Zachary Popovec is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at LPL Financial, Churchill Finance LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, and Man Global Private Markets. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and pension plans. The firm employs both predefined Model Portfolios and custom strategies that combine strategic asset allocation with quantitative and momentum-based analysis, and it provides a range of portfolio management and consulting services.

Tyler Storment is a financial advisor with Accurate Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Accurate Wealth Management, he worked at Everstar Asset Management, LLC. Outside of finance, he is a co-founder of Superb Spirit, an apparel and merchandise business, and is also a professional football player in the NFL, XFL, and CFL. Accurate Wealth Management serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charities, and corporations. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, emphasizing value, safety, quality, and risk control in its investment approach.

Austin Lytle is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at IFG Advisory, LLC. His background includes roles at BluHawk Wealth Management and LPL Financial LLC. He provides administrative support to IFG Advisory, an independent investment advisor firm. IFG Advisory offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies and third-party managers to tailor portfolios to client objectives, including management of held-away assets like 401(k)s and HSAs.

Cody Lewallen is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently affiliated with IFG Advisory, LLC in Mooresville, NC. His prior roles include positions at Marsh McLennan Agency, LPL Financial, and Old North State Trust. Lewallen also conducts non-investment related activities for Marsh McLennan Agency, supporting its insurance services. IFG Advisory, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies using sub-advisors and third-party models, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios across a broad range of asset types.

Gregory Bennett is a financial advisor with IFG Advisory, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has 29 years of industry experience, including roles at Merit Financial Group, LPL Financial, and Private Portfolio Partners. Bennett serves as a trustee for his deceased father’s trust, managing assets for family beneficiaries. IFG Advisory, LLC provides advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a comprehensive investment approach that integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, utilizing in-house management, sub-advisors, and third-party managers to tailor solutions aligned with client objectives.

David Vespoli is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Stratos Wealth Partners since 2010 and has also worked with LPL Financial and Osaic Wealth Inc. Outside of advisory services, he is licensed to conduct the sale and servicing of fixed insurance products including annuities, term, universal, whole life, long-term care, disability, and health and dental insurances. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC-registered enterprise wealth management firm with approximately $18.6 billion in assets under management, serving over 24,000 clients through about 366 advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management services and financial planning engagements using an open-architecture approach that incorporates external platforms and third-party manager programs.

Kiara Hackshaw Gary is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2022 and has prior experience at Fifth Third Bank, Bananas & Caviar, Rick Erwin's Dining Group, Ingles Market, and Johnson & Wales University. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in a home-based pastry baking business in Statesville, NC. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate and business clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and combines third-party portfolio managers with advisor-managed options, supported by services such as direct indexing and tax-overlay, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Evangeline Lodwick is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 28 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials. Her prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors, TIAA-CREF, and Encompass Investments. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services feature an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and consistent rebalancing within established plan lineups.

Robert Steele is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked with various Truist-affiliated firms since 2000. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, implementing advice through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and manager arrangements.

Kyle Thomas is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 12 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Bank of America and Merrill from 2014 to 2023. Kyle also operates Founders Private Wealth, LLC, an investment advisory business affiliated with his current firm. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with a technology-driven approach and maintains a unique network model supported by its partial ownership by LPL Financial.

Derek Smith is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Principal Securities Inc since 1993 and with PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY since 1998, and he founded Smith Financial Corporation in 2008. He serves as a board member at large for the South Cove Homeowners' Association. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Bruce Putnam is a financial advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with LPL Financial since 2011 and Cornerstone Financial Advisors from 2011 to 2018. Beyond his advisory role, he has been involved in mortgage and real estate services and acts as an agent for fixed insurance products. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a network of advisory representatives utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies, supported by technology platforms and a governance model that integrates supervised advisors, sub-advisors, and third-party managers.

Raymond Yackel Jr. is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Commonwealth and Diversified Wealth Strategies, LLC since 2012, and has operated the Raymond A. Yackel Agency, Inc. since 1977. Outside of advisory work, he maintains ownership of the Raymond Yackel Agency Inc., which is a non-investment related business. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors, offering a range of advisory programs and services including wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party asset managers. The firm provides operations, trading, technology, compliance, and practice-management support, enabling advisors to construct client portfolios using various securities and insurance products alongside discretionary model portfolios managed by its Investment Management and Research team.

Joshua Mcneil is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses, and has six years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, as well as previous positions at The Vanguard Group, Northwestern Mutual, and Online Trading Academy. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, utilizing third-party platforms and manager arrangements to support its investment programs and ongoing due diligence.

Justin Baldwin is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group, Baldwin worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank, NA, and has experience in both educational and retail sectors. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and focus on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates.

Kimberley Foster is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with Series 63 and Series 65 designations and two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank, along with experience at New Rez Mortgage and Verizon. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program combining discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, supported by AI-enabled research and inter-affiliate integration.

David Raudman is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience currently affiliated with Independent Financial Partners in Denver, NC. He has worked at Independent Financial Partners since 2011 and spent eight years with LPL Financial prior to that. Raudman is also involved in the sale of non-variable life insurance and fixed annuities. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a decentralized network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving tens of thousands of clients with a notable focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

Bedford Plummer is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank, Truist Bank, CLA USA, and Puritan Financial Group. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, utilizing third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools to support its investment offerings.

Ehrnest Ballagh III is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and having 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Private Advisor Group since 2015 and was previously associated with LPL Financial, LLC starting in 2004. In addition to his advisory work, he has professional experience as a CPA, bookkeeper, and tax preparer. Private Advisor Group serves a diverse client base including individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm provides access to various advisory programs, third-party asset managers, and a proprietary WealthSuite separately managed account program.

Jaclyn Mcgrew is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 65 and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Fifth Third Securities in 2021, she worked at Fifth Third Bank starting in 2019 and was involved with D9 Brewing Company from 2015 to 2019. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through various program types on the Passageway platform. The firm operates as a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and provides access to multiple third-party portfolio managers, with an emphasis on customizable investment strategies.