Zachary Kelly is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. He has worked with First Citizens Investor Services since 2019 and was previously employed at First Citizens Bank from 2012 to 2026. Kelly serves on the advisory board of the Kraft Family YMCA, contributing to program oversight and fundraising efforts. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, model portfolios, a Guided Investing platform, and financial planning, utilizing a client-centered process that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

Thomas Harless is a CFP® professional with 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with PNC Wealth Management and has previously worked at Fisher Investments, PNC Investments, and E*Trade Securities. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital account offering that uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and third-party managed strategies primarily implemented with mutual funds and ETFs.

James Kirby is a ChFC® credentialed advisor with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving at Equity Services, Inc. since 1998. He has prior experience with National Life of Vermont dating back to 1994. Outside of his advisory work, Kirby is a high-performance driving instructor and serves as a board member for a homeowners association. Equity Services, Inc., doing business as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and utilizes third-party asset managers and model portfolios.

Barry Teague is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and bringing 55 years of industry experience. He has been with Equity Services and National Life since 1977. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of a nonprofit that provides counseling and emotional support for people with terminal cancer and is president of a local social club. Equity Services, Inc. (EFA) offers financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm operates as both a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser, utilizing multiple advisory platforms and third-party managers to provide a combination of long-term strategies and specialized investment options.

David Landrum is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Charles Schwab Bank SSB, and several other firms across different industries. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s advice is based on standard asset-allocation models and internal research tools, with investment selections executed only upon client authorization.

Christopher Mahoney is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 48 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2010. 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 wide range of clients, including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs.

Christopher Graper is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2020. His prior experience includes roles at Stifel Nicolaus, Wells Fargo Clearing, Morgan Stanley, and Morgan Keegan. 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 and offers comprehensive financial planning, brokerage services, and advisory programs supported by in-house portfolio management and third-party managers.

John Rickelton is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Equity Services, Inc. and National Life of Vermont since 1985. Outside of his primary advisory work, he consults with business owners on buy/sell agreements through his sole proprietorship, Rickelton & Associates. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms utilizing third-party asset managers and model portfolios, combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading.

Ashley Schuster is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 16 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, LLC, and BB&T Investment Services, Inc. since 2016. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supplemented by AI-enabled equity research and integrated inter-affiliate support to deliver its investment solutions.

David Nantau is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, E*Trade Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and Regions Bank. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its planning process and serves a large participant base relative to its advisor headcount.

Gerald Smith is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at FSC Securities for 12 years and has held roles at OSAIC, Kelly Ryan Financial, and Commonwealth since 2023. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and services, including discretionary model portfolios and customized investment solutions, supported by operations, technology, and compliance resources.

Robert Maloney is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Howard Hanna Mortgage Services and Allen Tate Mortgage. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes IAR-led financial assessments and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios across various asset classes.

Thomas Roediger is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at BB&T Securities, BB&T Investments, and PNC Investments. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled equity research and an integrated inter-affiliate operating model.

Thomas Farmer is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 19 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has worked at Corient and its affiliated entities since 2016, including roles at Ci Brightworth and CIPW Service Company, LLC. Farmer is based in Charlotte, NC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates proprietary strategies with third-party managers and employs risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

Gerard Nieters is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at Sage Financial Partners since 2006 and has been affiliated with Principal Life Insurance Co. and Principal Securities Inc. since 2003. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in selling group and individual health insurance as well as other insurance products. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse clientele, including individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel abroad. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Kevin Renz is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at First Citizens since 2018 and previously held positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank NA, and Credit Union Investment Services. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities with a range of advisory and brokerage services, including portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and financial planning. The firm emphasizes advisor-led client assessments and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage investments across various asset classes.

Jackey Webb is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 15 years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens Investor Services in 2015, Webb worked at Wells Fargo Clearing from 2011 to 2015. Outside of advisory work, Webb serves as Vice President of the Pisgah High School Athletic Booster Club and is a volunteer PA announcer for Pisgah High School sports. Webb also holds a leadership position as 3rd Vice-President of the Canton Lions Club. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients by providing advisory and brokerage services through a range of portfolio management solutions, including UMA and SMA programs, model portfolios, and automated investing platforms. The firm focuses on tailored client assessments and applies various investment analyses to construct diversified portfolios across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Joseph Vaughn is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Guardian Life in 2026, Vaughn worked at LPL Financial from 2023 to 2026. Guardian Life operates through Park Avenue® Wealth Management, serving individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a mix of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, incorporating proprietary programs and third-party platforms, with tailored client relationships and access to insurance products and alternative investments.

Nicholas Todd is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Park Avenue Securities and has a background that includes roles at Clemson University and involvement in marketing. Outside of his advisory work, he provides basketball lessons and serves on the board of the Charlotte Clemson Club Alumni Association and the Lake Norman Young Professionals networking group. Park Avenue Securities LLC, part of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies while providing access to proprietary programs, third-party advisory solutions, and integrated lending options.

Amanda West is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Janney Montgomery Scott. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for six years before joining Janney Montgomery Scott, where she has been since 2022. 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 diverse clientele, including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and municipal clients, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs supported by in-house and third-party portfolio management.