stephens since 2003 and spent 11 years at Merrill prior to that. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an Innovative Club Advocate for Rotary District 7680, supporting new club development and participating on several committees. Stephens is a multi-team investment adviser with approximately 243 advisors and $18 billion in assets under management. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, foundations, corporations, and other institutional clients, offering a range of advisory, brokerage, and investment banking services supported by in-depth equity research and committee-driven portfolio management.

Katherine Grzeszczak is a financial advisor at Stephens in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. She joined Stephens in 2026 and has prior experience with Barings and AdventHealth among other employers. Stephens is a multi-team investment adviser with approximately 243 advisors and $18 billion in assets under management, serving individuals, retirement plans, foundations, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, combining bottom-up equity research with committee-driven asset allocation and also provides municipal advisory services and investment banking.