Alexander Smith is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Equity Services since 1994 and has additional tenure at National Life dating back to 1990. Outside of his advisory role, Smith serves as Vice President of the North Carolina Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and is involved in several business ventures, including real estate ownership and insurance sales. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms, frequently utilizing third-party asset managers and model portfolios, combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and discretionary or non-discretionary management.

William Baylog is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. since 2016 and has been involved with Bankers Life & Casualty since 1996, where he manages agents, managers, and administrators in addition to providing insurance sales and services. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Patrick Golden is a financial advisor at &Partners with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as power of attorney for a family member and maintains a 50% ownership interest in an investment-related business with his spouse. &Partners serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, foundations, universities, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm combines investment advisory and brokerage services with financial planning, ERISA consulting, retirement plan management, and investment banking, utilizing both proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

John Moore is a financial advisor at Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been affiliated with New York Life companies and Eagle Strategies since 2023. Outside of his advisory role, Moore is a freelance musician and serves as a board member for a local business referral group. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional investors, and plan sponsors, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated representatives. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages a substantial portion of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Neal Patel is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 designation. He has one year of experience as an advisor, currently with Park Avenue Securities since 2026. Prior to his advisory role, he worked in legal services at Egenberg Trial Lawyers and in operations with the New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints. Park Avenue Securities LLC operates as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients with a range of financial planning and investment advisory services.

Christopher Sotardi is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has worked with Bankers Life since 2007 and Bankers Life Securities, Inc. since 2016. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a Unit Field Trainer at Bankers Life & Casualty, recruiting and training insurance agents. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and manages portfolios with a focus on clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Larry Parker is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Matthews, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 23 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Eagle Strategies since 2007 and operates his own firms, Parker Financial Group LLC and Parker Financial and Insurance Solutions. Outside of his advisory work, Parker volunteers as a sports coach with the Porter Ridge Athletic Association. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers customized solutions through multiple program types and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis, operating within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Justin Krebs is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and five years of industry experience. He has worked in investment-related roles at AE Wealth Management since 2020 and owns Proactive Total Wealth, a business involved in insurance sales and services since 2007. Krebs also partners with a network of CPAs to provide tax advice and services. AE Wealth Management offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to individual and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes discretionary model portfolios and integrates multiple investment strategies while managing approximately $49.8 billion for over 127,000 clients.

John Natoli is a CFP® and ChFC® with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Eagle Strategies (NY Life) since 2020 and has prior experience with Mutual of Omaha and Mass Mutual Life Insurance. Natoli is based in Charlotte, NC. Eagle Strategies serves a broad range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives, managing a significant portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Jennifer Davis is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 20 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes eight years at LPL Financial and four years with Independent Advisor Alliance. Outside of her advisory role, she designs printable templates for clients, and she also engages in pet sitting and participates in independent survey taking. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships supported by third-party platforms and integrates affiliate services including Truist Investment Services and Truist Bank features.

Louis Satryan is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Ft. Washington Brokerage Services, Inc. since 2000. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a college football on-field referee during the season and works as an insurance agent. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, primarily delivering discretionary investment management via model portfolios and unified managed accounts.

John Patterson is a CFP® and Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks, Carroll Financial Associates, and United Technologies Corporation. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services manages over $122 billion in assets and serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment approach combines passive and active management through diversified, risk-class based allocations, overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Joseph Pagani is a financial advisor at Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bermuda Sands Apparel. He is also involved in other insurance-related business activities in Charlotte, NC. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of Guardian Life, serves individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients with brokerage services, financial planning, and investment advisory programs that include both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Tamila Miceli is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 10 years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. She previously worked at Summit Financial Group and Securian Financial Services Inc for eight years. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm operates as a registered broker-dealer and provides an integrated investment platform with discretionary and non-discretionary solutions across multiple asset classes.

Carl Hedstrom is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 39 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Carroll Financial Associates. Hedstrom is based in Charlotte, NC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and quantitative and fundamental research.

John Osterberg is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and over 32 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial LLC and Independent Advisor Alliance since 2016. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, pooled vehicles, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes both discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies, employs a range of analytical techniques, and leverages technology platforms for comprehensive wealth and estate planning services.

William Brantley is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 30 years of industry experience, including over a decade with his current firms. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a network model with numerous advisory representatives and integrates technology-driven solutions alongside discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Carol Mansour Ezzell is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and has 44 years of industry experience, including 22 years at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2004. 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 individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, providing brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and various advisory programs.

Kellen Taylor is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Carroll Financial Associates. Based in Charlotte, NC, he is also involved in fixed insurance advisory services. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and quantitative and fundamental research.

Lawrence Schierl is a financial advisor at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial and SII Investments. Outside of his advisory career, Schierl is a partner at Appleton Beer Factory. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing advisory services primarily through third-party asset manager platforms and financial planning. The firm emphasizes client-directed implementation and oversight, managing the majority of client assets on a non-discretionary basis.