Andrew Smith is a CFP® with 26 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently a managing partner at Cornerstone Wealth Group, LLC, where he has worked since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at Mutual Securities, Inc., Cornerstone Financial Advisors, and LPL Financial. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, other advisers, and corporations. The firm employs model-based portfolios with a range of investment vehicles and provides comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related services.

Natalia Ruiz is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Dallas, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Wells Fargo Bank. She currently serves as a retirement consultant, providing one-on-one investment advice to Principal retirement plan participants. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party tools and proprietary models to deliver both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, integrating affiliated products and services with robust governance and supervision.

Brandon Allain is a financial advisor with M HOLDINGS SECURITIES, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 11 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Axa Advisors, LLC, and has been associated with J.M. Barry & Associates, LLC since 2019. Outside of his advisory work, Allain is involved as a financial consultant specializing in life insurance and securities consultation and sales. M HOLDINGS SECURITIES, Inc. serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations through a nationwide network of independent firms and financial professionals. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, combining discretionary and non-discretionary investment management with financial planning, insurance advisory, and retirement plan consulting.

Jeffrey Chapman is a financial advisor with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 24 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Bb&T Ris Investment Management and Sterling Capital Management LLC. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm uses a global multi-asset class approach combining fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with discretionary management focused on strategic asset allocation and risk control.

David Lentz is a financial advisor with SVB Wealth in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill and First Citizens Investor Services and Asset Management. SVB Wealth LLC provides wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate and pension clients. The firm utilizes a due diligence process to select third-party managers and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account management, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company.

Claude Corbett is a financial advisor with Royal Fund Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Royal Fund Management since 2020 and previously spent four years at Horter Investment Management and ten years at Corbett Insurance Services. Outside of advising, he is an independent insurance agent with I65PLUS, where he assists clients in meeting their health, life, disability, long-term care, and annuity insurance needs. Royal Fund Management serves individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across a range of investment strategies and offers specialized services including participant account management and access to select non-traded REITs and an options-writing overlay.

Russell Cearley is a CFA® charterholder with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at SignatureFD, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He has been with SignatureFD since 2010. SignatureFD provides wealth management services to individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm manages client portfolios primarily on a discretionary basis using mutual funds, ETFs, and independent managers, complemented by ongoing financial planning and periodic reviews.

Ciji Fisher is a financial advisor with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and having 16 years of industry experience. She has worked with various entities within the First Citizens organization since 2007. Fisher serves on the Cabarrus County Hospice Advisory Board, which supports people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, institutions, and municipalities, employing a multi-asset class investment approach that combines fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

Kathleen Kowkabany is a financial advisor at Cary Street Partners with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Her prior work history includes roles at Merrill, Rhodes Branding, and Nemours Children's Health. Cary Street Partners serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional clients, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and access to proprietary investment strategies and third-party managers. The firm integrates AI tools into its investment process while maintaining human oversight.

Keith Blumenstock is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently advising at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2026. He spent the prior decade with PNC Investments from 2016 to 2026. Outside of his financial advisory role, he has worked as a dog sitter. Modera Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors, offering wealth management, retirement plan consulting, financial planning, tax services, trust services, and business coaching. The firm employs diversified asset allocation guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and combines investment management with in-house accounting and tax capabilities.

James Thompson Jr. is a financial advisor at Stephens with 16 years of industry experience. He holds the CFA® designation along with Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. His prior roles include positions at Elevation LLC, Prodeo Asset Management, and Sallux Investments. He serves on the Board of Governors of Charlotte Country Club. Stephens provides investment advisory and wealth management services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, institutions, and government entities. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management solutions, supported by integrated broker-dealer and investment banking capabilities.

Alex Joseph is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential with one year of industry experience. He also serves as a retirement consultant and assistant vice president focused on advice, education, and sales within the Principal Financial Group. 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 proprietary models with third-party methodologies and operates within the broader Principal Financial Group, leveraging affiliated entities to deliver its services.

Todd Rowe is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience. He currently works at Compound Planning, Inc., where he has been since 2024. Prior to that, he held roles at Choreo, LLC and RSM US Wealth Management LLC. Compound Planning serves individuals, high-net-worth families, businesses, retirement plans, and financial intermediaries through discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and institutional advisory services. The firm offers a Turnkey Asset Management Program that includes access to in-house and third-party investment models, combining long-term buy-and-hold strategies with tactical tools such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Heather Hammonds is a financial advisor at Cape Investment Advisory, Inc. with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 credential and has worked with firms including American Global Wealth Management and John Tonissen. Outside of finance, she is an owner and member manager of Spot On Roofing & Solar LLC, where she manages the company's bookkeeping. Cape Investment Advisory provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and qualified plans. The firm supports approximately 1,624 clients through a network of about 40 advisors and employs a model that allows advisors flexibility in tailoring asset allocation and portfolio construction using fundamental, technical, and macroeconomic analysis.

Benjamin Mc Donald is a financial advisor at Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones for six years and BGW Wealth Advisors, LLC for two years before joining Kestra in 2023. Outside of advisory work, he is the owner of a coffee shop business, Daily Ritual Coffee LLC. 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 serves individual and institutional clients with access to a broad range of investment products and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory arrangements.

Monica Hamilton is a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC with six years of industry experience. She holds the PFS™ designation and previously worked at GreerWalker Wealth Management LLC from 2015 to 2023. Choreo provides investment and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, family offices, endowments, foundations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation process with diversified model portfolios managed by a centralized team and overseen by an Investment Committee.

Michael Barrows is a financial advisor at IP Financial Advisory Services LLC in Charlotte, NC, with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at several firms, including Kingswood Capital Partners and M Stevens Wealth Advisors. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm uses a variety of analyses to construct customized portfolios and also refers clients to third-party investment advisors while providing a range of advisory and consulting services beyond traditional investment management.

Raymond Morrill is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with Choreo, LLC in Charlotte, NC. His prior roles include positions at RSM US Wealth Management LLC, Argosy Wealth Management, and CETERA Advisor Networks LLC. Choreo, LLC serves a diverse clientele ranging from individual investors to institutional clients, offering a range of advisory services including portfolio management, financial planning, and outsourced CIO services. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation process combined with quantitative screening and due diligence to manage portfolios through various investment vehicles and specialized advisory services.

Wendell Estep is a financial advisor at SignatureFD, LLC with 5 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. His prior experience includes roles at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied, and The Citadel. SignatureFD serves individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicle investors. The firm offers discretionary wealth management, financial planning, retirement plan management, and advisory services for private investment funds, implementing diversified, long-term asset allocation strategies.

Jared Hollands is a financial advisor at Accelerate Retirement with the ChFC® designation and Series 65 license, bringing four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at NFP Retirement, Jonathan W. White CPA, PLLC, and Future Plan by Ascensus. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Omni Retirement Consulting, a non-investment actuarial and TPA business, and serves as Operations Director at Jonathan W. White CPA. Accelerate Investment Advisors LLC serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a primarily long-term allocation strategy with customized portfolios and provides comprehensive services including plan design, provider selection, and fiduciary support under ERISA.