Jacob Schmidt is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. His prior roles include positions at The Vanguard Group and Facet, and he has spent four years as a self-employed professional. Outside of finance, Jacob is also a musician and performs as a singer. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice as part of the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering clients annual financial reviews and investment recommendations using Schwab’s research tools and asset allocation models, while final trading decisions remain with the clients.

Christopher Prevette is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience. He is currently with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, where he has worked for five years. Prior to that, he spent eighteen years at Wells Fargo Bank and one year at Principal Financial Group. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as the treasurer on the board of the Charlotte Carolinas Rugby Club, a nonprofit focused on youth and community outreach. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting through discretionary and non-discretionary management, utilizing various portfolio strategies and technology platforms.

Natasha Allen is a financial advisor with CWM, LLC based in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining CWM, she worked at Edward Jones for three years and has founded Natasha N. Allen, LLC, a consulting business focused on coaching women who struggle with emotional eating and weight loss. She is also a skills development coach at the Life Purpose Institute. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutional clients through a network of over 600 advisors. The firm employs discretionary account management using model portfolios supported by fundamental and technical analysis, third-party sub-advisors, and customization tools, with a particular emphasis on retirement plan services and fiduciary processes.

Brett Schmidt is a CFP® with 14 years of experience in the financial services industry. He currently works at Truist Advisory Services and has held roles within related Truist entities and BB&T since 2012. Schmidt serves as the Charlotte Chapter President for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, where he organizes events and leads community efforts to raise awareness and funds for inherited retinal diseases. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, implementing advice through discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships supported by third-party platforms and enhanced by AI-enabled research tools.

Gary Spencer is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2023 and previously was associated with Baldwin Risk Partners. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, plan sponsor fiduciary support, and a manager‑selection program through third‑party managers, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non‑discretionary approaches supported by AI-enabled research tools.

Vincenzo Atkinson is a CFA® charterholder based in Charlotte, NC, with nine years of industry experience. He has been with SunTrust Advisory Services LLC and SunTrust Bank since 2016. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Eric Robbins is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses with six years of industry experience. His career includes roles within various PNC Investments entities since 2018 and prior experience at Marriott Vacation Club. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio offering that uses algorithm-driven risk assessments and delegated portfolio management.

William Crocker is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Lockton Investment Advisors, Lockton Companies, and Lockton Financial Advisors from 2014 to 2021. Crocker is based in Indian Land, South Carolina. 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 employs a financial planning–led investment process that combines low-cost indexing with supplemental strategies, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Matthew Kalajian is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2006. He is based in Charlotte, NC, and holds a Series 63 license. Outside of his advisory role, Kalajian is involved in community organizations, serving on the boards of the Charlotte Economics Club and Camp Rockmont. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC 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, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs through a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Eduardo Gelpi is a financial advisor with T. Rowe Price Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Edelman Financial Engines, LPL Financial LLC, Ameriprise Financial Services, and Wells Fargo Advisors. T. Rowe Price Advisory Services offers a retirement-focused advisory program combining nondiscretionary financial planning and discretionary investment management, primarily using proprietary mutual funds and ETFs for individual investors and households with retirement goals.

Lara Ferguson is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. since 2022. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, LLC and DaVinci Financial Designs. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors and individual retirement plans, offering both investment advisory programs and brokerage and insurance services. The firm provides a digital advisory program and managed account services while operating as a broker-dealer and insurance agency.

Abel Rizzo is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group, he worked at various hospitality firms including Wurst Haus and Union Kitchen. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm delivers services through an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Kelly West is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked exclusively within the First Citizens organization since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, Kelly owns an online resale shop selling clothing and other items and is involved in direct/network marketing ventures. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and insurance services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation, offering portfolio management through model portfolios, separately managed accounts, and an automated Guided Investing platform.

Andrea Smith is a financial advisor at HB Wealth with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank NA and JPMorgan Securities LLC. HB Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser that provides wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, retirement plans, corporate entities, foundations, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm combines quantitative and qualitative due diligence across a range of public and private investment strategies and offers outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) and institutional advisory services.

Jessica Council Verner is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. She has worked in various roles within the Truist organization since 2017 and has experience outside the financial industry as a co-owner of Proof Bar and Lounge from 2016 to 2019. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering services such as asset allocation analysis and fiduciary support. The firm uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

David Johnson is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies and New York Life Insurance Company since 2013. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisers, focusing largely on non-discretionary assets and tailored recommendations aligned with client objectives and plan sponsor criteria.

Robert Nimocks Jr. is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He has been with First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services since 2016. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of strategic and tactical asset-allocation approaches across various portfolio management options and serves clients on both discretionary and non-discretionary terms.

Ryan Ruff is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and totaling two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First Citizens Bank and a year at Poplar Pointe Marine. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. offers investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation and provides portfolio management through various programs and an automated Guided Investing platform.

Jannah Keyes is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Truist Investment Services, Bb&T Securities, LLC, and BB&T Investment Services, Inc. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and utilizes AI-enabled tools alongside traditional research to support investment decisions.

Thi Le Tram Hoang is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having four years of industry experience. She has worked at Eagle Strategies LLC and Sen Vang Wealth Strategies LLC, and previously operated a nail spa. Hoang is also engaged as an insurance broker for non-registered products. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of advisors. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs with a focus on tailored recommendations, managing a majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.