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.

Sam Merrill is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at multiple entities within the Truist organization since 2021. Prior to joining Truist, Merrill spent seven years at 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 leagues and their all-star tournaments. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a broad client base including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and provides ongoing client reviews while leveraging its affiliation with Truist Financial and related entities.

Kelly Lauterjung is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at D.A. Davidson & Co. since 2020. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at Robert W. Baird for five years. Outside of her advisory role, she is a co-author and promotes sales of books unrelated to investment activities. D.A. Davidson & Co. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including retirement plans, individual investors, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm operates under fiduciary standards and offers services such as ERISA retirement plan advisory, comprehensive financial planning, and a Private Wealth program for clients with net worth exceeding $20 million.

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.

Albert Grenert Jr. is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Ameriprise Advisor Services. He is currently based in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base and offers brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs, with investment advice delivered through a combination of in-house portfolio management and third-party managers.

Suzanne Dean is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 31 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Truist Advisory Services and affiliated firms since 2015, with prior experience at Wells Fargo Clearing. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and provides ongoing client reviews while leveraging a broad range of affiliated financial relationships.

Kendra Gray is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Hornor, Townsend and Kent, LLC. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a multi-manager approach with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, incorporating both affiliated and third-party managers alongside proprietary research and a range of investment vehicles.

Edward Smyth is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at Kingfisher Capital, LLC and Perennial Research LLC. Mercer Global Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach featuring globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts, tax management, and a range of implementation options such as ETFs, mutual funds, separate accounts, and direct indexing.

Brett Miller is a financial advisor at Corient with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 65 license. His prior roles include positions at McGill Advisors, Inc. and Ci Brightworth. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that incorporates in-house and third-party strategies, risk management tools, and may include alternative investments and private fund allocations.

Joseph Dumser is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and First Citizens Investor Services. Outside of his advisory work, he is a part owner of a Bojangles franchise. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of advisory services, including manager selection via the Envestnet platform and retirement plan fiduciary solutions.

Joseph Rebello is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at various Truist-affiliated firms since 2000. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Rebello Home Building & Remodeling, a home construction and remodeling business in Charlotte, NC. 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 uses a combination of traditional and AI-enabled research tools to support client objectives and offers a range of affiliated financial services through its connections with Truist Financial.

Brandon Johnson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience, currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank, and PNC Wealth Management. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities through investment adviser representatives and third-party portfolio managers. The firm’s investment process incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate across various asset classes, serving a mix of discretionary and predominantly non-discretionary accounts.

Jason Creel is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2006. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm also advises a donor-advised fund and operates within a vertically integrated structure using affiliated funds.

Deborah Mcwilliams is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner since 2018. Her prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Merrill. She is involved with local nonprofits, serving as Event Chair for the WINGS Scholarships and Mentoring Program and volunteering on the grant committee for the Women's Impact Fund. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm provides customized portfolio solutions supported by both in-house research and third-party managers, with a notable integration of tax and accounting services and specialized financial wellness and family office capabilities.

Ryan Czamara is a CFP® with four years of industry experience currently serving at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and LPL Financial since 2026. His previous roles include positions at Private Advisor Group, LLC, Securities America, Inc., and several other financial firms. Outside of advisory services, he operates under the business name Hamilton Wealth Management for investment advice through Private Advisor Group and holds a separate license to sell insurance products on a commission basis. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of advisory representatives with access to various portfolio management strategies, technology platforms, and integrated estate-planning services.

Justin Chamberlin is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Advisory Services Network, LLC and Williams Wealth Management. 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 focuses on delivering non-customized, research-driven model portfolios without providing individualized financial planning or discretionary account management.

Seth Wheeler is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC. He previously worked at Northwestern Mutual in various capacities from 2020 to 2025 and has a decade of service in the Armed Forces. Wheeler is also a board member of Veteran's Bridge Home, a nonprofit organization based in Charlotte, NC. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services and operates as a registered broker-dealer, providing access to alternative investment vehicles and integrated advisory offerings.

Kyle Greer is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he has held various positions at Empower Financial Services, Inc., as well as experience in hospitality and country club management. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, delivering solutions through an integrated model aligned with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm focuses on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.