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.

Alixis Roccia is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Principal, Roccia worked with American Security Mortgage Company and has coached lacrosse and basketball at Marvin Ridge High School. Principal Advised Services provides retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients with investment advice, combining third-party tools like Morningstar and proprietary models through its SimpleInvest program. The firm operates as part of the Principal Financial Group family, offering integrated access to affiliated financial products and services.

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.

Mario Brown is a financial advisor at IP Financial Advisory Services LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at several firms including VALIC Financial Advisors, Merrill, and New York Life. Outside of his advisory role, Brown serves as a non-commissioned officer in the Army Reserve and teaches business-related courses at Valencia College. IP Financial Advisory Services LLC primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on non-high-net-worth investors and retirement plan participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing a range of analytical approaches and discretionary management strategies, including access to third-party managers.

Daniel Brackett is a CFP® with four years of industry experience currently advising at Choreo, LLC. He previously worked at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC. His background also includes time at UBS Financial Firm Inc. and roles in education and other industries prior to entering financial services. Choreo, LLC serves a diverse client base that includes individual and high-net-worth investors, family offices, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, endowments, and institutional clients. The firm employs a quantitative, committee-approved investment process and offers a range of advisory services such as portfolio management, wealth consulting, outsourced CIO solutions, and specialized services including 1031 like-kind exchange and Opportunity Zone consulting.

Christopher Hernandez is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill, Bank of America, Jack Patterson & Co., and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Outside of financial advising, he is a member of Better Books Advisor LLC, a bookkeeping services business. Ally Invest Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering discretionary portfolio management through automated services and advisor-led guidance. The firm employs Modern Portfolio Theory-based model allocations across multiple risk tiers, utilizing primarily ETFs and automated rebalancing, while managing tens of thousands of client accounts through digital and automated processes.

John Aprill is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Everett Harris & Co in Charlotte, NC since 2012. Everett Harris & Co provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management services to individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable institutions, foundations, and endowments. The firm employs fundamental analysis and a predominantly buy-and-hold strategy, investing across U.S. and foreign equities, fixed income, commodities, and options.

Gregory James is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2023. Prior to joining Modera, he spent 22 years at Parsec Financial Management, Inc. He is also a part-owner of a yacht charter company, Lisky LLC, which is unrelated to his investment work. Modera Wealth Management provides fiduciary, fee-only advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an allocation-driven investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing diversified portfolios and a range of strategies including independent managers and optional ESG integration.

Carter Otey is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor at Modera Wealth Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes a position at Forvis Mazars and roles in education at Liberty University and Cannon School. Modera Wealth Management provides wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm integrates investment management with accounting, tax, and business coaching services, managing diversified portfolios that incorporate Modern Portfolio Theory and a range of asset classes.

Phillips Bragg is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 29 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Bragg Financial Advisors Inc, where he has worked since 1996, and previously spent 20 years at Queens Road Securities, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer of Edgemont, Ltd., a fishing club located in North Carolina and Tennessee. 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 with written Investment Policy Statements, broad diversification, and a longer-term investment approach, managing client accounts through portfolio models directly or via independent managers.

John Matthews is a financial advisor at Brookwood Investment Group with 12 years of experience in the industry. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms, including Redwood Private Wealth LLC and his own Matthews & Co Private Wealth Advisors, where he serves as CEO and managing member. Outside of finance, he owns The Cut Barbershop in Charlotte, NC. Brookwood Investment Group serves individual investors, businesses, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management and financial planning with a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary management. The firm uses a variety of investment strategies tailored to client objectives and operates multiple affiliated businesses and proprietary partner offices.

Michael Van Ness is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Waverly Advisors, LLC and has concurrent experience at Rinehart Wealth Management dating back to 2010. 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, serving a diverse client base including non-HNW and high-net-worth clients.

Luis Dieguez is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Hornor, Townsend, & Kent LLC and Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, Luis coaches his son’s 9U baseball team. Blueprint Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered, multi-advisor firm that serves individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in client assets using a globally diversified, strategic-and-tactical investment approach that emphasizes trend-following and momentum rules across multiple timeframes.

Vernon Moses is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Fidelity Investments, Truist Investment Services, BB&T, Bank of America, and Merrill. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary account that uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and invests via approved models managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Paul Short is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 39 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2009. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, frequently serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides model-based and customized portfolio management within a fiduciary framework and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Sam Merrill is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Truist Bank and The Reynolds and Reynolds Company. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer for North Carolina Little League District 3, managing funds for seven local leagues and related tournaments. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

William Wright is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Equitable Advisors, Mood Indigo Living, and involvement with Furman University and the nonprofit E2D – Eliminate the Digital Divide. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and operates as part of a vertically integrated group that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised fund advisory services.

Kyle Gensrick is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Creative Planning since 2022 and previously at Wipfli Financial Advisors and Hewins Financial Advisors. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and emphasizes a financial planning-led investment process with a range of portfolio management and retirement plan services supported by a large advisory team and centralized infrastructure.