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 the Series 66, Series 65, and Series 63 designations. His prior experience includes roles 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, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by selective private market exposure and tax-efficient techniques.

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.

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.

Brian Robinson is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill from 2010 to 2021 before joining PNC in 2021. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithm-driven risk assessments to recommend portfolio strategies executed with mutual funds and ETFs.

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 with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens since 2013 and is also involved in real estate through Nellie T Properties, where he participates in investment and management activities. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities by providing advisory and brokerage services that include portfolio management, wrap programs, automated investing platforms, and financial planning, emphasizing a client process led by financial needs assessments and diversified investment strategies.

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 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.