Thomas Stewart is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory. His prior experience includes roles at The Vanguard Group, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America. Outside of his advisory work, he and his wife occasionally rent out a residential condominium to vacationers. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice within the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, utilizing Schwab’s asset allocation models and research tools to offer annual financial reviews, retirement planning, and investment recommendations. The firm operates as an internal advisory unit within the Schwab ecosystem, focusing on client-directed investment decisions without exercising discretionary trading authority.

Bradley Kearns is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc., holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and eight years of industry experience. His work history includes multiple roles within Wells Fargo entities as well as positions at Millennium Advisors, LLC and Fxcm. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is a bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, and asset-allocation guidance primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. The firm delivers model portfolios and allocation advice for affiliates to implement, using a team-based research approach that incorporates qualitative and quantitative analysis, proprietary forecasting tools, and formal integration with banking fiduciary services.

Brandie Fintchre is a CFP® with 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. and First Citizens Bank, having previously worked at PNC Investments. She serves as a Finance Committee Advisor for the Emily Krzyzewski Center, a nonprofit focused on educational and career programs for underrepresented students, and holds a board position with the East Carolina University Foundation. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes advisor-led financial assessments and employs a range of portfolio management strategies including UMA and SMA accounts, model portfolios, and automated Guided Investing platforms.

Alice Jenkins is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has eight years of industry experience. Her career includes long-term employment at First Citizens Bank since 2012 and continuous service with First Citizens Investor Services since 2018. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client process led by investment advisor representatives that involves assessing financial needs and risk tolerance and uses fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate investments across various asset classes.

Terrence Colen is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been associated with both Independent Advisor Alliance and LPL Financial since 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with a separate business entity, T Colen BB LLC, which is not investment related. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of advisory representatives supported by LPL Financial ownership and leverages multiple portfolio management strategies and technology platforms to deliver client services.

Daniel Henao Ararat is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at The Vanguard Group and City of Mauldin. Outside of financial services, he has worked part-time in valet and parking services for special events. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary manager arrangements supported by AI-enabled equity research and integrated inter-affiliate platforms.

Howell Hallett II is a financial advisor with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 43 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Kingfisher Capital, LLC and Stonecrest Capital Markets Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he holds a North Carolina Life Insurance License through Simplicity AFG and manages billing dues for The Bull Investment Club. Mercer Global Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost index vehicles, with additional services such as financial planning, retirement consulting, and estate-planning coordination.

Dakota Murray is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and having four years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens Investor Services, he worked at First Citizens Bank and attended Western Carolina University. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and tax-aware financial planning, focusing on client assessments led by Investment Advisor Representatives to inform asset allocation across various investment types.

Joel Glasco is a financial advisor with &Partners, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 42 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Glasco serves as a FINRA arbitrator, a role he has held since 2004. &Partners serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutions, and private businesses, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary management using multiple analytical strategies and third-party managers, supported by a dual registration as a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer.

Hanna Yesuf is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Kingfisher Capital and Bank of America Private Bank. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm uses a globally diversified investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, employing low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds, while also offering specialized services and client education programs.

Kimberly Myers Turner is a financial advisor at TD Private Client Wealth LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 17 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Dimensional Fund Advisors and Equitable Advisors. TD Private Client Wealth LLC provides discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional, high-net-worth, and retail clients, combining strategic and tactical asset allocation with investments from affiliated and third-party sub-managers.

Craig Saurer is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and 23 years of industry experience. He has worked with PNC Investments since 2016 and joined First Citizens Investor Services in 2024. First Citizens Investor Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and financial planning. The firm’s investment process involves IAR-led assessments and uses fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate among various asset classes.

Edwin Crisp Jr. is a CFP® professional with 24 years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC since 2019 and previously spent nine years at Clearbrook Advisory Services, LLC. Crisp serves as an elected executive board member of the Montcross Chamber Board of Directors and is a board member of the Investment Committee of the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church. He also prepares tax returns for clients and family on a limited basis. Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC provides asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base that includes individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm uses a network model of advisory representatives and integrates technology platforms alongside traditional planning to deliver investment and estate-planning services.

Michael Frendak is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses with nine years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at The Vanguard Group, SCOTTRADE, and AXA Advisors. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio solution that uses algorithm-driven risk assessments and implements investments via mutual funds and ETFs managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Justin Popham is a Certified Financial Planner® at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with 12 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Fisher Investments, Fidelity Brokerage Services, Charles Schwab, and E*TRADE. He is based in Charlotte, NC. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client-centered process incorporating fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Alexander Cohen is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining &PARTNERS in 2024, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for three years and held roles at Amazon Fulfillment Services and The UPS Store. He also has a background in education, having worked at Clemson University and Pine Lake Preparatory. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services using a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, with portfolios managed directly by advisors or through third-party managers.

Jason Mertz is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021, following prior roles at Bb&T Securities and Merrill. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation advice, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Mary Davis is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles outside finance, such as at Tony Silvagni Surf School and Mecklenburg Park & Rec. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration that includes affiliated broker-dealer and bank sweep features.

Sarah Rhodes is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank NA, and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, foundations, universities, trusts, private businesses, and corporations. The firm offers investment management and consulting services using a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, with both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Joseph Norton is a CFP® with 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Creative Planning since 2021 and previously held roles at Alaris Acquisitions and The Vanguard Group. He is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 for long-term goals, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting and selective private market exposure.