Zoe Bender is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience. She is currently with Summit Financial, LLC and has prior experience at Bank of America, Merrill, and other financial firms. Summit Financial, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $26.35 billion in assets with 216 advisors serving around 17,800 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and portfolio management programs, combining discretionary and consultative services to tailor client portfolios.

Ronald Balkus is a financial advisor at Gradient Advisors, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been involved with Palmetto Senior Benefits since 2013. In addition to his role at Gradient Advisors, he owns Balkus Wealth Management and Balkus Insurance Services Inc., both based in South Carolina. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and business entities. The firm supports a network of 169 advisors and manages nearly $1 billion in assets, using a non-discretionary investment approach combined with financial planning on fixed-fee or hourly terms.

Jonathan Polson is a financial advisor with Silver Oak Securities, Incorporated, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Silver Oak Securities since 2015 and is also employed in outside sales at Waste Management since 2017. Additionally, he provides life insurance and fixed annuity options through Southern Trust Wealth Management and offers tax preparation services with Southern Trust Tax Preparation and Planning. Silver Oak Securities serves individuals, families, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, managing approximately $2.03 billion in discretionary assets through a network of over 100 financial professionals. The firm provides individualized portfolio management, unified managed account programs, financial planning, and third-party manager referrals, delivering investment advice primarily on a discretionary basis tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Rhonda Fisher is a financial advisor at Gradient Advisors, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for Secure Financial Solutions, Inc. for 16 years, where she was an owner and investment advisor representative. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm supports a network of 169 advisors across 154 offices and employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor investment strategies.

Steven Liebzeit is a financial advisor with EFS Advisors who holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 27 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Advanced Advisor Group, Thrivent Financial, Farmers Insurance, and Cetera, among others. EFS Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management to individuals, businesses, charitable organizations, qualified retirement plans, estates, and trusts. The firm employs a client-centric suitability scoring process and uses technology, including proprietary household-aggregation software and AI tools, to support client strategies.

Helena Benedetto Erman is a financial advisor with Jacobi Capital Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. She has worked at Jacobi Capital Management since 2024 and previously at NorthStar Financial & Retirement Planning from 2019 to 2024. Outside of her advisory role, she is also involved in fixed insurance sales, including life, fixed annuities, and long-term care products. Jacobi Capital Management advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts on a limited discretionary basis, offering financial planning, consulting, and portfolio management. The firm employs a “fusion” investment approach combining finance, engineering, psychology, and history, and utilizes both algorithmic programs and hands-on oversight in portfolio construction.

Maximilian Clifford is a financial advisor at The Wealth Consulting Group with 12 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. His prior roles include positions at North Star Resource Group, Minnesota Life Insurance Company, and CRI Securities, LLC. He is based in Greer, SC. The Wealth Consulting Group provides fee-based wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporate and plan sponsors, charities, trusts, and estates. The firm employs a tailored investment process combining fundamental, technical, macroeconomic, and quantitative analysis and offers additional services such as fiduciary plan sponsor support and integration with legal-service pathways.

Emil Brost Jr. is a financial advisor with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has two years of industry experience, including roles at AE Wealth Management and Advisors Excel. Brost is also the host of a radio show called Common Sense Retirement Planning. Madison Avenue Securities provides investment advisory and related services to individual clients, charitable institutions, foundations, trusts, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $2.0 billion in assets and offers portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and college-savings services through a network of investment adviser representatives.

Daniel Zakes is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Madison Avenue Securities, LLC since 2017. He also works with Phillip Allen, Inc. in an insurance sales role. Prior to his advisory career, he had a brief engagement with Red Elm Landscaping. Madison Avenue Securities provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension consulting, college-savings assistance, and services for charitable institutions. The firm manages approximately $2.0 billion across multiple advisory platforms, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through various investment vehicles.

Thomas Plemmons is a financial advisor at CreativeOne Securities, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Upstate Wealth Management since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member of the Greater Inman Chamber of Commerce. CreativeOne Securities, LLC is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm combines project-based financial planning with ongoing asset management, utilizing a proprietary advisory platform and offering access to third-party manager programs.

Jerome Long III is a financial advisor at International Assets Investment Management, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill. In addition to his advisory role, he is the founder and president of Loyal Trust Private Wealth, LLC, a private label financial business. International Assets Investment Management provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporations, and other business entities through a national network of independent representatives. The firm focuses on customized, long-term portfolio construction using a variety of investment vehicles and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management, financial planning, and access to third-party manager programs.

Michael Finnie is a financial advisor with Aegis Capital Corp. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 35 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, J.W. Cole Advisors, Securities America Advisors, and Usadvisors Wealth Management. Aegis Capital Corp. serves individual investors, retirement and benefit plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients by providing investment advisory and brokerage services, financial planning, and access to managed account programs through RBC and AXOS platforms. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account options and manages client assets across multiple programs.

Robert Gardner Jr. is a ChFC® with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at IP Financial Advisory Services LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Gradient Advisors, Innovation Partners LLC, and WSG Advisors, where he has also maintained ownership and advisory responsibilities at WSG Partners, LLC. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm emphasizes customized portfolio construction and monitoring for non-high-net-worth individuals and offers access to third-party investment advisors alongside a range of insurance and risk management services.

Lawrence Hart is a financial advisor at Belpointe Asset Management LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Belpointe since 2018, following three years at Williams Financial Management. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as chairman of the board of trustees at Reidville Road Church in Moore, SC. Belpointe Asset Management serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, and corporations. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing customized portfolios and a range of investment strategies tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Blane Bailley is an investment advisor representative with Regal Investment Advisors LLC based in Greenville, SC. He holds the Series 65 designation and has four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Regal, Bailley worked at Benefits in a Card, Cintas, and Southern Valet & Transportation. He also operates Bailley Group Wealth Management, providing financial and insurance services. Regal Investment Advisors LLC, doing business as LionShare, offers discretionary investment management services to independent advisers and their clients, including individuals and corporate accounts. The firm provides proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary implementation and rebalancing authority.

Christopher Barton is a financial advisor with Gradient Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at JEHM Wealth & Retirement, LLC, Brookstone Capital Management, and MassMutual. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in individual and group life and health insurance sales. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm operates primarily through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives and third-party money managers, employing a largely non-discretionary model that incorporates various analytical tools to align portfolios with client objectives and risk tolerance.

Paul Bailley is a financial advisor with Regal Investment Advisors LLC in Greenville, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Regal Investment Advisors since 2015 and also operates Bailley Group Wealth Management. Bailley is a licensed insurance agent offering life insurance, disability, fixed, and fixed indexed annuities, and he holds a passive ownership stake in the Maine Nordiques junior hockey team. Regal Investment Advisors LLC, operating as LionShare, provides discretionary investment management services to independent advisers and their clients, including individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers proprietary and third-party model portfolios with a range of asset classes and uses a discretionary approach implemented through financial advisers.

Wesley Palmer is a financial advisor with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC in Greenville, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Madison Avenue Securities since 2017 and previously at Capital Investment Group, Inc. from 2015 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, Palmer is involved in fitness coaching and workout design through Virtual Gym, LLC and Team Kattouf Affiliate. Madison Avenue Securities serves individual clients, charitable institutions, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $2.0 billion in assets. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and financial planning services across multiple account platforms, employing various analytical and allocation strategies.

Bryce Veazey is an advisor at Madison Avenue Securities, LLC with a Series 65 credential and no prior industry experience. He previously held roles outside the financial sector, including work at Royal Alaskan Movers and SSS Offroad. Madison Avenue Securities provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension consulting and services for charitable institutions. The firm manages approximately $2.0 billion across multiple advisors, offering portfolio management through a variety of models and investment vehicles.

Welton Smith Jr. is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 63 designation and 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Advisory Services since 2009 and has worked with Capital Investment Group, Inc. since 2004. Smith serves on the board of Civitan International, a charitable organization involved in allocating charitable gifts and reviewing investment policies. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, employing a variety of analytical methods and conducting ongoing portfolio reviews.