Edwin Peacock III is a financial advisor at ValMark Advisers, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® and Series 63 credentials and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual in various capacities from 2003 to 2019. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a trustee for The Seymour Family Foundation and volunteers on the Leading on Opportunity Council, a nonprofit focused on addressing generational poverty. He is also a part-time City Council member for Charlotte, NC. ValMark Advisers provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, plan sponsors, and institutional clients through a network of approximately 280 advisors. The firm emphasizes diversified, goal-based model portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers, and offers a range of proprietary and third-party investment platforms and advisory services.

George Trabookis is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ally Invest Advisors and Ally Invest Securities since 2019 and previously at Mass Mutual Investors Services and MetLife Securities. He also serves as a manager for Ally Invest Advisors, providing managerial, operational, and customer service support. Ally Invest Advisors serves a large retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management through automated services and advisor-led advice. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using ETF-based model portfolios across multiple risk tiers, with automated allocation and rebalancing supported by online performance reporting and optional tax-sensitive features.

Jason Weis is a financial advisor with Advisory Services Network, LLC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. He has 17 years of industry experience, including roles at Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab. In addition to his advisory work, Weis is a licensed insurance agent and serves as managing member of Queen City Capital Management, LLC, a service company for business income and expenses. Advisory Services Network serves individuals, families, corporations, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, using a variety of investment strategies and implementation options tailored to client objectives.

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.

Jake Gregory is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. He has held roles within various Principal entities since 2022 and previously worked in staffing and education. Outside of his advisory work, he has engaged in online retail sales through eBay. 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 investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates third-party research and proprietary models and is affiliated with multiple Principal Financial Group entities, allowing access to a range of proprietary products and services.

Michael Kirkendale Haak is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with Core Planning and previously worked at Facet Wealth and The Vanguard Group. Core Planning offers fee-based financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm customizes investment strategies based on client goals and risk tolerances, utilizing a combination of in-house advice, third-party money managers, and model portfolios.

Brian Williams is a financial advisor at Alphastar Capital Management with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been with Alphastar since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, Williams is involved in several business ventures, including ownership interests in fitness centers and an insurance product development company. Alphastar Capital Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base that includes individuals, trusts, small businesses, and pension plans. The firm employs strategic asset allocation combined with quantitative analysis and momentum evaluation, offering both model portfolios and customized strategies.

Katherine Kerns is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has eight years of industry experience and has worked with Members Trust Company, SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union. In addition to her advisory roles, she serves as a Financial Advisory Services District Manager at State Employees' Credit Union. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management and retirement planning with a focus on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates as a subsidiary of State Employees’ Credit Union and manages over $3.0 billion in non-discretionary advisory assets.

Jeremy Crawley is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked with multiple related entities including State Employees’ Credit Union, Secu Life Insurance Company, and Members Trust Company. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors who reside in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and asset allocation advice focused on long-term, goals-based strategies using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates within a credit union ecosystem and maintains a predominance of non-discretionary assets under management.

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.

Nathan D'erminio is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 credential and has one year of industry experience. His background includes roles at Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Principal Securities, Inc. Outside of finance, he has experience working with a local gymnastics program and in retail food service. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients. The firm offers both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest, combining third-party methodologies and proprietary models while leveraging its affiliation with Principal Financial Group.

Jorden Masson is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Concord, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and with three years of industry experience. He has worked with SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union, where he provides financial advisory services to eligible members. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual investors residing in North Carolina, offering goals-based, non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning with a focus on long-term investment horizons primarily using mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed income products. The firm operates within a credit union ecosystem and emphasizes the use of low-cost index funds and salaried investment representatives.

John Potter is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor with 10 years of industry experience. He currently works at Integrity Advisory Solutions and previously spent eight years at Strategic Planning Corporation. In addition to his advisory work, Potter is an attorney specializing in estate planning and elder law and serves as treasurer of the North Carolina chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Integrity Advisory Solutions serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial and retirement plan consulting, and sub-advisory services, utilizing a network of investment adviser representatives and a range of investment strategies.

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® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and Hornor, Townsend & Kent LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a vehicle rental business, Galvin Management Group, LLC. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor SEC-registered firm that provides portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in client assets using globally diversified portfolios and a proprietary strategic-and-tactical investment framework focused on price-driven trend-following and momentum rules.

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.

Peyton Pounds is a financial advisor with Advisory Services Network and holds a Series 65 designation. Pounds has experience working with multiple firms since 2021, including Adhesion Wealth, SilverRock Wealth, and Williams Wealth Advisors. Outside of finance, Pounds has worked in restaurant cleaning services. Advisory Services Network serves individuals, families, corporations, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans through a network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, investment consulting, and other services, managing approximately $8.6 billion in client assets.

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 at Ally Invest Advisors with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Ally Invest Advisors since 2025, with prior roles at Ally Invest Securities LLC and E*TRADE Securities LLC. Ally Invest Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based solutions and virtual interaction. The firm offers ETF-based Robo Portfolios, automated investing options, and Financial Advisor-delivered Personal Advice, utilizing model portfolios built on Modern Portfolio Theory across five risk tiers.