Katherine Pepper is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with various First Citizens entities since 2006. Pepper serves as a board member for the Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Center. First Citizens Asset Management provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, institutional accounts, and municipal entities. The firm manages global, multi-asset model portfolios using a multi-team platform and integrates both quantitative and qualitative research in its discretionary management approach.

Richard Adams Jr. is a financial advisor with CG Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and nine years of industry experience. He has worked with Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC, Geneos Wealth Management, and CG Financial Services of North Carolina. CG Advisory Services is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $4.02 billion for a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and consulting through proprietary model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized private equity and hedge fund access.

Eric Kotecki is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with three years of industry experience, currently serving at Credit Union Investment Services. He has been associated with State Employees’ Credit Union since 2018, where he provides financial advisory services to eligible members. Kotecki also holds an agent role with SECU Life Insurance Company, working in conjunction with his credit union responsibilities. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves individual investors residing in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and financial planning. The firm emphasizes a long-term, goals-based approach using low-cost index funds and ETFs, and operates within the credit-union ecosystem as a wholly owned subsidiary of State Employees’ Credit Union.

Sandra Carlson is a financial advisor with Waverly Advisors, LLC, holding CFP® and Series 66 designations and bringing 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Waverly Advisors since 2024 and previously worked at Rinehart Wealth Management, where she also serves as Chief Compliance Officer. Carlson teaches a tax planning course for the CFP program at Queens University and is a director of programs for the Financial Planning Association. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations and offers a range of investment management, financial planning, and multi-family office services.

Daniel Brackett is a CFP® with four years of industry experience currently advising at Choreo, LLC. He previously worked at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC. His background also includes time at UBS Financial Firm Inc. and roles in education and other industries prior to entering financial services. Choreo, LLC serves a diverse client base that includes individual and high-net-worth investors, family offices, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, endowments, and institutional clients. The firm employs a quantitative, committee-approved investment process and offers a range of advisory services such as portfolio management, wealth consulting, outsourced CIO solutions, and specialized services including 1031 like-kind exchange and Opportunity Zone consulting.

John Aprill is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Everett Harris & Co in Charlotte, NC since 2012. Everett Harris & Co provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management services to individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable institutions, foundations, and endowments. The firm employs fundamental analysis and a predominantly buy-and-hold strategy, investing across U.S. and foreign equities, fixed income, commodities, and options.

Phillips Bragg is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 29 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Bragg Financial Advisors Inc, where he has worked since 1996, and previously spent 20 years at Queens Road Securities, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer of Edgemont, Ltd., a fishing club located in North Carolina and Tennessee. Bragg Financial Advisors, Inc. is a family-owned, SEC-registered investment adviser managing over $4.6 billion for individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and investment-company clients. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation with written Investment Policy Statements, broad diversification, and a longer-term investment approach, managing client accounts through portfolio models directly or via independent managers.

John Matthews is a financial advisor with Brookwood Investment Group, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 11 years of industry experience. He has held roles at several firms including Redwood Private Wealth LLC and Matthews & Co Private Wealth Advisors, where he serves as Managing Member and CEO. Outside of finance, Matthews owns The Cut Barbershop in Charlotte, NC. Brookwood Investment Group is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.06 billion for over 3,100 clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services, utilizing a range of investment strategies and supporting tailored portfolios with negotiated fee arrangements.

Michael Van Ness is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Waverly Advisors, LLC and has concurrent experience at Rinehart Wealth Management dating back to 2010. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, serving a diverse client base including non-HNW and high-net-worth clients.

Luis Dieguez is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Hornor, Townsend, & Kent LLC and Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, Luis coaches his son’s 9U baseball team. Blueprint Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered, multi-advisor firm that serves individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in client assets using a globally diversified, strategic-and-tactical investment approach that emphasizes trend-following and momentum rules across multiple timeframes.

Vernon Moses is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Fidelity Investments, Truist Investment Services, BB&T, Bank of America, and Merrill. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary account that uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and invests via approved models managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Kyle Gensrick is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Creative Planning since 2022 and previously at Wipfli Financial Advisors and Hewins Financial Advisors. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and emphasizes a financial planning-led investment process with a range of portfolio management and retirement plan services supported by a large advisory team and centralized infrastructure.

Suzanne Dean is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. She has been with Truist Advisory Services and its affiliated entities since 2015, including roles at Bb&T Investment Services and Bb&T Securities prior to the firm’s rebranding. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools, and its integrated structure includes affiliated broker-dealer and banking services.

Kendra Gray is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Hornor, Townsend and Kent, LLC. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a multi-manager approach with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, incorporating both affiliated and third-party managers alongside proprietary research and a range of investment vehicles.

Edward Smyth is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at Kingfisher Capital, LLC and Perennial Research LLC. Mercer Global Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach featuring globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts, tax management, and a range of implementation options such as ETFs, mutual funds, separate accounts, and direct indexing.

Joseph Rebello is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked with Truist Advisory Services since 2021 and previously spent over two decades with Bb&T Investment Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is the president of a home building and remodeling business based in Charlotte, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management relationships and employs AI-enabled research tools to support its investment approach.

Brandon Johnson is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 13 years of industry experience. His prior work history includes multiple roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a client-centered process involving financial needs assessments and applies fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to portfolio allocation across various investment types.

Kyle Greer is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he has held various positions including work at Gas Lamp Grill and 1750 Taphouse. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to select retail brokerage clients. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Richard Custer is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 19 years of industry experience, including 20 years with Principal Life Insurance Company. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a bank/trust officer to support and manage Principal retirement plan account relationships across the firm’s insurance, broker-dealer, and bank/trust offerings. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm’s advisory services include financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager programs through both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Andrew Bowling is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Investment Institute in 2022, he worked at The Vanguard Group and Fidelity Investments. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is an SEC-registered, bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, and asset-allocation guidance primarily for Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. The firm’s research and model portfolios are delivered to affiliated businesses for implementation rather than being individually tailored or directly managed by the institute.