Michael Smith is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience currently advising at Janney Montgomery Scott. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for nine years before joining Janney. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large, dually registered 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, and municipal clients, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs with a centralized approach to professional asset management.

Marianne Gebhardt is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Cetera Advisor Networks. Outside of her advisory role, she manages marketing and operations for Gebhardt Farms LLC, a maple syrup retail and wholesale business. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement consulting using a combination of passive and active investment strategies guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Scott Salisbury is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Mint Hill, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 35 years of industry experience. Since 2016, he has operated under the DBA SWS Financial Group, Inc., focusing on selling New York Life products and brokering non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individual investors and institutional sponsors, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

James Waters is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Questar Capital Corporation, Wells Fargo Investment Institute Inc., Global Alternative Investment Services Inc., and Nyes Ledge Capital Management LLC. Waters is also the sole proprietor of HighStreet Partners and a partner in two entities based in North Carolina. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices, as well as institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, and operates as a registered broker-dealer offering securities transactions, variable insurance products, and investment banking services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment 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.

Janet Dukes is a CFP® professional affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors with 13 years of industry experience. She has worked at Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2022 and previously spent five years at Avantax Advisory Services. She is also the owner of Herdman Dukes LLC, an investment-related business. Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a model portfolio approach with third-party managers and offers multiple program platforms, including Transamerica ONE and the TFA365 Advisory Program.

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-credentialed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience, currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. His prior work includes positions at Bankers Life, Bank of America, Merrill, and First Citizens Bank. 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 fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to guide portfolio allocation across various asset classes and offers a range of investment programs and financial planning solutions.

Rebecca Kishbaugh is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Merrill, Ameriprise, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup Global Markets before joining Truist. Outside of advisory work, she is involved in managing a vacation rental property. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support investment decisions and offers services through platforms like Envestnet and Envestnet Retirement Solutions.

Harper Hicks is a CFP® professional with 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Rockefeller Financial LLC and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., among other firms. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations. The firm combines a Private Advisor model with a consolidated investment platform, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services.

Jeffrey Davis is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2020. Prior to this, he worked at TD Ameritrade, Inc. from 2014 to 2020. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines multiple managed-account options with features like direct indexing and tax-overlay services, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank.

Joshua Lindsteadt is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Wells Fargo Investment Institute since 2019 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Private Bank from 2015 to 2021. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and other financial institutions on a non-discretionary basis. The firm operates through specialist divisions that develop model portfolios focused on recommended investment products without offering individualized financial planning or managing client accounts.

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® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at Truist Advisory Services. Her career includes roles at BB&T Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and Wells Fargo Clearing. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Charlotte, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of advisory services through its affiliation with Truist Financial and partnerships with platforms like Envestnet.

Alvin Riley II is a CFP® certificant with 13 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He spent 10 years at LPL Financial prior to joining his current firm. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse clientele, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of independent advisory representatives and integrates technology platforms to support portfolio management and estate planning solutions.

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 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 at Truist Advisory Services with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at various Truist entities since 2023. Prior to his advisory role, he has had diverse work experience including roles at the University of Florida and in the hospitality and delivery industries. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of client information gathering, goal setting, asset allocation strategies, and manager recommendations via the Envestnet platform, supported by traditional research and AI-enabled tools, to deliver ongoing portfolio monitoring and client consultations.

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.