Woneita Burdno is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Principal Life Insurance and Principal Securities, among other positions outside the financial sector. She has also worked as a contractor for Instacart, providing grocery shopping and delivery services. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, guided investing platforms, and financial planning, focusing on advisor-led assessments and employing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis in its investment approach.

Robert Miles is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Truist in 2022, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services from 2007 to 2022. Outside of advising, he provides individual coaching focused on communication and behavioral skills and serves as a faculty member for the American Bankers Association. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation and manager selection through the Envestnet platform, providing ongoing reviews and client consultations.

Emma Brandt is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Guardian Life since 2024, including a prior role at Equitable Advisors. Outside of finance, she has experience working in academic and event settings, including roles at Furman University and The Rutherford Event Venue. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Wealth Management, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charities, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and offers a range of financial planning, consulting, and investment solutions tailored to client needs.

Richard Fallin is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Advisor Alliance since 2016. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies supported by various analytical techniques and technology platforms.

John Tierney is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and The Vanguard Group, Inc., as well as non-financial experience in the catering and hospitality sectors. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a client-centered process that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across a range of asset classes.

Autumn Williams is a Series 65-registered advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, bringing four years of industry experience. She has been associated with Wells Fargo Investment Institute since 2000. Wells Fargo Investment Institute delivers manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and unaffiliated financial institutions. The firm provides non-discretionary, impersonal model portfolios developed through specialized divisions focusing on research and portfolio management.

Melville Waithe is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 20 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Truist Investment Services, Vanguard, and TIAA. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and businesses. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under various adviser and promoter arrangements.

Jason Sykes is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving with Truist Advisory Services. He has worked in various roles at Suntrust Advisory Services, Suntrust Bank, and Suntrust Investment Services since 2011, and briefly with BB&T Investment Services in 2004. Outside of his advisory work, he manages AG Unlimited LLC, an investment vehicle focused on international agricultural projects, and serves on the boards of multiple nonprofit organizations including the Campbell University Trust Education Foundation and the Temassee Foundation. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse clientele including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of advisory and fiduciary services, leveraging its affiliation with Truist Financial and related entities.

David Degroot is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations with 31 years of industry experience. He has worked with PNC Investments since 2014 and briefly with PNC Bank. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an employee-only digital portfolio solution that uses algorithmic risk assessments and implements investments via approved model strategies managed by PNC or third parties.

Diane Brown is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, based in Fort Mill, SC. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, she worked at firms including Triad Advisors and Advocacy Wealth. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as president of the Tealbriar Homeowners Association in Charlotte, NC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, retirement-plan consulting, and access to managed account investment managers for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets using a diversified, risk-class based investment process that blends passive and active strategies, supported by an internal Investment Committee.

Breanna Lawson is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and having one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Lane Bryant and The Children's Place, with additional experience at Fifth Third Bank, N.A. since 2021. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types on its Passageway Managed Account Platform, using third-party portfolio managers and providing options such as SMA strategies, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

Paige Weddle is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc., bringing four years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, Wag, Kohl's Department Stores, Inc., and The World Egg Bank. She is based in Charlotte, NC. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations primarily for clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and select Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s guidance focuses on asset allocation and investment selection using Schwab’s internal research tools, with trades executed only upon client authorization.

Michael Smith is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience currently advising at Janney Montgomery Scott. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for nine years before joining Janney. Janney Montgomery Scott 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, and municipal clients, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs with a centralized approach to professional asset management.

Marianne Gebhardt is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Cetera Advisor Networks. Outside of her advisory role, she manages marketing and operations for Gebhardt Farms LLC, a maple syrup retail and wholesale business. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement consulting using a combination of passive and active investment strategies guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Scott Salisbury is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Mint Hill, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 35 years of industry experience. Since 2016, he has operated under the DBA SWS Financial Group, Inc., focusing on selling New York Life products and brokering non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individual investors and institutional sponsors, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

James Waters is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Questar Capital Corporation, Wells Fargo Investment Institute Inc., Global Alternative Investment Services Inc., and Nyes Ledge Capital Management LLC. Waters is also the sole proprietor of HighStreet Partners and a partner in two entities based in North Carolina. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices, as well as institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, and operates as a registered broker-dealer offering securities transactions, variable insurance products, and investment banking services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform.

Alexander Miles is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Kingfisher Capital, LLC and Stonecrest Capital Markets Inc. Miles serves as a member of the Board of Visitors at Queens University of Charlotte, contributing to the academic and cultural life of the institution. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and strategic use of low-cost index vehicles.

Corey Mcfadden is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Raymond James, Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., Merrill, and LPL Financial. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only, employee pilot digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and third-party portfolio implementation.

Janet Dukes is a CFP® professional affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors with 13 years of industry experience. She has worked at Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2022 and previously spent five years at Avantax Advisory Services. She is also the owner of Herdman Dukes LLC, an investment-related business. Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a model portfolio approach with third-party managers and offers multiple program platforms, including Transamerica ONE and the TFA365 Advisory Program.

Hayden Askea is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, based in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services since 2026 and has prior experience at The Home Depot and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides 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 and utilizes a diversified investment approach combining passive and active managers with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.