Derek Motto is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Equitable Advisors. Motto provides investment advisory services through Independent Advisor Alliance, an independent firm distinct from LPL Financial. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies and leverages technology platforms to enhance client service.

Luke Piccione is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Bankers Life, he worked in various roles including as a driver for a ride-sharing service and in educational and fitness organizations. He is also appointed as an insurance agent with Bankers Life and Casualty Company, focusing on retirement services such as Medicare, life insurance, and long-term care insurance. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management according to clients’ goals, risk tolerances, and time horizons.

Stuart Singer is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 47 years of industry experience. He has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2003. Singer serves as a board member of Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte, a social work and counseling agency. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs.

James Matthews is a CFP® professional with 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Primerica Advisors and has previously worked at Aon Hewitt Financial Advisors LLC and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Matthews is involved in writing for his firm and serves on the Peer Review Board for the Journal of Financial Planning. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering brokerage and advisory services along with financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and business consulting. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party models and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Taylor Bryant is a Series 66-licensed advisor with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and also provides administrative support to Charlotte Wealth Management, LLC, an independent investment advisor firm separate from LPL Financial. Prior to his current roles, he worked at LPL Financial for 10 years. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a network model with a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, utilizing various analytical techniques and technology platforms to support client needs.

Kelly Ryan is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 30 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Commonwealth in 2024, Ryan worked at FSC Securities Corporation for 22 years and at OSAIC for one year. Outside of advisory work, Ryan is involved in fixed insurance sales. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients. The firm provides a broad range of advisory programs and operational support, allowing affiliated advisors discretion to construct client portfolios from various securities and insurance products while offering model portfolios managed by its Investment Management and Research team.

Thomas Cline is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors from 2009 to 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for the United Way of Roanoke Valley. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm’s client process involves IAR-led assessments to tailor investment allocations using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various asset classes.

Tiffany Ku is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc., holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at The Leaders Group Inc, IPGH Private Client Insurance Services, CTBC Bank USA, and JP Morgan. Outside of advisory work, she is involved in life insurance brokerage and client services management through IPGH Private Client Insurance Services. TLG Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, pension and retirement plans, and other institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and ongoing monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering both traditional portfolio management and digital investment programs.

Michael Porter is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. since 2017. He has a long-standing career with Bankers Life and its affiliates dating back to 2004, where he also supervises a team of insurance agents. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser that primarily serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

John Hall is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, and Carroll Financial Associates Inc. He operates out of Charlotte, NC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and multiple program offerings.

Michael Bellavia is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Truist Advisory Services, Bb&T Securities, and Bb&T Investment Services. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through multiple program types and third-party portfolio managers on the Passageway Managed Account platform.

Hannah Smith is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with five years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Beneficial Investments and Robinson & Stith Insurance. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Michael Thompson is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at Park Avenue Securities since 2012 and has been affiliated with Guardian Life Insurance Co. since 2001. Outside of his work with Guardian, he operates Thompson Planning Group Insurance, focusing on the sale of traditional insurance products. Park Avenue Securities serves a diverse retail client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers both brokerage and advisory services, employing a range of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and supporting various account-level features such as lending solutions and tax-harvesting.

Joshua Griffin is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services who holds a Series 66 designation and has 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services and its affiliated entities since 2016. 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, participant advice, and a manager-selection program implemented through a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.

Emanuel Thomason is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at National Life Group, Edward Jones, Thrivent Financial, and LPL Financial. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms and combines long-term investment strategies with options for shorter-term trading, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary assets through a network of investment adviser representatives.

Shawn Thompson is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Alight, and Retirement Clearinghouse. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, using an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm’s approach emphasizes long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and savings rates through point-in-time financial plans and optional managed accounts.

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 five years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, having previously worked at Principal Financial Group and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of the Charlotte Carolinas Rugby Club, a nonprofit focused on youth and community outreach, where he holds the position of treasurer. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm combines a network model of independent advisory representatives with access to brokerage services and third-party platforms for estate planning and portfolio management.

Thomas Pfaff is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bb&T Securities, LLC and BB&T Investments. He has been with Truist Advisory Services since 2021. 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 uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools, to deliver and oversee its investment strategies.

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.