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.

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.

Jack Bush is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, and has one year of industry experience. His background includes roles at Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Principal Securities, Inc. He also has experience in tutoring and various customer service positions prior to joining the financial sector. 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 investment management program. The firm leverages a combination of third-party tools, proprietary models, and integration with affiliated Principal Financial Group entities to deliver its services.

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.

Jason Rindskopf is a financial advisor with Signal Advisors Wealth, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and six years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including AE Wealth Management, Advisory Alpha, and Financial Independence Group. Rindskopf is also the author of the book *Survive the Crash*. Signal Advisors Wealth provides investment management and financial planning services to retail clients and independent registered investment advisers through its Signal Platform TAMP. The firm employs a top-down, macro-environmental investment approach with tactical asset allocation and sector rotation, serving individual, high-net-worth, family, and business clients.

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.

Andrew Ball is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at AlphaStar since 2021. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as Vice President of Sales for the Annuity Division at Financial Independence Group. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, small businesses, and other advisers. The firm employs both model and custom strategies, utilizing strategic asset allocation combined with quantitative and momentum analysis, and provides a range of portfolio management and consulting services.

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.

Caden Minnich is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and began his industry career in 2026. Prior to his current role, Minnich has held positions at Principal Bank, Principal Securities, Inc., and Principal Life Insurance Company. Outside of financial services, he has experience working at Elon University and other organizations in various roles. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services mainly to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both nondiscretionary recommendations and a discretionary wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates proprietary and third-party tools within the Principal Financial Group family, serving clients with a blend of algorithmic model portfolios, governance oversight, and affiliated product access.

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.

William Petty is a financial advisor at ON Investment Management Company with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Paychex Inc. from 2015 to 2021. In addition to his advisory work, he assists Golden Mack & Associates by enrolling and educating participants in retirement plans. ON Investment Management Company is a registered investment adviser that provides financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, businesses, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm offers a range of services including comprehensive and modular financial plans and access to third-party investment programs, maintaining a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary asset management.

Jon Yancey is a financial advisor with AlphaStar Capital Management in Cornelius, NC, holding a Series 65 credential and 11 years of industry experience. He has been associated with AlphaStar since 2014 and is president of Yancey Financial, LLC, where he also works as an insurance agent specializing in fixed annuities and life insurance. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, small businesses, and other advisers. The firm employs both model and customized strategies using strategic asset allocation and quantitative analysis, and provides a range of portfolio management and consulting services.