Travis Bell is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Totem Wealth Management LLC. He previously worked at Vanguard Advisers, Inc for 12 years. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and manages short-term rental properties. Totem Wealth Management LLC is a fee-based registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on customized, primarily long-term portfolios using ETFs, mutual funds, and selected individual securities, combining fundamental and technical analysis.

Isaac Neidbalson is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Jarrod Adams Investing, LLC with one year of industry experience. He previously worked at Northwestern Mutual and has held various roles including positions at country clubs and a school district. Jarrod Adams Investing, LLC provides discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporations. The firm manages approximately $85 million across 129 client relationships, focusing on long-term portfolio construction using fundamental and technical analysis with mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, bonds, and occasional options.

Steven Hoeft is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Buie Investment Advisors, LLC since 2013 and also manages investment accounts through his own firm, Steven J. Hoeft Consulting, LLC, which he founded in 2010. Buie Investment Advisors serves individual investors, trusts, and estates with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, emphasizing long-term investment strategies across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs. The firm also provides project-based consulting and develops tailored Financial Profiles and Investment Plans for its clients.

Kara Elbert is a CFP® with 24 years of experience in financial advising, operating Elbert Financial Consulting, Inc. in Charlotte, NC since 2000. She also serves as secretary of Paragon Supply Company, a steel drill pipe distributor owned by her husband, where she consults on business strategy. Elbert Financial Consulting provides fee-based comprehensive financial planning for individuals, trusts, and closely held businesses, focusing on detailed written plans and ongoing support. The firm uses financial modeling and research tools to develop risk-aligned strategies but generally does not manage client portfolios or accept discretionary authority.

Scott O'Connell is a financial advisor at Tactical Investment Advisors, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Tactical Investment Advisors since 2017, following prior roles at MML Investors Services, LLC and MetLife Securities Inc. Tactical Investment Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management and advisory services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm manages approximately $32.1 million across 151 accounts with a three-advisor team and offers both standard AUM fees and performance-based fee arrangements, a relatively uncommon practice among supported firms.

Christopher Mullis is a financial advisor at Northstar Capital Advisors LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Northstar Capital Advisors since 2013 and was involved with Mullis Oil Company from 2013 to 2019. Northstar Capital Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth households, trusts, and charitable organizations, focusing on comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management. The firm emphasizes a planning-first approach, combining quantitative models, fundamental and technical analysis, behavioral counseling, and tax-aware strategies, while maintaining a boutique scale with a two-advisor team.

David McMahan is a financial advisor with AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Prospera Financial Services since 2016 and at Bfm Capital since 2004. McMahan serves as a board member for the HV3 Foundation, a nonprofit organization. AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $217 million in assets and employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to create tailored investment strategies.

Robert Shaw is a financial advisor at 7PW Wealth, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC and Carolinas Investment Consulting LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Robert is an officer and director of Halberd Limited, a technology solutions and consulting firm, and serves on the boards of several community organizations, including Duke Charlotte, the Mecklenburg County Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Rotary Club of Charlotte. 7PW Wealth provides discretionary portfolio management and integrated financial planning to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, and other institutions. The firm employs a blend of fundamental and technical analysis across multiple asset classes, implementing model strategies tailored to client objectives, and includes financial planning services at no additional charge.

Kristopher Barney is the principal advisor at 30-40 Wealth Partners with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the CFA® designation and Series 63 license. Before founding his firm in 2020, he worked at Opendoor Labs and Funding Circle USA. He also provides consulting services to real estate and financial technology companies and his household receives royalties from an internationally published book, "When Life Hands You Cactuses; Make Margaritas." 30-40 Wealth Partners offers investment management and financial planning primarily to individual clients, including high-net-worth households, as well as select charitable and business clients. The firm’s approach includes discretionary portfolio management, equity-compensation analysis, and specialized diversification strategies, with portfolios tailored to individual goals and implemented using a combination of passive and active investment exposures.

Carl Ballard is a financial advisor with C2 Investment Group in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 20 years of industry experience. He has worked with C2 Investment Group since 2001 and serves as a consultant for C2, LLC dba Tracker, which offers a portfolio accounting and reporting application. C2 Investment Group provides non-discretionary investment consultation to institutional clients such as municipalities, universities, and school districts, focusing on Government Bond Index Tracking services. The firm offers an index-tracking optimization application and advises on portfolio rebalancing while clients maintain execution authority and custody.

Alex Mathews is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Financial Planning, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. He previously served seven years in the United States Navy and currently serves as an O-3 Lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve. Sanctuary Financial Planning advises individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering comprehensive wealth management and financial planning. The firm uses an evidence-based, long-term investment approach focused on diversified mutual funds and ETFs, provides discretionary portfolio management, and emphasizes educational, planning-centered client relationships.

Daren Bitter is a financial advisor at Arimathea with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Inspired Talent Solutions since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Director of Advisor Relations for The Walters Institute, where he supports tax planning education services for financial advisors. Arimathea serves individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients by providing asset management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm integrates investment screening based on Catholic social teaching and offers both digital and advisor-accessible platforms with tailored portfolio options.

David Powell is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving at Powell Wealth in Cornelius, NC. He previously worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments for 13 years and has managed Powell Financial, Inc. since 2007. Powell serves on the Finance Committee of the Grandfather Golf and Country Club. Powell Wealth provides investment supervisory services, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm typically manages accounts on a discretionary basis using fundamental and cyclical analysis and features a small advisory team with specific operational practices including mandatory custodian use and a range of investment strategies.

Jason List is a CFP® professional at Aventus Investment Advisors, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Truist Advisory Services, TRUIST Investment Services, BB&T, and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Aventus Investment Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm combines global macroeconomic trend analysis with fundamental research, offering both long-term and short-term investment strategies, along with additional services such as tax preparation assistance and coordinated estate planning.

Jim Charles, CFP®, CFA is the co-founder of Sanctuary Financial Planning, a flat-fee, fee-only firm specializing in retirement and major life transitions. He brings more than three decades experience in comprehensive financial planning, tax-efficient retirement income design, and evidence-based investment management. Jim is also the co-author of the best-selling book From Work to What’s Next – Designing a Life You Don’t Want to Retire From, a project rooted in his own “failed retirement.” After stepping away from work, Jim discovered firsthand that financial readiness and life readiness are two very different things. That experience inspired him to re-emerge with purpose and ultimately create Sanctuary — a firm dedicated to helping others design transitions that feel meaningful, not disorienting. At Sanctuary, clients receive ongoing financial planning, proactive tax strategy, and integrated wealth management — all for a single, transparent, flat fee. Our work focuses on: • Retirement income planning using dynamic, research-based withdrawal strategies • Tax-efficient portfolio management and multi-year tax planning • Social Security, Medicare, and transition decision support • Coordinated, ongoing financial planning across all areas of life and money Sanctuary’s model eliminates AUM fees, product sales, and asset minimums. Clients receive objective advice, continuous planning, and disciplined investment management designed to support a confident, purpose-filled transition into and through retirement — not just a financial plan, but a roadmap for what comes next.

Nicholas Lavella is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience. He currently works at Integrative Planning, Inc. and has prior experience with Beacon Wealth Advisors, Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, and The Vanguard Group, Inc. Integrative Planning, Inc. is an SEC-registered advisory firm providing discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, pooled investment vehicles, and charities. The firm uses a combination of strategic and tactical model portfolios, custom portfolios, and sub-advisors, managing approximately $101.4 million in discretionary assets.

Thomas Bengtson is a CFP® professional at Lakeshore Advisors with one year of industry experience. Before joining Lakeshore Advisors in 2026, he held various roles at PNC Bank, Nike, Northwestern Mutual, and the Georgia Tech Innovation Enterprise Institute. Lakeshore Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and integrated financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, using a buy-and-hold investment approach grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm also incorporates third-party asset managers and alternative investments and manages approximately $80.8 million across about 101 clients.

Stephen Van Der Meid is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Rhino Wealth Management since 2014 and previously spent 12 years with LPL Financial. He is also an independent insurance agent selling non-variable insurance products. Rhino Wealth Management serves individual clients, small businesses, and charitable organizations, providing discretionary portfolio management and personal financial planning. The firm uses a systematic multi-factor quantitative framework focused on ETFs and mutual funds, combining quantitative and fundamental analysis to guide portfolio allocations.

Maggie Smith is a financial advisor with IA Network, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. She previously worked at FIRST Allied Securities, Inc. and Stockham Financial Services for 11 years. Outside of advisory duties, she serves as a Notary Public for Moore County. IA Network provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, using tailored portfolio construction and a variety of analytical approaches. The firm operates as a collective of smaller advisory practices to share resources and infrastructure.

Patrick Wells is a CFA® charterholder based in Charlotte, NC, with one year of industry experience. He has worked at Broyhill Asset Management, LLC since 2024 and previously spent eight years at Pinnacle Associates Ltd. Broyhill Asset Management provides discretionary investment management to private funds, individuals, trusts, foundations, and other institutions, overseeing approximately $225 million in assets. The firm employs a value-oriented, long-term investment approach focused on fundamental analysis and concentrated equity portfolios, supplemented by external managers and diversified strategies.