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 at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has previously worked at ORG Partners, Defender Capital, UBS Financial Services, and other firms. His background also includes roles outside finance, such as involvement with North Carolina Missions of Mercy and Bad Daddy's Burger Bar. Ascentis Independent Advisors provides investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and businesses. The firm offers tailored portfolio management, financial planning, and access to alternative investments through a Private Direct Investments program.

Justin Viviano is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Modera Wealth Management, LLC since 2026. His prior work includes roles at The Vanguard Group, Inc., 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 utilizes diversified asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory and combines investment management with tax, accounting, and business coaching services.

Jonathan Moody is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently affiliated with A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners in Charlotte, NC. His prior work includes roles at Stifel Financial Corp., Capitol Financial Solutions, and Carroll Financial. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach with a focus on international investing and combines in-house management, third-party money managers, and sub-advisers to implement various portfolio strategies.

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.

Anthony Bridges is a financial advisor at Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Company. Prior to his financial services career, he was involved in education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Richard J. Reynolds High School. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, retirement plans, institutions, and nonprofits. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, and consulting services, managing approximately $12 billion in assets while integrating wealth management with coordinated tax and accounting services through its affiliation with a national professional services firm.

Christopher Shaw is a financial advisor with NFSG Corporation, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Newbridge Financial Services Group, Pruco Securities LLC, and Kalos Capital Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as treasurer and bookkeeper for Resurgence PPG, a nonprofit providing powered paragliding therapy to disabled veterans, and he is the head varsity soccer coach at South Point High School. NFSG Corporation provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and employs an internal portfolio manager to support its advisors, utilizing a variety of investment styles and third-party asset managers.

Philip Brody is a financial advisor at CWA Asset Management Group in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 20 years of industry experience. He has been with CWA Asset Management Group since 2014. CWA Asset Management Group is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth families, trusts, foundations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutional clients. The firm utilizes proprietary model portfolios developed by an in-house research team and emphasizes global diversification, tax-aware strategies, and advanced technologies such as AI in its investment process.

Timothy Fox is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has worked in various roles within the credit union ecosystem, including positions at State Employees' Credit Union since 2008, Members Trust Company, and Secu Life Insurance Company. Fox also serves as a Financial Advisory Services District Manager for State Employees' Credit Union, providing financial services to eligible members. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves North Carolina residents with goals-based, non-discretionary investment advice focused on long-term planning using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates within the credit union ecosystem as a wholly owned subsidiary of State Employees’ Credit Union and emphasizes asset-based arrangements with a predominance of non-discretionary assets under 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.

Gregory Klibanov is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and over 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services for 23 years before joining Principal Financial Group and its affiliated entities in 2025. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates proprietary and third-party models, serving clients within the Principal Financial Group family and leveraging affiliated resources for investment solutions.

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.

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.

Dalton Thiem is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 license and two years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Securities, and Principal Advised Services since 2024. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an assistant vice president at Principal Bank, focusing on sales of bank deposit products. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary, wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm integrates proprietary models with third-party methodologies and leverages its affiliation with the Principal Financial Group family to provide access to proprietary mutual funds, bank products, and affiliated trading services.

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.

William Rainwater is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently with United Brokerage Services, Inc. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for 10 years and held roles at Truist Advisory Services, Inc. and Truist Investment Services, Inc. Rainwater also has experience outside finance, having owned and managed a rental property. United Brokerage Services, Inc. provides investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses, offering various managed account programs through its clearing relationship with Wells Fargo Clearing Services. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, use of mutual funds and ETFs, and tax-aware overlays in its investment process.