James Baugh is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His career includes prior roles at Wells Fargo Bank, Wells Fargo Clearing, J.P. Morgan Securities, and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Baugh is currently based in Charlotte, NC. 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 that combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Thomas Owens III is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services since 2011. Owens serves as an officer and director and is a member of the Finance Committee at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, a nonprofit organization. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios including equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs, offering a range of solutions such as model portfolios, wrap programs, and tax-aware services.

Tonya Guffey is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with two years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2022, as well as at Fifth Third Bank since 2018. Prior to that, she was employed at PNC Bank from 2015 to 2018. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Michelle Kuzma Kempf is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Hightower Advisors and its affiliated broker-dealer since 2011. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering multi-manager solutions that include affiliated and third-party managers, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and access to pooled and private investment vehicles.

Matthew Johnson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at BB&T Securities, LLC since 2019 and has been with SunTrust Advisory Services, SunTrust Investment Services, and SunTrust Bank since 2014. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies. The firm integrates inter-affiliate resources and employs AI-enabled tools through its Equity Research team to support manager selection and investment oversight.

Greg Warren is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Alight Financial Solutions, Aon Hewitt Financial Advisors, and Hewitt Financial Services. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio solution for employees that uses algorithmic questionnaires to recommend risk levels and implements investments via approved strategies using mutual funds and ETFs.

Matthew Savloff is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan Chase, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is an SEC-registered, bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides investment research, manager due diligence, and model portfolios primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its advice is generally non-discretionary and focused on impersonal guidance delivered to affiliated entities for implementation.

Benjamin Laubach is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with a Series 65 designation and experience in both advisory and other business roles, including work with Tastful Occasions and Phantom Fireworks. He began his industry career in 2025 and is based in Charlotte, NC. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing investment advisory services along with financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm’s investment approach centers on Modern Portfolio Theory, using diversified portfolios and various investment vehicles supported by comprehensive client education and specialized service lines.

Austin Lewis is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC in Charlotte, NC. His prior roles include positions at AssetMark Brokerage, LLC and The Vanguard Group, Inc. Outside of advising, he is a managing partner and co-founder of SouthPark Family Tax, LLC, a seasonal income tax preparation firm. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets, employing a diversified investment process that blends passive and active strategies overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Jerry Carpenter Jr. is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameritas Advisory Services since 2021 and maintains roles with Ameritas Investment Corp and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp since 2013. Carpenter is also the owner and president of Carpenter Group Inc/DBA CGI Benefits, which provides group health and dental benefits, and operates a timber farm growing Loblolly Pine trees. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, charitable and corporate entities, and retirement plans. The firm provides fee-based asset management through various programs and emphasizes retirement plan advisory services with a range of fiduciary and consulting options.

Brent Hann is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. in Cornelius, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, &PARTNERS, and AXA Distributors, LLC. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, consulting, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments and lending solutions, operating a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer model with both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Benjamin Beeson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Principal Life Insurance Company, Wells Fargo Clearing, and New York Life Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by AI-enabled research tools and extensive inter-affiliate integration.

Jessica Beard is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network based in Lincolnton, NC. She holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Commonwealth, she worked at Sherrill, Blake & Harrison CPA PA and Abby H. Champion CPA PC, with a combined 13 years in the accounting field. 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 advisory programs, back-office support, investment management, and technology solutions, allowing affiliated advisors to offer customized portfolio management and a range of program structures under Commonwealth’s supervision.

Ernest Kiefer III is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2013. 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 offers portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and financial planning, utilizing IAR-led assessments and a mix of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate assets.

Patricia Godfrey is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and seven years of industry experience. She also serves as Senior Manager of Sales Operations at Veritas Technologies, LLC, a data information technology firm. Godfrey is a 50% owner of Blackbridge Financial, LLC, a DBA associated with her work at Independent Advisor Alliance. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing a network model of advisory representatives supported by sub-advisors and third-party platforms.

Harry Koutroumanis is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. His prior work includes roles at CMI Packaging and Ruffalo Noel Levitz. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a director for the Hellenic Performing Arts Foundation, which supports traditional Hellenic cultural arts. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager‑selection program through a combination of discretionary and non‑discretionary solutions.

Michael Conerly is a CFA® charterholder with five years of industry experience. He is currently with Savant Wealth Management and previously worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, Wells Fargo, and Columbia Threadneedle. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and family office services. The firm employs a combination of evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation and actively managed strategies across various asset classes, supported by in-house accounting, legal, and trust services.

Dean Diamond is a financial advisor at Equity Services, Inc. with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including National Life Group and Eagle Strategies (NY Life). Outside of his advisory role, he serves as chapter chair of the Wrestlers in Business Network in Charlotte, NC. Equity Services, Inc., doing business 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 utilizes third-party asset managers, combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and specialized instruments.

Jeanna Blair is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. Her career includes extensive tenure with Truist firms and their predecessors, spanning various roles in investment services and securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and employs AI-enabled research tools alongside traditional analysis to support its investment offerings.

Ramona Burris is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Truist Advisory Services and its affiliated firms since 2012, including roles at BB&T Investments and BB&T Securities. Outside of her advisory work, she is a homeowner who manages a rental property. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.