John Bly is a financial advisor with Aprio Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at Aprio Advisory Group and related Aprio entities since 2019 and previously held roles at HK Financial Services, Proequities Inc, and L B & A, CPA, PLLC. Bly is also a partner at a CPA firm where he engages in speaking activities. Aprio Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs asset allocation, technical analysis, and a range of trading strategies, and is known for its affiliation with a third-party administrator and pension consulting business, advising approximately $1.57 billion in assets under advisement.

Katrina Hayes is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. since 2013. She holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Matthews, NC. Outside of her advisory role, she is a member of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Republican Women's Club, chair of the Charlotte chapter of Ellevate, a global professional networking association, and president and treasurer of Cru Inc., a nonprofit wine tasting social club. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is an enterprise-scale firm with approximately 207 advisors managing about $12.4 billion. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, charitable entities, and retirement plans, offering investment advisory and financial planning services across multiple platforms and delivery vehicles.

Phillipe Toupin is a CFP® accredited financial advisor with seven years of experience, currently with Aprio Wealth Management, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Jones Gregg Financial, LLC, and Business Acquisition & Merger Associates. He also serves as an insurance agent at Aprio Risk Management, LLC on a part-time basis. Aprio Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm employs asset allocation combined with various investment techniques and maintains continuous monitoring of client portfolios, supporting its advisory services with affiliated tax and pension consulting resources.

Jacob Chandler is a financial advisor with Inspire Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Inspire Advisors since 2019, previously working at Ameriprise Financial Services from 2007 to 2019. Chandler is also the owner and director of JKC Consulting Inc. and serves as a fund manager for the Inspire Tactical Balanced ESG ETF. Inspire Advisors, LLC is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser managing over $1 billion for approximately 3,800 clients, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates Biblically Responsible Investing in its strategies and employs a combination of quantitative, fundamental, and technical analyses, often implementing portfolios through model allocations and proprietary ETFs.

David Stiff is a financial advisor at Credit Union Investment Services with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Credit Union Investment Services, he worked at Equitable Distributors, LLC and PJ Robb Variable Corp. He also serves as a Financial Advisory Services Specialist at State Employees' Credit Union and as an agent for SECU Life Insurance Company. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves North Carolina residents, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and financial planning with a focus on long-term, goals-based investing using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates within a credit union ecosystem and emphasizes salaried advisors who do not receive commissions on recommended products.

Mariana Vega Ortega is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Arete, she worked at H & Co LLP for four years. Outside of her advisory role, she is the owner of Blackbull Holding Group LLC, a business involved in the import and export of classic cars. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations, third-party sub-advisers, and acts as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

Jordan Nichols is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Members Trust Company since 2015, SECU Life Insurance Company since 2014, and State Employees’ Credit Union since 2011. Outside of his advisory roles, Nichols owns The Wooden Nickel Woodworking LLC, a business focused on woodworking projects and children's furniture. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves individual investors residing in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and retirement and financial planning. The firm emphasizes a long-term, goals-based approach using low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs, operating within a credit union ecosystem as a wholly owned subsidiary of State Employees’ Credit Union.

William Newton Jr. is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Archer Investment Corporation since 2011. He also operates Newton Wealth Management and has been a CPA since 1976. His additional business activities include involvement in fixed insurance, life, and annuities. Archer Investment Corporation provides investment management primarily to individual clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth investors, offering services through separately managed accounts and proprietary mutual funds. The firm employs a multi-branch, independent-contractor model and manages approximately $1.01 billion in discretionary assets.

Roy Mattox is a financial advisor with Exodus Wealth, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Integrated Financial Strategies, LLC, Uwharrie Investment Advisors, and Darvas Investment Management LLC, as well as experience as a self-employed trader. Exodus Wealth serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and pension/profit-sharing plans by providing asset management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm manages several hundred million dollars in discretionary assets with a tailored investment approach that combines fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across various securities and strategies.

Michael Reilly is a financial advisor at MissionSquare Retirement with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and previously worked at GWFS Equities, Inc., MML Distributors, LLC, and MassMutual Financial Group. He is also engaged as MVP, Field Sales with MissionSquare Retirement. MissionSquare Retirement serves state and local government employers, their employees, and certain nonprofits by administering deferred compensation and qualified retirement plans. The firm offers plan administration, recordkeeping, education, and Guided Pathways Advisory Services, with investment advice developed by Morningstar Investment Management and a multi-team advisory structure supporting over 40,000 participants.

Amy Parker is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Monroe, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. She has worked with multiple related firms, including State Employees' Credit Union since 2006, SECU Life Insurance Company since 2014, and Members Trust Company since 2009. Outside her advisory roles, she is involved with Parker Construction of Union, LLC, a construction-related business in Monroe, NC. Credit Union Investment Services serves North Carolina residents, focusing on individual investors and a smaller number of trust clients. The firm offers non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and emphasizes low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs within a goals-based, long-term planning framework.

Brooke Humphrey is a financial advisor at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC with 21 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Her prior work includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and positions outside finance such as at Doordash and Pure Haven Essentials. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered firm providing wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a primarily long-term, portfolio-driven investment approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and selected individual securities, serving over 13,000 clients across multiple offices.

Judy Poole is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing eight years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Lincoln Investment and Robinson & Associates. She is also a 50% owner and officer of Poole Financial Services Inc., involved in life insurance and annuities, and serves as CFO of Medlin Ventures LLC, overseeing financial management for family real estate. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team, utilizing proprietary screening processes and a range of portfolio options.

Mandisa Landry is a financial advisor with Belpointe Asset Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Purpose Comprehensive Wealth Management and Wells Fargo entities. She is also licensed as an insurance agent involved in the sale of various insurance products. Belpointe Asset Management is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 160 advisors managing more than $7.5 billion for individuals, corporations, trusts, and other advisers. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, utilizing customized portfolios and a range of affiliated products and services.

Derek Herzer is a financial advisor at Kingswood Wealth Advisors, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked for Medigap Life for ten years. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in consulting for an investment-related business and provides training and support for a national Medicare health insurance brokerage during the annual enrollment period. Kingswood Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutions, offering portfolio management, financial planning, ERISA plan advisory, and consulting services. The firm uses an open-architecture platform with both discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies and integrates insurance-related accounts through affiliated entities.

Michael Cox is a financial advisor with Lombard Advisers Incorporated in Matthews, NC, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Lombard Securities Incorporated since 2007. In addition to his advisory role, he has started insurance sales for life and health in North Carolina. Lombard Advisers provides personalized investment management services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary programs, employing various analytical approaches to portfolio construction and management, with a significant portion of assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Richard Yercheck is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Capital Investment Advisory Services and Capital Investment Group Inc since 2019 and previously at Prospera Financial Services from 2013 to 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the City of Monroe Planning Board and the Union Symphony Orchestra board, and he is a CPR instructor. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, utilizing a mix of analytical methods and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Matthew Baldini is a financial advisor with Inspire Advisors, LLC in Waxhaw, NC, holding a Series 65 license and six years of industry experience. Prior to joining Inspire Advisors in 2019, he worked for the County of Los Angeles Probation Department for eleven years. Baldini also serves as president of FHG Advisors Inc., a non-investment related S Corporation based in Waxhaw. Inspire Advisors, LLC is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.03 billion for around 3,800 clients, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm incorporates Biblically Responsible Investing through proprietary tools and employs a mix of quantitative, fundamental, and modern portfolio theory analyses in its portfolio management strategies.

Thomas Colombo is a financial advisor with NorthCoast Asset Management LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 10 years of industry experience, including roles at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, Connectus Wealth, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of finance, he is co-owner of QB Focus LLC, an athletic training business. NorthCoast Asset Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional and intermediary clients. The firm employs a quantitatively based, systematic investment process and offers a diverse range of strategies including strategic asset allocation, tactical equity, and alternative interval funds.

Ethan Scharf is a financial advisor with Exodus Wealth, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and beginning his industry career in 2026. Prior to joining Exodus Wealth, he has experience at Fortune Financial Services, as well as diverse roles including videography and education at South Piedmont Community College. Exodus Wealth serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and pension/profit-sharing plans with asset management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a blend of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across various investment vehicles and strategies, maintaining discretionary portfolio management with regular reviews and rebalancing.