James Waters is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with Rockefeller Financial LLC and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, and several other financial firms. Waters is the sole proprietor of HighStreet Partners, an investment-related business based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves ultra-high and high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, charities, corporations, and retirement plans, offering wealth management, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm provides clients with designated Private Advisors who implement strategies using a range of investment options, including alternative and private investments, supported by integrated wealth, trust, and insurance services under the Rockefeller Global Family Office platform.

Alexander Miles is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Kingfisher Capital, LLC and Stonecrest Capital Markets Inc. Miles serves as a member of the Board of Visitors at Queens University of Charlotte, contributing to the academic and cultural life of the institution. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and strategic use of low-cost index vehicles.

Corey Mcfadden is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Raymond James, Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., Merrill, and LPL Financial. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only, employee pilot digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and third-party portfolio implementation.

Hayden Askea is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, based in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services since 2026 and has prior experience at The Home Depot and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and utilizes a diversified investment approach combining passive and active managers with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Austin Nelms is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He currently works at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, where he has been employed since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Bankers Life and Merrill. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and insurance services to a range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charities. The firm utilizes a blend of strategic and tactical asset-allocation approaches and offers portfolio management through various platforms and third-party managers.

Rolando Fernandez is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing, RBC Capital Markets, and PNC Investments. Outside of finance, he is the managing member of Florence Mercantile LLC, an online and pop-up women's clothing business. Fifth Third Securities serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services, offering multiple programs and third-party portfolio managers on the Passageway platform. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and manages a broad range of account types, utilizing strategies such as tax-loss harvesting and direct indexing.

Rebecca Kishbaugh is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Merrill and BB&T Securities. Outside of her advisory role, she manages a vacation rental property in Boone, North Carolina. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering asset allocation, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program implemented through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Harper Hicks is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC since 2024. Prior to this, Harper worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., and Morgan Stanley from 2018 to 2024. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting, and also operates as a registered broker-dealer offering securities transactions, variable insurance products, placement, and investment banking services.

Joshua Lindsteadt is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. since 2021 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Private Bank from 2015 to 2021. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides institutional research, manager due diligence, model portfolio construction, and asset-allocation guidance to Wells Fargo’s wealth and fiduciary businesses as well as select external clients. The firm’s work spans specialized research divisions and focuses on delivering impersonal research and model guidance rather than exercising investment discretion or holding custody of client assets.

Kelli Little is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC. She holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license, and has 14 years of industry experience. She has been with Eagle Strategies since 2018 and also has affiliations with Nylife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Co dating back to 2015. Eagle Strategies serves a broad range of individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm provides multiple program options and emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives, with a significant portion of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Kellie Carroll is a CFP® professional with 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with Truist Advisory Services and has previously worked at BB&T Securities and Wells Fargo Advisors. Carroll holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, utilizing third-party platforms and manager relationships to support its clients.

Alvin Riley II is a CFP® with 13 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has spent the past decade working at LPL Financial. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse range of clients, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting, leveraging model portfolios, sub-advisors, and advanced technology platforms to deliver its services.

Denise Johnson is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 21 years of industry experience. She has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2011 and maintains long-standing roles with Nylife Securities Inc and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of advisory work, she serves as a Notary Public. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, defined contribution and benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients, with a focus on tailored solutions and non-discretionary asset management.

Aaron Bouronich is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65, Series 66, and Series 63 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Nuveen Asset Management and Nuveen Securities, Global Alternative Investment Services, and Wells Fargo. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach incorporating low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in assets.

Derrick Dawkins is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His background includes multiple roles within Truist affiliates since 2023 and prior employment at Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille and DoorDash. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, using a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Michael Arner is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 17 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Securities America Advisors, Investacorp, and Highland Brokerage Capital. Additionally, he is involved with Modern Life as a brokerage manager and wholesaler of insurance products. TLG Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering services through independent advisors and a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

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 at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing and First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a broad client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and business entities. The firm uses a combination of risk- and outcomes-based asset allocation, discretionary and non-discretionary management, and third-party managers, supported by technology including a Guided Investing platform and tax-aware services.