Thomas Braun is a financial advisor at Gradient Investments, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Braun has been with Gradient Investments since 2018 and is also the owner of GoldenGuard Financial, where he provides insurance services and products. Gradient Investments offers discretionary investment management to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a proprietary Wright Investment Strategies framework and provides a variety of model and custom portfolios managed on a discretionary basis.

Katherine Burak is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC. Her prior roles include positions at Vanguard Marketing Corporation and Cleary University. Choreo serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm’s investment process emphasizes strategic asset allocation combined with quantitative screening and due diligence, implementing portfolios through a variety of managed accounts and specialized advisory services.

Brett Shanklin is a financial advisor at Principal Advised Services with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. He has held roles at several Principal Financial Group affiliates, including Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Principal Securities, Inc. Prior to joining Principal, his work experience spans multiple industries including banking and staffing. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party methodologies with proprietary models. The firm leverages its affiliation with Principal Financial Group to offer a range of advisory services and investment products supported by dedicated governance and supervision.

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.

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.

John Bly is a financial advisor with Aprio Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Aprio Advisory Group and related Aprio entities since 2019 and previously held roles at HK Financial Services, Proequities Inc, and L B & A, CPA, PLLC. Bly is also a partner at a CPA firm where he engages in speaking activities. Aprio Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs asset allocation, technical analysis, and a range of trading strategies, and is known for its affiliation with a third-party administrator and pension consulting business, advising approximately $1.57 billion in assets under advisement.

Katrina Hayes is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience. She has worked at Prospera Financial Services since 2013, following roles at TCA Financial Group and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of her advisory work, she is active in community and professional organizations, including serving as Chair of the Charlotte chapter of Ellevate, a global professional networking association, and holding leadership roles in a local nonprofit wine tasting social club. Prospera Financial Services is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors and approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and other entities, offering financial planning and portfolio management through multiple advisory programs and platforms.

Anthony Montanari is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with 27 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Capital Guardian Wealth Management, Citigroup Global Markets, and Prudential Equity Group. Montanari is a Series 63 and Series 65 license holder. Prospera Financial Services is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors managing approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to multiple advisory programs and platforms.

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 with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2020. Her prior experience includes roles at Keatley Wealth Management, LLC, LPL Financial, LLC, and MSI Financial Services, Inc. Modera Wealth Management provides wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm employs a diversified asset allocation strategy based on Modern Portfolio Theory and integrates investment management with accounting, tax, and business coaching services.

Phillipe Toupin is a CFP® accredited financial advisor with seven years of experience, currently with Aprio Wealth Management, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Jones Gregg Financial, LLC, and Business Acquisition & Merger Associates. He also serves as an insurance agent at Aprio Risk Management, LLC on a part-time basis. Aprio Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm employs asset allocation combined with various investment techniques and maintains continuous monitoring of client portfolios, supporting its advisory services with affiliated tax and pension consulting resources.

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.

William Smiley is a financial advisor at Coastal Bridge Advisors with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at TrinityPoint Wealth, LLC, and Penland Legacy Advisors. He serves on the board of directors for the Winthrop University Foundation, providing volunteer leadership in community outreach and university engagement. Coastal Bridge Advisors offers financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach to construct diversified portfolios and provides specialized advisory services including retirement plan consulting and HSA investment 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.