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.

Aimee Blinder is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 25 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Charles Schwab in various roles from 2019 to 2024 and at National Planning Corporation/Holdings for 20 years. She has also contributed freelance writing to industry publications and personal essays without compensation. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager arrangements supported by AI-enabled research tools and integrated inter-affiliate operating structures.

Madeline Huffman is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, FinTrust Capital Advisors, and Wells Fargo Bank. She provides administrative support to Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services in addition to her advisory duties. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services offers 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 across a large advisor network, employing diversified, risk-class based investment strategies that combine passive and active management with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

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 with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. He has operated his own tax and retirement planning business since 2021 and has managed Heslep Wealth Advisors, an insurance and investment advisory firm, since 2014. His background includes roles at several advisory and investment firms dating back to 1997. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies, including strategic asset allocation models and options-enhanced strategies, and offers portfolio management through a turnkey platform and wrap-fee programs.

Jacob Hedrick is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens since 2013 and is also involved with Nellie T Properties, a business focused on purchasing, holding, and flipping rental properties. First Citizens Investor Services offers investment advisory, brokerage, and insurance services to individual and institutional clients, employing a mix of strategic and tactical asset-allocation approaches through portfolio management, automated investing, and financial planning.

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.

Brett Oconnor is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2025, with prior roles at Fifth Third Bank, Woodforest National Bank, and Banfield Animal Hospital. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and business entities. The firm offers investment advisory and brokerage services through various program types on the Passageway Managed Account platform, combining multiple portfolio management strategies and third-party offerings.

Karl Mount III is a Series 66-credentialed advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., bringing four years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Bankers Life Securities and BankersLife and Casualty Company, where he also serves as a unit field trainer recruiting and training insurance agents. Prior to his financial services career, he was involved with Backstreets Bar & Grill and held positions at Lenoir Rhyne University. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm’s investment approach focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to guide portfolio decisions.

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 at Primerica Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Guardian Life Insurance Company, Park Avenue Securities, and other firms throughout his career. Outside of his advisory role, Armstrong serves as president of a local BNI chapter and participates in peer-to-peer car rental through Turo. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a diverse retail client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporations, offering brokerage and advisory services alongside financial planning and retirement consulting. The firm utilizes a range of proprietary and third-party investment strategies delivered through various platforms and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Tonya McMahon is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 24 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and Wachovia Bank, N.A. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC 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, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering a range of brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs.

Eugene Musselwhite III is a financial advisor at Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation since 2017, as well as Transamerica Retirement Solutions since 2016. Prior to that, he was with Lincoln Financial Advisors and has operated a self-employed advisory practice since 2009. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs that include implemented portfolios and non-discretionary recommendations. The firm leverages Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary software and model portfolios to guide asset allocation, contribution rates, and retirement age decisions for a large client base.

Benjamin Russo is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Arizona State University, Lehigh Valley Health Network, and the University of South Carolina. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, participant advice, and a manager‑selection program delivered through a combination of discretionary and non‑discretionary strategies 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.

Joshua Bartholomew is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory in Matthews, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fortune Financial Services, Quasar Distributors, LLC, and two decades with Horizon Investments. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual investors. The firm offers a range of services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education, and supports complex investment solutions while managing approximately $79.8 billion in assets.

Jazmin Williams is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 10 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Equitable Advisors and Axa Advisors, LLC. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders through an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.