Michael Trotter is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 10 years of industry experience. His prior work includes five years at TIAA-CREF before joining PNC Investments in 2019. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only, algorithm-driven digital offering for employees that uses approved model strategies executed via mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Kristy Meeler is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She is currently with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has also worked at LPL Financial since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she offers insurance to small groups and individuals through multiple carriers as needed. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of independent advisory representatives and combines discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party managers and technology platforms for comprehensive client service.

Michael Dautel is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021, including prior roles at Truist Investment Services and BB&T Investment Services dating back to 2005. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting with oversight from its Equity Research team and Investment Advisory Group.

Brian Guild is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Bankers Life entities since 2008 and serves as president of BGUILD Financial, an LLC he oversees. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to create tailored asset allocations and manages portfolios across a broad range of securities aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Terry Estes is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional affiliated with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, with 26 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones for over two decades and has held roles at Freedom Street Partners and Raymond James Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member for the Union County Community Shelter, where he organizes fundraising events. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is a large SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering diverse investment advisory and financial planning services with both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management options.

John Czura is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and four years of industry experience. Before joining Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services in 2025, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC from 2021 to 2025. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches with oversight from an Equity Research team and Investment Advisory Group.

Michael Willard is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 license and 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Foundations Investment Advisors LLC, Alloy Wealth Holdings, Alloy Wealth Management, and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory work, he is listed as owner and president of Forged Financial LLC. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms that combine long-term investment strategies with options for shorter-term trading and specialized instruments, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

William Semans is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked with Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, following six years at BB&T Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration across its services.

Charles Dixon is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for seven years. Dixon is also involved with KDX Partners LLC, an investment company structured for tax and investment purposes. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm combines a network model of advisory representatives with access to brokerage services through LPL Financial and technology-driven estate planning platforms.

Cathie Clontz is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has worked at Truist Advisory Services and affiliated firms since 2018, including BB&T Securities and PNC Investments. 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 AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration with Truist Investment Services and Truist Bank.

Samantha Allen is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in the financial services industry. She currently works at VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., having joined in 2025. Her previous experience includes six years at The Vanguard Group, Inc. and roles at The Reddoor and Wingate University. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. offers investment advisory, brokerage, financial planning, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm utilizes a combination of model portfolios and manager-driven sleeves, delivering mostly non-discretionary investment guidance alongside discretionary offerings.

Mickey Howell is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC. Prior to joining Rockefeller Financial, Howell worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm combines portfolio management, financial planning, brokerage services, and investment banking within a Private Advisor model supported by its Rockefeller Global Investment Management platform.

Jamie Smothers is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. since 2006. Based in Charlotte, NC, Jamie holds a Series 66 license and is involved as a member and manager of Peak Property Management LLC, which focuses on purchasing, repairing, and managing rental properties. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation through fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management solutions.

Harold Lockwood Jr. is a CFP® and ChFC® with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. and has previously worked at BB&T and Truist Advisory Services. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio management through wrap programs, an automated Guided Investing platform, tax-aware services, and financial planning, leveraging its affiliation with a bank holding company to integrate banking resources with investment solutions.

Kimberly Chessler is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 17 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2006. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across private banking, workplace wealth management, and high-net-worth segments. The firm implements multi-asset, multi-manager investment strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, offering a broad range of advisory services supported by extensive in-house research and execution capabilities.

Noel Simons is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a broad client base including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering a variety of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services.

Dylan Power is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC, and The Ayco Company, L.P./Mercer Allied. Cerity Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporations, charitable institutions, and other institutional investors. The firm offers a range of services such as investment management, financial planning, tax and insurance support, retirement plan services, and access to alternative and private-market investments, with a focus on diversified asset allocation and customized portfolios.

Colton Mendenhall is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Consolidated Planning, and Wells Fargo. He is also engaged in independent insurance sales outside of Guardian Life. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base with both brokerage and advisory services, offering proprietary advisory programs and access to third-party investment platforms. The firm supports a range of investment strategies and account-level services for individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients.

Philip Jupp is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having four years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies, Main View Wealth, LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC, and New York Life Insurance Company. Prior to his financial services career, he was involved with Brio Energy and operated Onno's Zona Colonial for ten years. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base that includes individual investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm offers multiple program types and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

George Lin is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2022, he worked at The Vanguard Group from 2005 to 2022. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets.