Matthew Gooch is a Series 65 licensed advisor with 2 years of industry experience, currently with 49 Financial in Charlotte, NC. His background includes roles at Macon Mayhem, Film Buildings LLC, and Samford. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, investment management, and tiered fractional family office services. The firm follows a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation approach that combines multiple analysis methods and emphasizes behavioral coaching.

Matthew Poulos is a financial advisor with MCF Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 15 years and was involved with Queen City Racquet Club for two years. MCF Advisors is a multi-team, SEC-registered firm managing approximately $4.68 billion for individuals, small businesses, pension plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and integrated services including accounting, tax preparation, and outsourced CFO support.

Gianna Truisi is a Series 65 licensed advisor with 1 year of experience at 49 Financial in Charlotte, NC. Her prior experience includes internships and roles at various organizations such as Clemson University Professional Internships & Co-ops and Interparfums Luxury Brands. She has also worked in multiple seasonal and part-time positions, including several years at Malibu Beach Camp. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients, offering financial and advanced planning, retirement-plan consulting, and both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management. The firm emphasizes a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation approach using proprietary and external model portfolios, with additional services including tiered fractional family office solutions.

John Black Jr is a financial advisor at Stephens with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Stephens since 2013. Stephens is a multi-team investment adviser with approximately 243 advisors and $18 billion in assets under management, serving individuals, retirement plans, foundations, corporations, and other institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services and utilizes a combination of bottom-up equity research and committee-driven asset allocation in its investment approach.

Emily Jones is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. She has been affiliated with various First Citizens entities since 2017 and also teaches an online course within the Masters of Trust and Wealth Management Program at Campbell University's Lundy-Fetterman School of Business. First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, institutional accounts, and municipal entities. The firm manages multi-asset global portfolios through a multi-team platform of 33 advisors, employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods with dynamic asset allocation.

Grant Wilson Jr. is a financial advisor with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at ORG Partners, Defender Capital, UBS Financial Services, and other firms. Outside of finance, he has experience at North Carolina Missions of Mercy and Bad Daddy's Burger Bar. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers tailored investment advice using discretionary management, third-party managers, platform solutions, and a Private Direct Investments program focused on illiquid private funds.

Justin Viviano is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at The Vanguard Group, Inc., Vivi International, SunTrust Advisory Services, UBS Financial Services, Merrill, JP Morgan Securities, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Modera Wealth Management provides wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm uses diversified asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory and combines investment management with in-house accounting, tax services, and business coaching.

Jonathan Moody is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners since 2024. He previously worked at Stifel Financial Corp. for five years and has additional experience at Capitol Financial Solutions and Carroll Financial. Moody has held instructional roles at Winthrop University and Central Piedmont Community College. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners is a multi-team firm that serves individual clients, including high-net-worth households, retirement plans, and institutional vehicles. The firm offers a range of services including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial and estate planning, and brokerage and insurance products, with a notable emphasis on international investing and management of pooled vehicles.

Steven Grubner is a financial advisor at Arkadios Wealth Advisors with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Kalos Capital from 2015 to 2022 before joining Arkadios Capital. He is treasurer of the Rotary District 7680 - Charlotte South Club. Arkadios Wealth Advisors provides investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans through a variety of programs including advisor-managed accounts, wrap programs, and access to third-party money managers. The firm supports advisors with an internal portfolio team and offers diverse investment strategies along with retirement plan consulting and comprehensive portfolio reporting.

Philip Brody is a financial advisor with CWA Asset Management Group in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at CWA Asset Management Group since 2014, following seven years at Byron Financial, LLC and one year at Kestra Investment Services, LLC. CWA Asset Management Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, family offices, and institutional investors. The firm employs a range of active and quantitative strategies based on proprietary research and models, combining global diversification with techniques such as short selling, tax-aware strategies, and the selective use of artificial intelligence.

Joel Poole is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Principal Securities, LPL Enterprise, Merrill, Bank of America, and The Vanguard Group. Outside of advising, he works as a security investigator for Allied Universal. 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 investment management program called SimpleInvest, utilizing a combination of third-party methodologies and proprietary models supported by its affiliation with Principal Financial Group.

John Thacker II is a Certified Financial Planner® with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with SignatureFD, LLC since 2019 and previously worked at Cornerstone Wealth Group, LLC, Cornerstone Financial Advisors, and LPL Financial. SignatureFD serves individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing wealth management, retirement plan management, and consulting services. The firm manages portfolios primarily on a discretionary basis using mutual funds, ETFs, and independent managers, and is affiliated with an accounting firm and several private investment funds.

Marc Horgan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. and holds a management role at SVB Wealth LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Citizens Bank & Trust. His career includes positions at First Citizens Bank and affiliated entities dating back to 1998. First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, institutional accounts, and municipal entities. The firm employs a multi-team platform with discretionary management of approximately $167 million, utilizing global multi-asset model portfolios and a combination of quantitative and qualitative investment criteria.

Sampson Reavis Jr. is a financial advisor at Asset Allocation Strategies, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has prior experience at Arthur J Gallagher and GLP Investment Services. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member and secretary for Lions Services, a nonprofit helping the blind, and volunteers with Seeds of Hope, a scholarship organization in Charlotte. Asset Allocation Strategies provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individual investors and plan sponsors. The firm employs advanced quantitative asset allocation models and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary services through diversified portfolios, including ETFs and third-party managers.

I believe financial planning should feel personal, practical, and empowering, not overwhelming. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning, I combine deep academic knowledge with years of real-world advisory experience to help individuals and families make smart, confident financial decisions. On top of that, I value my relationship with my clients. Over the years, I’ve guided professionals, and families through life’s most important financial milestones, planning for retirement, funding education, managing investments, or navigating complex transitions. My approach is grounded in research, but always tailored to your unique goals and values. I take the time to listen, simplify the complex, and create strategies that bring both clarity and peace of mind. Beyond my advisory work, I serve as a professor of finance and associate dean at Winthrop University. Teaching and research keep me sharp, ensuring that the guidance I provide my clients is rooted not just in practice, but also in the latest financial insights. When I’m not working with clients or teaching, you can usually find me on the tennis court, traveling with my family, or enjoying time outdoors.

Joseph Roseman Jr. is a financial advisor at Simplicity Wealth with over 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at firms including Retirement Capital Planners, LLC and O'Dell, Winkfield, Roseman & Shipp, LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he owns Roseman Financial, where he markets annuities, long-term care, and life insurance products. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base ranging from individuals to institutional investors and other financial firms. The firm employs a fund-of-funds approach primarily using ETFs, mutual funds, and selected individual securities, while providing advisory and operational services including a managed account platform and technology solutions for advisers.

Lynn Lins De Araujo is a financial advisor at Bragg Financial Advisors Inc with the CFP® designation and Series 63 license. She has six years of industry experience and has worked at Wachovia Securities, LLC and Wachovia Bank, N.A. since 2002. Bragg Financial Advisors, Inc. is a family-owned, SEC-registered investment adviser managing over $4.6 billion for individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and investment-company clients. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, broad diversification, and longer-term holdings, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and managed-account services.

Sean Powley is a CFP® with 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Facet Wealth, where he has worked since 2022. His previous experience includes roles at UBS Financial Services and The Vanguard Group. Facet Wealth provides subscription-based financial planning and discretionary investment management to individual clients, serving both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth households primarily through phone, video, and a proprietary web platform. The firm uses technology-driven processes and model-based asset allocations, offering a range of services including portfolio design, retirement and tax planning, and estate planning referrals.

Derek Cox is a financial advisor at Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with one year of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles at ProCamps, Dexian, and Jobot. Ally Invest Advisors delivers discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through web-based and virtual services, including ETF-based Robo Portfolios and personalized financial advice. The firm employs model portfolios grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory with multiple risk tiers and cash allocation strategies.

Haad Majied is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC since 2018 and previously worked at Fidelity Investments and Ameriprise. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner and CEO of Majied Properties LLC and operates a separate life insurance business. Stratos Wealth Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and retirement plans, through a network of 71 investment advisory representatives across multiple teams. The firm offers customized financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing third-party managers and technology platforms to meet client goals.