Cole Batchelor is a financial advisor with Foundations Investment Advisors LLC in Huntersville, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill Lynch, Voya Financial Advisors, and Bank of America. Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC provides financial planning and portfolio management services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth clients, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and registered investment companies. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and uses model portfolios with an asymmetric rebalancing approach, delivering services through a broad network of affiliated offices and investment adviser representatives.

Penny Paugh is a ChFC® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Inspire Advisors, LLC. Her prior roles include positions at Carson Wealth, Cetera Advisor Networks, IFG Advisory, and LPL Financial. She is also a board member of the Statesville Chamber of Commerce. Inspire Advisors, LLC manages approximately $1.33 billion in discretionary client assets and serves individual clients—including high-net-worth individuals—as well as institutions and charitable organizations. The firm integrates Biblically Responsible Investing into its portfolios using proprietary tools and combines multiple analytical methods to construct investment models, often delegating management to sub-advisors and affiliated managers.

David Spencer is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Huntersville, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 20 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at SECU Life Insurance Company, State Employees' Credit Union, Fidelity Investments, and Truliant Federal Credit Union. Outside his advisory work, he is a partner in D & A Investment Group, LLC, where he manages personal investments and business operations. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning with a focus on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates as a subsidiary of State Employees’ Credit Union and emphasizes client decision-making without exercising trading discretion.

Sean Bandazian is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth Group with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at The Leaders Group, Alphastar Capital Management, and LPL Financial. Cornerstone Wealth Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting with an investment approach centered on model portfolios using ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Edward Wood is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Cornerstone Wealth. He has previously worked at Mutual Securities, Cornerstone Financial Partners, Cornerstone Financial Advisors, and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Cornerstone Risk Management Advisors, LLC, an insurance-related business. Cornerstone Wealth Group is a multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services primarily through model portfolios with discretionary management.

Isaiah Smith II is a financial advisor with Integrity Advisory Solutions and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 11 years of industry experience, including roles at AlphaStar Capital Management and Regal Investment Advisors. In addition to his advisory work, he serves as Senior Vice President of Annuity Sales at The Assurance Group, where he trains and mentors agents. Integrity Advisory Solutions serves individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and other business clients through a network of approximately 100 independent advisors, managing around $1.1 billion in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and sub-advisory services, utilizing a range of asset-allocation frameworks and third-party platforms to create tailored client portfolios.

Michael Ames is a Financial Advisor with StoneX Advisors Inc. in Cornelius, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. Prior to joining StoneX in 2020, he worked at Fifth Third Securities for five years. Outside of his advisory role, Ames is involved in insurance sales as an agent with Synergy Insurance Group and partners with Buckhead Brokerage Group for access to index annuities. StoneX Advisors Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations by providing portfolio management, financial planning, ERISA plan consulting, and annuity allocation services. The firm utilizes advisor-managed portfolios, proprietary models, and third-party money managers, supported by platforms such as Envestnet and Advyzon, to deliver customized investment solutions.

Andrea Pine is a financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mutual Securities, Inc. since 2017 and at Cornerstone Financial Partners since 2014, with prior experience at LPL Financial from 2013 to 2017. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts and estates, employer retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, primarily implementing investment advice through model portfolios that include ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and alternative investments, with oversight by an investment committee.

Matthew Sandberg is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cornerstone Wealth Group, LLC and Mutual Securities, Inc. since 2017 and previously held roles at Cornerstone Financial Partners and LPL Financial, LLC. Sandberg operates out of Huntersville, NC. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts and estates, employer retirement plans, advisers, and corporate entities. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, implementing investment advice primarily through model portfolios composed of ETFs, mutual funds, stocks, and bonds.

Orlando Ricci is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing five years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Principal Life Insurance Company and NYLIFE Securities LLC. Outside of financial advising, he officiates high school wrestling in North Carolina and South Carolina and is a published author working on multiple novels. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, combining third-party tools and proprietary models. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, offering access to affiliated products and combining non-discretionary recommendations with a discretionary investment management program.

Arron Price is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and serves as the COO of Financial Independence Group, where he oversees the strategic direction of operations and technology. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, and institutions. The firm offers both predefined model portfolios and customized strategies, employing a quantitative and tactical investment approach that incorporates third-party research and momentum evaluation.

Jeremy Grant is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Cornerstone Wealth. He has worked at multiple financial firms, including Mutual Securities, Cornerstone Financial Partners, Cornerstone Financial Advisors, and LPL Financial. Grant is also involved with an insurance agency as part of his other business activities. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to affiliate-managed private investment vehicles.

Donabel Triplett is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services in Troutman, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. She has worked with Principal Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Financial Services, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Outside of her advisory role, she manages a real estate rental property. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, using a combination of third-party tools and proprietary models. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family, offering integrated access to affiliated products and discretionary investment management through its SimpleInvest program.

Matthew Conrad is a financial advisor with Inspire Advisors, LLC in Troutman, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Inspire Advisors, he worked at CWM, LLC dba Carson Wealth and served ten years with the Social Security Administration. He also has a background working with Calvary Chapel Lake Norman. Inspire Advisors, LLC manages approximately $1.33 billion in discretionary client assets, primarily serving individual and high-net-worth clients along with institutions and charitable organizations. The firm incorporates Biblically Responsible Investing through proprietary tools and employs a range of investment methodologies, including fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, while providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services.

Deborah Stamets is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Davidson, NC. She has seven years of industry experience and has been with Merit Financial Group since 2015. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with 264 advisors serving approximately 20,040 clients across 66 offices and managing about $23.9 billion in client assets. The firm provides coordinated wealth-management services and uses a long-term, diversified investment approach supported by an internal Investment Management team and Investment Committee.

Kara Kunz is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with two years of industry experience, currently with Cornerstone Wealth Group. She previously worked at Bragg Financial and spent sixteen years at the Community School of Davidson. Cornerstone Wealth Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in assets, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients. The firm utilizes model portfolios emphasizing ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income, with discretionary management and periodic rebalancing.

Jeffrey Thompson is a financial advisor with Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. in Davidson, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 32 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Geneos Wealth Management since 2005 and leads Thompson Wealth Advisors, an investment services business. Geneos Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other institutions. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management, and access to third-party money managers through various traditional and wrap-fee programs.

Jason Rindskopf is a financial advisor with Signal Advisors Wealth, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and six years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including AE Wealth Management, Advisory Alpha, and Financial Independence Group. Rindskopf is also the author of the book *Survive the Crash*. Signal Advisors Wealth provides investment management and financial planning services to retail clients and independent registered investment advisers through its Signal Platform TAMP. The firm employs a top-down, macro-environmental investment approach with tactical asset allocation and sector rotation, serving individual, high-net-worth, family, and business clients.

Andrew Ball is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at AlphaStar since 2021. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as Vice President of Sales for the Annuity Division at Financial Independence Group. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, small businesses, and other advisers. The firm employs both model and custom strategies, utilizing strategic asset allocation combined with quantitative and momentum analysis, and provides a range of portfolio management and consulting services.

Rachel Posner is a financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 20 years of industry experience. She has worked at several firms, including Mutual Securities, Inc., Signature Intelligent Portfolios, and Signator Investors Inc. Outside of her advisory role, she also engages in food delivery services on a part-time basis. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $2.1 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, other advisers, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through model portfolios with discretionary management and options for alternative investments for qualified clients.