Michael Ortiz is a financial advisor at United Capital Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding the CFP®, Series 65, and Series 63 designations with seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Mercer Allied, and The AYCO Company, L.P. United Capital Financial Advisors provides national financial planning and discretionary investment management to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth households, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm offers customized investment solutions supported by a broad affiliate network and technology platform, FinLife Partners, which also serves independent advisors.

Chia Yang is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with two years of industry experience. She has worked at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2022 and previously held a position at Merrill Lynch. Yang also has experience in academia, having been affiliated with Winthrop University in various capacities from 2018 to 2022. Modera Wealth Management, LLC provides fiduciary, fee-only advisory services to a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an allocation-driven investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers services such as wealth management, retirement plan consulting, tax preparation, and trust-related services.

Rebecca Hoover is a financial advisor with Waverly Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and seven years of industry experience. She previously worked at McShane Partners for five years and KPMG for five years. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as president of Windsor Partners, LLC, a consulting business focused on financial matters. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser that manages portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm integrates traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, offering a range of investment management and financial planning 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 credentials with 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BB&T Investment Management and Sterling Capital Management. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and governmental entities. The firm offers global multi-asset class portfolios using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis within discretionary management frameworks.

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 bringing 16 years of industry experience. Her work history includes multiple roles within the First Citizens organization since 2007. She serves on the Cabarrus County Hospice Advisory Board, contributing to nonprofit efforts supporting people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment services to individuals, institutions, and municipalities, utilizing a global multi-asset class approach that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis. The firm emphasizes discretionary management with a focus on strategic asset allocation, manager research, and portfolio risk control.

Kathleen Kowkabany is a financial advisor at Cary Street Partners with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Merrill and Rhodes Branding. Cary Street Partners provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm constructs portfolios using a diverse range of investment options and serves specialized institutional niches such as state and municipal government entities and insurance company clients.

Keith Blumenstock is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Modera Wealth Management, LLC. He previously worked at PNC Wealth Management and PNC Investments for a combined total of 12 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in dog sitting. Modera Wealth Management provides wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm combines a diversified investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory with in-house accounting and tax services, supporting clients with a broad range of integrated financial solutions.

James Thompson Jr. is a CFA charterholder with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Stephens. He previously worked at Sallux Investments, LLC, Prodeo Asset Management, Inc., and has held a senior managing director role at Elevation LLC. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Charlotte Country Club. Stephens is a multi-team investment adviser with approximately 243 advisors and $18 billion in assets under management, serving individual, institutional, and retirement plan clients. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary management programs, combining bottom-up equity research with committee-driven asset allocation, and also provides brokerage, investment banking, custody, and other financial services.

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, families, businesses, retirement plans, and financial intermediaries, offering discretionary portfolio management, turnkey asset management, financial planning, and institutional retirement-plan services. The firm uses a fiduciary, goals-based investment process with a range of strategies including direct indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and alternative investments, supported by technology partnerships and automated monitoring.

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 with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC and Innovation Partners LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. He has 26 years of industry experience and has previously worked at firms including Kingswood Capital Partners, M Stevens Wealth Advisors, and National Planning Corporation. IP Financial Advisory Services LLC primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting. The firm offers personalized investment strategies, discretionary management, and specialized advisory services such as actuarial analysis and benefits consulting, with an emphasis on non-high-net-worth retail investors and retirement plan participants.

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.