Jordan Hanson is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ritholtz Wealth Management since 2024 and previously spent nine years at HCR Wealth Advisors. Ritholtz Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients by providing portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and college financial planning. The firm employs a goal-based investment process focused on asset allocation and behavioral finance, utilizing diversified, low-cost ETFs and tactical strategies, alongside digital platforms for portfolio implementation and management.

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.

Austin Carter is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and various positions within the Principal Financial Group family, including Principal Bank, Principal Securities, and Principal Life Insurance Company. Principal Advised Services offers investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party methodologies with proprietary models for both non-discretionary recommendations and discretionary investment management. The firm operates within the Principal Financial Group, providing access to affiliated products and integrated trading services.

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 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Simplicity Wealth, he worked at Retirement Capital Planners, O'Dell, Winkfield, Roseman & Shipp, and Corecap Advisors. Outside of advising, he co-hosts webinars with Medicaid Success, a nationwide Medicaid planning service. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, institutional investors, and other financial firms. The firm uses a fund-of-funds approach with ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, offering model portfolios and independent manager options, along with technology and operational support 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 industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Facet. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services and The Vanguard Group, Inc. Sean is based in Charlotte, NC. Facet serves individual members across a broad range of wealth levels, offering tiered, subscription-based financial planning and implementation services with a focus on holistic financial planning using its Total Financial Life Resources framework and discretionary asset-allocation programs. The firm does not charge percentage-of-AUM investment fees and leverages technology-driven features such as machine-learning recommendations for employer plan accounts.

Haad Majied is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC since 2018. Prior to this, he worked at Fidelity Investments for six years. Outside of advisory work, he is the owner and CEO of Majied Properties LLC and is involved in life insurance sales through Majied Financial Group, LLC. Stratos Wealth Advisors serves a diverse clientele including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering investment management, financial planning, and insurance consulting through a network of investment advisory representatives. The firm uses a combination of bespoke and model portfolios and maintains relationships with affiliated and third-party subadvisers and custodians to deliver its services.

Mark Rothwell is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at ValMark Advisers, Inc. He previously worked at State Street Corporation for eight years and has held a COO and Director of Financial Planning role at Scott Jones Financial since 2021. 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 investment advisory representatives. The firm offers diversified, goal-based model portfolios primarily using mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers, supported by proprietary platforms and a range of advisory and sub-advisory services.

Bryan Woodell Sr. is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Penn Mutual Life Insurance and Hornor Townsend & Kent. He also operates Emerald Financial Group, providing brokerage and advisory services along with multi-line insurance products. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets and employs a strategic, trend-following approach to global diversified portfolios.

Aaron Olson is a financial advisor with Belpointe Asset Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Purpose Comprehensive Wealth Management, Mutual Advisors, Wells Fargo Clearing, and U.S. Bancorp Investments. Belpointe Asset Management is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 160 advisors managing more than $7.5 billion for individuals, corporations, trusts, and other advisers. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting with customized portfolios and a variety of advisory and administrative services.

Matthew Papandrea is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Ritholtz Wealth Management. He has worked at The Vanguard Group since 2008. Ritholtz Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans, offering comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm employs a goal-based investment process focused on asset allocation and behavioral finance, utilizing diversified, low-cost ETFs alongside tactical overlays and alternative investments.

Steven Scruggs is a CFA® charterholder with 26 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Bragg Financial Advisors Inc since 2000 and previously spent 20 years with Queens Road Securities, LLC. Bragg Financial Advisors, Inc. is a family-owned investment adviser managing over $4.6 billion for individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and investment-company clients. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing, offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services, often through portfolio models managed directly or by independent managers.

John Lindros is a financial advisor at Composition Wealth, LLC with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at firms including Miracle Mile Advisors, Equity Services, National Life Group, and Guardian Life Insurance of America. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in insurance sales, dedicating approximately 10% of his time to this activity. Composition Wealth provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a primarily long-term investment approach centered on low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs, supplemented by individual securities and alternative investments, and manages approximately $9.47 billion in discretionary assets.

Anthony Hinds Fritz is a CFP® and ChFC® with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC since 2019 and also maintains roles at Innovation Partners LLC and as an independent life insurance agent. Fritz serves as a board member of the Financial Planning Association of Central New York and is the committee chair for the ALS Association. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on customized portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm provides a range of services including discretionary portfolio management and access to third-party investment advisors, with an emphasis on non-high-net-worth individuals.

Katherine Pepper is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with various First Citizens entities since 2006. Pepper serves as a board member for the Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Center. First Citizens Asset Management provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, institutional accounts, and municipal entities. The firm manages global, multi-asset model portfolios using a multi-team platform and integrates both quantitative and qualitative research in its discretionary management approach.

Richard Adams Jr. is a financial advisor with CG Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and nine years of industry experience. He has worked with Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC, Geneos Wealth Management, and CG Financial Services of North Carolina. CG Advisory Services is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $4.02 billion for a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and consulting through proprietary model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized private equity and hedge fund access.

Sandra Carlson is a financial advisor with Waverly Advisors, LLC, holding CFP® and Series 66 designations and bringing 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Waverly Advisors since 2024 and previously worked at Rinehart Wealth Management, where she also serves as Chief Compliance Officer. Carlson teaches a tax planning course for the CFP program at Queens University and is a director of programs for the Financial Planning Association. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations and offers a range of investment management, financial planning, and multi-family office services.