Aaron Bouronich is a financial advisor with Creative Planning in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66, Series 65, and Series 63 designations and 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Nuveen Asset Management, Nuveen Securities, Global Alternative Investment Services, Wells Fargo, and Equitable Advisors. 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, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure.

Derrick Dawkins is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services and holds a Series 66 designation. He has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at Truist Investment Services and Truist Advisory Services. His background also includes work in various service and recreational roles prior to entering the financial industry. 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.

Leila Evans is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience. She has worked at MAI Capital Management since 2021 and previously spent 12 years with Solamere Advisors and Capital Guardian, LLC. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides investment management, wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutions. The firm offers customized portfolio management across multiple strategies and serves in both product-sponsor and advisory roles, managing significant assets and related private funds.

Benjamin White is a CFP® certificant with one year of experience as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services. He has worked within various divisions of Truist, including Truist Investment Service and Truist Bank, since 2013. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, 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 its investment solutions.

Richard Burke is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. since 2016. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is a bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, asset-allocation guidance, and model portfolios primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its research and strategy teams use both qualitative and quantitative analysis and proprietary forecasting tools to deliver impersonal, non-discretionary advice to affiliated entities.

Aaron Emory is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has five years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank, NA. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, providing advisory and brokerage services with a client process focused on needs assessment and diversified investment allocation across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Anthony Hui is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has experience in both academic and financial sectors, including roles at the Institute for Private Capital, the UNC Department of Economics, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is an SEC-registered, bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, asset-allocation guidance, and model portfolios primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its research and strategy development are team-based and use both qualitative and quantitative analysis to support bank fiduciary and trust divisions as well as other investment-adviser clients.

Madeline Huffman is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with three years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Financial LLC and FinTrust Capital Advisors, LLC. Her background also includes roles outside finance, such as employment at Wells Fargo Bank and Olympian Grill. 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 and employs a diversified investment process that blends passive and active strategies, supported by an internal Investment Committee.

Brenton Simonson is a Certified Financial Planner® with 17 years of industry experience. He currently works at Creative Planning and previously held roles at LPL Financial and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Willis Heslep is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has operated Heslep Tax & Retirement Planning since 2021, providing tax preparation and planning services alongside his advisory role. His career includes previous positions at several firms, including Retirement Wealth Advisors, Inc. and AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC. Brookstone Capital Management offers fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm utilizes a variety of strategic asset-allocation models and investment vehicles, including ETFs, mutual funds, and options-enhanced strategies, and provides services through both its own representatives and sub-advisory arrangements.

Jacob Hedrick is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations with 16 years of industry experience. Before joining First Citizens, he worked at Truist Investment Services for one year. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in Nellie T Properties LLC, where he is involved in managing rental properties and property flipping. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies including portfolio management and automated guided investing, with a client process that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

Chad Pannell is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with LPL Financial and Independent Advisor Alliance since 2016. 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 utilizes a network model of independent advisory representatives and combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with technology platforms for account aggregation and estate planning.

Hugh Renwick is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Truist and its predecessor firms since 1996. Renwick is based in Gastonia, NC. 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 third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools, to deliver customized investment solutions.

David Curry is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes six years at Second Half Strategies and three years at HoneyBaked Ham. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a network model with over 300 advisors and employs various portfolio management strategies supported by technology platforms and third-party managers.

Lauren Grames is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at LPL Financial, Mutual of Omaha, and National Life Group. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of advisory representatives and combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party platforms and services.

Robert Armstrong is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with Guardian Life and associated with Park Avenue Securities, where he has worked since 2021. Armstrong has held prior roles at Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC, Advisory Services Network, LLC, Regulus Advisors, LLC, Greater Media, and Avantax Advisory Services. Outside of advising, he serves as president of a local BNI chapter and participates in peer-to-peer car rental activities. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management, model-based strategies, and digital advisory solutions tailored to client needs, with access to insurance products, alternative investments, and integrated lending options.

Benjamin Russo is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. He has been with Truist since 2026. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Lisa Hensarling is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Cetera Advisor Networks and LPL Financial. In addition to her advisory role, she is a commissioned Notary Public in North Carolina. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement plan consulting, employing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Samantha Becker is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at BB&T in various roles from 2014 to 2021 before joining Truist in 2021. Becker serves as a board member of the Cultivating Success Fund at the Columbus Foundation, a donor-advised charitable fund. 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, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, implementing advice through a blend of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by integrated inter-affiliate resources.

William Thompson is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He has held roles at several firms including Merrill, E*Trade Securities, and Valor Wealth Partners. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to 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 and offers a range of implementation options along with financial planning, retirement consulting, tax support, and estate-planning coordination.