Miteshkumar Patel is a CFA® charterholder and a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors, based in Charlotte, NC, with eight years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Elevation LLC for two years. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a crypto mining operation and leads the development of various digital ventures. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based solutions and virtual interaction, offering ETF-based Robo Portfolios, automated investing, and personalized advice services. The firm uses model portfolios grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers and emphasizes tax-sensitive features within its advisory offerings.

William Freidinger is an advisor at 49 Financial with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining 49 Financial, he worked in the hospitality sector at Chapter 6 - Rare Roots Hospitality and has educational experience from Furman University and Cannon School. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans, offering financial planning, advanced planning, and investment management. The firm employs a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation approach, managing proprietary model portfolios and providing tiered fractional family office services.

Michael Kirkendale Haak is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Core Planning since 2025. His prior roles include positions at Facet Wealth and The Vanguard Group. He has also held self-employed roles and worked briefly at Uber. Core Planning is a fee-only advisory firm that offers financial planning, wealth management, and portfolio management services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services. The firm uses third-party model portfolios and rule-based rebalancing tools to tailor investment strategies based on client objectives and risk tolerance.

Michael Santos is a financial advisor with Gibbs Wealth Management, LLC in Pineville, NC. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has been in the industry since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and the Armed Forces. Gibbs Wealth Management provides discretionary investment advisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients through third-party model portfolios and a Model Management program. The firm focuses on selecting and monitoring model portfolios based on clients’ financial situations, goals, and risk tolerance rather than constructing proprietary portfolios.

Rand Gordon is a CFP® with 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at United Capital Financial Advisors since 2021 and previously spent over two decades at Harbor Capital Management, Inc. in various roles. United Capital Financial Advisors provides financial planning and investment management services nationwide to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm employs discretionary portfolio management using asset-allocation models and offers customized strategies including ESG and faith-based options, supported by client-facing technology and research resources.

Rodney Amicone is a financial advisor with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., Signator Investors, Inc., and Signator Financial Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a financial and educational retirement instructor for the American Retirement Institute & Adult Financial Education Services and owns a business providing estate planning document software. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, managed account programs, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm constructs customized portfolios using various analytical approaches and also facilitates client referrals to unaffiliated third-party investment advisors.

John Potter is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Integrity Advisory Solutions with 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Strategic Planning Corporation and also maintains a legal practice focusing on estate planning and elder law. Potter serves as treasurer for the North Carolina chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Integrity Advisory Solutions serves individuals, trusts, estates, and business clients through approximately 100 independent advisors, managing around $1.1 billion in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and sub-advisory services, utilizing a range of asset-allocation strategies and third-party platforms.

Kelly Guadagnino is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2023. Prior to joining Modera, Kelly worked at Battery Global Advisors and PwC. She volunteers with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, providing free tax preparation for low-income taxpayers. Modera Wealth Management offers wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes diversified asset allocation grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and combines traditional investment management with in-house accounting and tax services, serving approximately $17.7 billion in assets under management.

Patrick Galvin is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Blueprint Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, having previously worked at firms including Park Avenue Securities and Hornor, Townsend & Kent LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and manages a vehicle rental business. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor SEC-registered firm serving individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a proprietary strategic-and-tactical investment approach across diversified asset classes and offers access to private placements and illiquid investments.

Carter Collins is a financial advisor at Advisory Services Network with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. He previously worked at DSP Wealth Strategies and Trading Composure. Outside of his advisory roles, he works as a gym attendant at Ballantyne Country Club in Charlotte, NC. Advisory Services Network serves individuals, families, corporations, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and investment consulting, managing approximately $8.6 billion in client assets with a range of investment strategies and implementation options.

William Brantley is a financial advisor at Meridian Wealth Management, LLC with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Independent Advisor Alliance, Kestra Investment Services, Citigroup Global Markets, and Merrill. Meridian Wealth Management serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities with discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services. The firm employs an IPS-driven, tailored investment approach and manages most client relationships on a discretionary basis using a diversified mix of asset types.

Peyton Pounds is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Advisory Services Network in Charlotte, NC, and has one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Adhesion Wealth, SilverRock Wealth, and Williams Wealth Advisors. Outside of finance, he was involved with Queen City Grill Cleaning from 2020 to 2022. Advisory Services Network offers investment advisory and planning services to individuals, families, corporations, and retirement plans through a large network of independent representatives. The firm’s approach includes discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and the use of diverse securities and third-party managers to meet client objectives.

Andrea Swope is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Maplewood Investments, Kingswood Capital Partners, and Quint Capital. In addition to her advisory role, she owns and operates Emerson Cress, a real estate consulting firm. Blueprint Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered, multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets and employs a strategic-and-tactical investment approach using price-driven trend-following and momentum rules across diversified global portfolios.

Ryan Russell is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Ally Invest Securities LLC and E*TRADE Securities LLC. Ally Invest Advisors offers discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based and virtual solutions, including ETF-based Robo Portfolios and personalized financial advice. The firm uses model portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and provides services such as tax-sensitive allocations and tax-loss harvesting.

Matthew Wallen is a CFP® and CFA® with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC and has held prior roles at Mariner Independent, Mariner Platform Solutions, AdvicePeriod, LLC, and Feehan Financial Group. Outside of his advisory work, he is the founder of Confluence Wealth Management and serves as a business advisor to Confluence Investment Management. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm uses a goals-based advising approach supported by proprietary quantitative metrics and integrates both passive and active investment strategies.

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.