Elaine Bennett is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 designation. She has 25 years of industry experience, having worked with Park Avenue Securities and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 2000. Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of Guardian Life, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of financial planning, consulting, and discretionary management solutions, combining proprietary programs with third-party platforms and access to insurance and alternative investment products.

Jeffery Smith is a CFP® certificant with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities. His tenure at these firms spans multiple roles since 2016. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of the Rotary Club of Troutman. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, supported by proprietary programs and third-party platforms.

Aaditya Jampani is a Series 65-licensed financial professional at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. with one year of industry experience. Before joining Wells Fargo Investment Institute in 2026, he held roles at Neurika.AI and Vivian Contracting LLC, and he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and other financial institutions, offering non-customized, non-discretionary investment models rather than direct portfolio management or individualized financial planning.

Paul Brown is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. His career includes roles at LPL Financial, Bank of America, and Merrill. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of Streamline Productions, a business he has operated since 2008. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm utilizes a network model of advisory representatives and employs various portfolio management strategies supported by technology platforms and third-party managers.

John Bogert is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with TIAA and its affiliated entities since 2007. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and corporate entities, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management, acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund and operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

David Srulevitch is a CFP® with five years of industry experience currently with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. He has previously worked at The Colony Group, LLC, Buckingham Strategic Wealth, LLC, Carolina Capital Consulting, Inc., and Blair, Bohle & Whitsitt, PLLC. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, families, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional retirement plans by providing investment management, financial planning, tax and compliance support, family office and business management, and employee benefit retirement plan services. The firm uses a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach with a combination of active and passive strategies, third-party managers, private funds, and tactical overlays tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and financial circumstances.

Justin Cook is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Eagle Strategies, he worked at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company, and he has a background that includes senior roles at T-Mobile and experience with Dragonfly Visual Productions. Outside of his advisory work, Cook is involved in local education initiatives, serving as a board member of the Cuthbertson High School Parent Teacher Student Organization and volunteering with the NTES WatchDOGS program. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, institutional sponsors, and corporate clients. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives and is noted for managing a substantial portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Luke Luciano is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Truist, he worked at Alloy Investment Management and Foundations Investment Advisors LLC, and has experience with JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of Truist, he is involved as an insurance agent selling fixed annuities and life insurance. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of traditional research and AI tools, partners with Envestnet platforms, and offers a range of co-fiduciary and discretionary services.

William Kane is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 43 years of industry experience. His career includes long-term roles with NY Life Insurance Company, Eagle Strategies, and Nylife Securities Inc. Kane is also licensed with various insurance companies for the sale of group insurance and non-New York Life insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

John Frith is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience currently working at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. He has been with Wells Fargo & Company since 2002, including five years at the Investment Institute. Based in Charlotte, NC, Frith holds a Series 65 license. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and unaffiliated financial institutions. The firm delivers its offerings on a non-customized basis and serves primarily as a research and model-provider rather than managing discretionary client accounts.

Carl Rogers Jr. is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding the ChFC® designation and a Series 63 license. He has 41 years of industry experience and has worked with several firms, including Financial Independence Group and Southeast Financial Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Rogers serves as a precinct judge for the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections and operates an independent insurance agency focused on succession planning, estate planning, and executive compensation for business owners. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high‑net‑worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers diversified asset management and financial planning solutions through various program platforms, leveraging both proprietary and third‑party models and managers.

Craig Bisagna is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 34 years of industry experience, having worked previously at firms including LPL Financial, TIAA, Merrill, National Asset Management, and Charles Schwab. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers various fiduciary services, partnering with Envestnet platforms to deliver tailored investment solutions.

Leo Harrington Jr. is an investment advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Waxhaw, NC. He holds Series 66, Series 65, and Series 63 registrations and has 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2013. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions, offering investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm provides access to multiple managed account programs and third-party portfolio managers through its Passageway platform.

Matthew Jelnicky is a CFP® with 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and has a background that includes nearly 24 years operating his own CPA firm, Matthew G. Jelnicky CPA PA, where he provided tax preparation and accounting services. Matthew also has experience selling term life insurance through Park South Advisors. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services manages over $122 billion in assets through a large advisor network, offering financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a diversified, risk-class based investment approach that combines passive and active management with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Larry Carroll is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 44 years of industry experience, including roles at Carroll Financial Associates, Inc. and CETERA Advisor Networks LLC. Carroll has been with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services and its affiliated Wealth Enhancement Group since 2021. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, retirement plan consulting, and referrals to separate managed account investment managers. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans, managing over $122 billion in regulatory assets under management through diversified, risk-class based investment strategies that combine passive and active management.

Thomas Sowers is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with six years of industry experience. He is currently with Kestra Advisory and has prior experience at Dimensional Fund Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he also works as an independent contractor dog walker. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual clients, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves large institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds.

Michael Bish is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience currently serving as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services. His prior experience includes roles at Merrill Lynch, BB&T Securities, and Bank of America. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and provides ongoing reporting and consultations while leveraging its affiliated financial relationships.

Traci Diblasio is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience. She is currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., where she has worked since 2018. Her prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wachovia Bank, N.A., Key Investment Services LLC, and KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, an automated Guided Investing platform, and Tax Aware services, emphasizing IAR-led assessments and diverse analytical approaches to asset allocation.

Peter Gebre is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at OneAmerica Securities and Voya Financial Partners. Gebre is based in Charlotte, NC. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Securities LLC, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides a range of financial planning, consulting, and discretionary management solutions, combining proprietary and third-party investment platforms.

Paul Brown is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Matthews, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 19 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Eagle Strategies since 2013 and also operates Parker Financial Group, LLC and Parker Financial and Insurance Solutions, which sell New York Life products and broker non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individual investors and institutional retirement plans, providing financial planning, investment management, and advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.