Brandon Shephard is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, PNC, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Outside of finance, he has been involved with YES I CAN BASKETBALL since 2005. Ally Invest Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering discretionary portfolio management through automated and advisor-led services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing ETF-based model portfolios across various risk tiers with automated allocation and rebalancing.

Lance Bryan is a financial advisor at Cary Street Partners with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Matrix Private Capital Group, Neuberger Berman, and Ameriprise. 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 offers a broad range of investment options and proprietary strategies, serving notable institutional niches such as state and municipal government entities and insurance company clients.

John Bly is a financial advisor with Aprio Wealth Management, LLC in Matthews, NC, holding a Series 66 license and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Aprio Advisory Group and Aprio Risk Management since 2019, as well as prior experience at HK Financial Services, Proequities Inc, and L B & A, CPA, PLLC. Bly is also a partner at a CPA firm and is involved in insurance sales. Aprio Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm focuses on tailored portfolio management, financial planning, and uses a combination of asset allocation, specialist sub-advisers, and various investment strategies to help preserve clients’ purchasing power over the long term.

Lamaar Steadman is a financial advisor at Gradient Investments, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Civitas Financial LLC and Gradient Advisors LLC prior to his current roles. Steadman is also involved in insurance sales and investment advisory through American Insurance Marketing Solutions. Gradient Investments, LLC provides discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and other entities using a proprietary investment framework. The firm offers a variety of portfolios, including strategic, tactical, private wealth, and tax-aware strategies, managing assets on a fee-only basis without serving as custodian.

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® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Aprio Wealth Management, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Jones Gregg Financial, LLC and Business Acquisition & Merger Associates. He is also an insurance agent with Aprio Risk Management, LLC. Aprio Wealth Management offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes tailored portfolios based on client objectives and risk tolerance, using a mix of asset classes and specialized strategies, and is part of a broader Aprio group that integrates tax, accounting, and benefit consulting services.

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.

Thomas Worth III is a CFP® certificant with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC and has previously worked at ORG Partner's LLC, Defender Capital, Kestra Investment Services, LLC, and Wells Fargo Clearing. He has also served as a Personal CFO since 2013. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a mix of discretionary management, third-party managers, and platform solutions, including a Private Direct Investments program for illiquid private funds.

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.

Matthew Odom is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 16 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services and MSI Financial Services, as well as a decade at Odum Adjusting Company. He also serves as Manager-Compliance for Ally Invest Advisors. 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 advice services built on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers.

Cooper Courtney is a CFP® professional at Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience, including his current role beginning in 2024. Prior to joining the firm, he was a student from 2016 to 2024. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors provides financial planning, investment management, and consulting services to individuals, families, retirement plans, institutions, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a customized investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an integrated service model alongside tax, accounting, and family-office services offered by its parent firm.

Harrison Gewirtz is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has recently entered the industry. His prior experience includes roles at Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Securities, Inc., and a variety of organizations outside finance, including healthcare and analytics firms. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party methodologies with proprietary models through both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary wrap-fee management program called SimpleInvest. The firm is part of Principal Financial Group, leveraging its affiliated entities to provide integrated investment and banking solutions.

James Hartman is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with McAdam LLC in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2021. He has four years of industry experience, including prior roles at FMI Capital Advisors, Leedon Park Capital, and Covenant Capital LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in fixed insurance sales through McAdam Institutional Brokerage. McAdam LLC is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs fundamental analysis to build diversified portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, independent managers, and individual securities, and offers a range of specialized strategies alongside a subscription-based financial planning service.

Domenico Napolitano is a financial advisor at Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Wingate University before joining Ally Invest Securities and Ally Invest Advisors. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based solutions and virtual interactions. The firm offers ETF-based Robo Portfolios, automated investing pilots, and Financial Advisor-delivered Personal Advice services using model portfolios structured on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers.