Benjamin White is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with one year of industry experience. He holds the CFP® certification and Series 63 license. Prior to joining Truist Advisory Services, he worked at Truist Bank from 2013 to 2025 in various roles. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes both traditional research and AI-enabled tools in its investment approach and offers a range of advisory services, including manager selection and ongoing portfolio monitoring through partnerships with Envestnet.

Richard Burke is a CFA® charterholder based in Charlotte, NC, with nine years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. since 2016. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and unaffiliated financial institutions. The firm operates as a research and model-provider, delivering non-customized solutions without exercising investment discretion over end accounts.

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. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been in the industry since 2023. His prior experience includes roles at the Institute for Private Capital, the UNC Department of Economics, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and external financial institutions. The firm delivers non-discretionary, non-customized model portfolios developed through specialist divisions focused on research and strategy.

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.

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 financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked in various roles within the Bankers Life organization since 2018 and previously operated a bar and grill. In addition to his advisory duties, he recruits and trains insurance agents as a unit field trainer for Bankers Life & Casualty. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and manages portfolios across multiple securities, with support from affiliated broker-dealer and insurance entities.

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.

Tonya McMahon is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has worked at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2025 and previously spent nine years with Wells Fargo Clearing. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large 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, corporate and retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering a range of brokerage, planning, and advisory services supported by both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

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 with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Truist, his background includes roles at Arizona State University and Lehigh Valley Health Network. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI tools and offers a range of fiduciary and advisory services through platforms like Envestnet.

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 seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with Truist Advisory Services and related entities since 2019, including BB&T prior to its merger. Becker serves as a board member for the Cultivating Success Fund at The Columbus Foundation, a donor-advised charitable giving vehicle. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI tools and provides ongoing reviews and client consultations through its affiliation with Truist Financial and its related entities.

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.