Deanna Strean is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 16 years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. Her prior roles include positions at The Colony Group, Buckingham Strategic Wealth, Carolina Capital Consulting, Contrary Investment Advisors, and Strean Financial Services. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, families, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional retirement plans by providing investment management, financial planning, tax and compliance support, family office and business management, and employee benefit retirement plan services. The firm employs a long-term investment approach that integrates active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds, customizing portfolios to clients’ specific risk tolerance, liquidity, and tax circumstances.

Brian Guild is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Bankers Life entities since 2008 and serves as president of BGUILD Financial, an LLC he oversees. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to create tailored asset allocations and manages portfolios across a broad range of securities aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Michael Willard is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 license and 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Foundations Investment Advisors LLC, Alloy Wealth Holdings, Alloy Wealth Management, and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory work, he is listed as owner and president of Forged Financial LLC. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms that combine long-term investment strategies with options for shorter-term trading and specialized instruments, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

William Semans is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including Merrill, UBS Financial Services, Deutsche Bank Securities, and BB&T Securities prior to joining Truist. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers ongoing client reviews, utilizing a range of affiliated financial relationships to support its advisory offerings.

Charles Dixon is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Ameriprise, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Dixon is also involved in an investment company, KDX Partners LLC. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model with numerous advisory representatives and incorporates both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by various investment strategies and technology platforms.

Mickey Howell is a CFP® professional at Rockefeller Financial LLC with three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through a Private Advisor model and an integrated investment platform, while also operating as a registered broker-dealer offering securities transactions, variable insurance products, and placement and investment banking services.

Ian Peters is a financial advisor at Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with three years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC, New York Life Insurance Company, and Trinity Wealth Securities, LLC. Outside of advising, he is involved with Little Bridges LLC, a business he has been part of since 2022. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and predominantly manages assets on a non-discretionary basis, with specialized advisory services linked to insurance and annuity products within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Kimberly Chessler is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 17 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2006. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across private banking, workplace wealth management, and high-net-worth segments. The firm implements multi-asset, multi-manager investment strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, offering a broad range of advisory services supported by extensive in-house research and execution capabilities.

Noel Simons is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing, Bb&T Securities, Scott & Stringfellow, and Banc of America Investment Services. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs.

Robin Oles is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Rock Hill, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF since 2014. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund and provides a range of investment advisory services using both model and customized portfolios.

Colton Mendenhall is a financial advisor with Guardian Life, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo and Consolidated Planning. He also engages in independent insurance sales outside of Guardian Life. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Securities, offers brokerage and advisory services to individuals, businesses, and organizations, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and a range of financial planning and consulting solutions.

Philip Jupp is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and four years of industry experience. His career includes roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company, as well as entrepreneurial experience with Onno's Zona Colonial. He is also involved in insurance brokering through Main View Wealth, LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional sponsors, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Christopher Tietsort is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has nine years of industry experience. He has been with Bankers Life Advisory Services and affiliated entities since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he sells Medicare, extended care, life insurance, and fixed insurance products. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm’s investment process focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, tax efficiency, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Melissa Mitchell is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and totaling 32 years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes six years at Wells Fargo Clearing before joining Janney Montgomery Scott in 2016. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base and offers a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services through both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

John Riley is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently working at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2022. Prior to joining Janney, he held roles at Truist Advisory Services and BB&T Securities. He serves on the local board of Ducks Unlimited in Memphis, TN, a nonprofit focused on land conservation. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services supported by in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Shawn Weber is a financial advisor at Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been associated with Bankers Life entities since 2001. In addition to his advisory role, he recruits and trains insurance agents for Bankers Life & Casualty, Inc. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management based on clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Michael Kreimer is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 40 years of industry experience. He currently serves as an investment advisor representative at NewEdge Advisors, having previously worked with firms including Compass Securities Corporation and Raymond James Financial Services. Kreimer is also president of Ballantyne Financial Group LLC and conducts commission-based fixed insurance business through various general agents. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a network of independent advisors, utilizing multiple program structures and centralized due diligence supported by technology tools.

Samuel Barden is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Morgan Stanley and UBS Financial Services. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm operates as a registered broker-dealer and provides a consolidated investment platform delivering discretionary and non-discretionary solutions across multiple asset classes.

Jonathan Liles is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Carroll Financial Associates. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized consulting, employing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Ernest Glass Jr. is a financial advisor with Guardian Life in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Guardian Life since 1997 and has additional experience selling life and health insurance. Glass also serves as Secretary and Treasurer for the Orient Point Homeowners Association. Guardian Life, through its wholly owned subsidiary Park Avenue Securities LLC, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies, offering proprietary and third-party advisory solutions alongside access to insurance products and alternative investments.