Brian Perkins is a CFA® charterholder with 18 years of industry experience. He is currently associated with Kestra Advisory and Kestra Investment Services, where he has worked since 2020, and also holds a role at CapFinancial Securities, LLC since 2015. Perkins serves as Chief Investment Officer at NFP Corporate Services, overseeing institutional investment programs and client pension plans. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a range of institutional and individual clients, offering services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves diverse clients including sovereign wealth funds.

Stephanie Niblack is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and five years of industry experience. She has worked with NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company since 2021 and 2020, respectively. Her prior experience includes roles at the YMCA of Greater Charlotte and Napkin Ink, LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated investment adviser representatives. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, managing the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Boyd Cauble II is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with Guardian Life Insurance Company and Park Avenue Securities since 2010. Cauble also utilizes CBS brokerage as a resource for life insurance policies for clients. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering both brokerage and advisory services along with financial and business consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party portfolios and supports various account-level services such as lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Jacob Robak is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial and Dexian under a Wells Fargo contract. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies and leverages technology platforms to support comprehensive wealth management services.

Judy Poole is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. She has worked at Lincoln Investment since 2017 and has prior experience with Capital Analysts and Robinson & Associates. Outside of her advisory role, she is a 50% owner and officer of Poole Financial Services Inc., where she serves as secretary and bookkeeper. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan advice, and a range of investment programs, managing both in‑house and third‑party strategies through an Investment Management & Research team that utilizes strategic and dynamic approaches.

John Chidester is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 15 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Bankers Life Advisory Services since 2018 and Bankers Life Securities, Inc. since 2016. He is also an insurance agent with Bankers Life & Casualty, appointed to offer Medicare Supplement, annuity, life, health, and long-term care insurance products. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to develop customized asset allocations and portfolio management strategies tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Chancey Zifko is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Fifth Third Bank and Wells Fargo prior to joining Truist. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and research tools to assist with investment policy analysis and manager selection.

Tenley Desjardins is a financial advisor with Corient in Charlotte, NC, holding the CFP®, PFS™, and Series 66 designations. She has eight years of industry experience, including prior roles at Ernst & Young, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and Mcgill Advisors (now Brightworth). Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, employing a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house management with third-party solutions and specialized offerings through affiliated entities.

Harrison Paul is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. His work history includes roles at Park Avenue Securities, Consolidated Planning, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and positions in education and local organizations in Charlotte, NC. Park Avenue Securities serves a broad retail client base, offering brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm utilizes a combination of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and supports a variety of account-level services, including lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Ashley Johnston is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has four years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company, as well as involvement with Silver Hearth Lodge, LLC from 2018 to 2025. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Daniel Jones is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Charlotte, NC, with six years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone since 2019 and also has a background with APR Financial Group LLC dating back to 2012. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and a wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

Barry Lutfy is a financial advisor with GWN Securities Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with GWN Securities since 2004 and has also maintained roles as a self-employed financial professional and with F.R. Owen & Associates since 1989. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in non-equity insurance product brokerage through the Financial Independence Group and serves as a registered representative at US Retirement Partners. GWN Securities provides investment advisory and related services to individual and corporate clients through a variety of managed account programs and financial planning options. The firm employs both discretionary portfolio management and model-based allocations, utilizing affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisers, and is noted for its use of market-timing and momentum-based trading strategies in certain legacy programs.

Katherine Jamil is a CFP® with 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, LLC, where she has worked since 2021. Her prior roles include positions at Mutual Securities, Cornerstone Wealth Group LLC, and LPL Financial. Park Avenue Securities LLC, operating as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients with brokerage services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a range of investment advisory programs.

Ramone Givens is a financial advisor at Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 12 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch. Outside of his advisory work, Givens owns and operates a handyman services business providing basic maintenance and home project assistance. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional investors, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm delivers tailored advice through multiple program types and maintains a primarily non-discretionary asset base, operating within the integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Aaron Cantley is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Brookstone Wealth Advisors since 2023. He is also involved in fixed insurance sales through Cantley Insurance & Financial Services, a business he has operated since 2008. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management through a turnkey asset management platform, utilizing strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models, a mix of investment products, and a blend of internal and external sub-advisors.

Andrew Kistler III is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2012. He serves as a board member of Mimosa Hills Golf Club in Morganton, NC. 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, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs.

Michael Acosta is a CFP® and ChFC® with eight years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Primerica Advisors and has worked at Park Avenue Securities LLC and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 2017. Acosta serves as a NexGen Board member for the Charlotte Chapter of the Financial Planning Association and is on the Wingate University Alumni Advisory Board, as well as the American College of Financial Services NextGen Advisory Task Force. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering brokerage and fee-based advisory services along with financial and business consulting. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party managers and supports various account-level services such as lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Lisa Mc Connell is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 16 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Janney since 2010. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with McConnell Ventures, a retail clothing business focused on children's apparel, where she contributes part-time in bookkeeping and administrative functions. Janney Montgomery Scott is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse clientele including individuals, families, trusts, estates, and institutional clients, offering a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services with in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Tyler Odonnell is a CFP® with three years of industry experience currently affiliated with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities. His prior roles include positions at Consolidated Planning Inc. and Macmillan Holdings, LLC. Outside of finance, he has experience working with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients with brokerage services and investment advisory programs that include both proprietary and third-party model portfolios.

Kevin Harper is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 19 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank, as well as positions at Princor Financial Services Corporation and Principal Life Insurance Company. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, an automated Guided Investing platform, and tax-aware services, focusing on client assessments led by investment advisor representatives and employing a mix of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.