Chessada Laney is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and nine years of industry experience. Laney has worked at Brookstone since 2022 and previously at FormulaFolio Investments, Inc. and JPFG Wealth Management. Outside of Brookstone, Laney is involved in managing JPFG Wealth Management, an RIA firm, and sells insurance products through Millennium Financial Group. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm uses strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and integrates proprietary funds, external sub-advisors, and a range of investment strategies to implement client portfolios.

Amanda Macaluso is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2025. Her prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank, nA, Wells Fargo Clearing, First Horizon Bank, and Bluegreen Vacations. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers comprehensive ongoing client support.

Lena Poma is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and eight years of industry experience. She has previously worked at LPL Financial, Ally Invest Securities LLC, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of her advisory role, she works as a delivery driver for Amazon Flex. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse clientele including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of fiduciary and discretionary services through its affiliation with Truist Financial and partnerships with Envestnet.

Candice Mason is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2009. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser capabilities with a platform that includes discretionary managed accounts, direct indexing, and tax-overlay services.

Timothy Mann Jr. is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 12 years of industry experience, including roles at BB&T Securities and Truist Investment Services. He serves as a volunteer Treasurer and Finance Committee member for the nonprofit Let Me Run, assisting with financial oversight and audits. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional research and AI tools to support asset allocation and manager selection, providing ongoing client reviews and reporting.

Kevin Loftin is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Suntrust Investment Services, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Advisors, and other firms. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a comprehensive approach combining traditional research and AI-enabled tools, partnering with Envestnet platforms to provide tailored asset allocation, manager selection, and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Kristy Meeler is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She is currently with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has also worked at LPL Financial since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she offers insurance to small groups and individuals through multiple carriers as needed. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of independent advisory representatives and combines discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party managers and technology platforms for comprehensive client service.

Michael Dautel is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021, following previous roles at TRUIST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC., BB&T Investment Services, Inc., Banc Of America Investment Services, Inc., and Quick & Reilly, Inc. 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 leverages a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools, offering comprehensive reviews and reporting while operating within a broad network of affiliated financial entities.

John Czura is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Truist, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation strategies and ongoing client reviews.

Cathie Clontz is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms including BB&T Securities, PNC Investments, and Edward Jones. She is based in Charlotte, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation and manager selection, and offers ongoing client reviews and reporting.

Samantha Allen is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. and previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for six years. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial that provides financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement advisory services to individuals, institutions, and corporate clients. The firm offers a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary account management, leveraging both in-house and third-party strategies supported by technology-enabled tools.

Jamie Smothers is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. She has 20 years of industry experience, all with First Citizens Investor Services since 2006. Outside of her advisory role, Jamie is involved in property management through Peak Property Management LLC, where she participates in purchasing, repairing, and managing residential properties. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities by providing advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and financial planning, utilizing a client process focused on financial needs and risk assessment with a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

Kymona Thomas is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at firms including Pearson, GWFS Equities, LPL Financial, Wells Fargo Clearing, TIAA-CREF, and Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, complemented by tax-loss harvesting, managed accounts, and selective private market investments.

Harold Lockwood Jr. is a CFP® and ChFC® with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. since 2021 and has prior experience at Truist and BB&T in various advisory and investment roles. 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 employs a client process focused on assessing financial needs and risk tolerance, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios.

Douglas Merrigan is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He currently works at Schwab Wealth Advisory and previously held positions at The Vanguard Group, LPL Financial, and Uvest Financial Services Group. Outside of his advisory role, he manages a rental property in Ocean Isle Beach. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients by providing non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations. The firm’s approach includes asset allocation guidance based on proprietary Schwab models and research, with trade execution requiring client authorization.

Dylan Power is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC, and The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied. Cerity Partners advises a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, business entities, charitable institutions, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services and combines proprietary quantitative screening and direct security selection with access to alternative and private market solutions for qualified clients.

Richard Pucciarelli is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Brookstone since 2010 and Carolina Retirement Resources since 2003. In addition to his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, offering discretionary investment management via various account types and model portfolios.

George Lin is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2022, he worked at The Vanguard Group from 2005 to 2022. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets.

Gary Preslar is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. He is the president of Preslar Financial Group, LLC, and has been involved in new home construction and real estate sales through Homes by Gary Preslar, LLC, since 2001. His prior roles include positions at Aspire Private Capital and Global Financial Private Capital, LLC. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides a platform-centered approach combining model portfolios managed by internal and third-party strategists, discretionary asset management, financial planning, and plan services.

Hilary Daniel is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience, currently advising at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. She has held roles at Motley Fool Wealth Management, Modera Wealth Management, Parsec Financial, and The Vanguard Group. Outside of her advisory work, she is co-owner and CEO of a private company specializing in ATM installation and maintenance. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, and non-profits, offering investment advisory as well as financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach using low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other strategies, and supports clients through specialized services and educational initiatives.