Tanner Smith is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services and holds a Series 66 designation. He has been with Principal Advised Services, Principal Securities, Inc., and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2026 and has eight years of prior self-employed experience. He is based in Huntersville, North Carolina. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering a combination of non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm is part of the Principal Financial Group family and integrates proprietary models and third-party methodologies with governance oversight to serve its clients.

Dee Buckminster is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving at Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC. Prior to joining Kestra in 2023, she held roles at Bank of America and Merrill from 2006 to 2023. She is a partner in Destination Wealth Advisors and the sole owner of Nichols-Coe LLC. Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC provides investment advisory services through a network of independent advisors and multi-advisor teams, serving individuals and institutional clients with a diverse range of investment products and specialized offerings.

Rob Bacharach is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with IHT Wealth Management LLC and LPL Financial, having previously worked at Prudential Insurance Company of America and Hendrick Mercedes Benz Northlake. He operates RB Wealth, LLC, a business entity for tax and investment purposes. IHT Wealth Management serves individuals, corporate and institutional clients, and retirement plan sponsors by providing discretionary asset management, financial planning, ERISA plan consulting, outsourced CIO arrangements, and access to third-party managers. The firm uses a combination of fundamental value screening, quantitative optimization, and periodic rebalancing tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances.

Prasad Oak is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Procyon. His prior roles include positions at Wooster Corthell Wealth Management, Ameriprise, Allstate Financial Services, Equitable Insurance Company, and AXA Advisors. Procyon serves a broad client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, businesses, institutional investors, retirement plans, and registered investment advisors. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, consulting, and retirement plan advisory services, using a fundamentally driven, customized investment approach with a primarily long-term orientation.

Ryan Dantinne is a financial advisor with StoneX Advisors Inc. in Cornelius, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and possessing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with StoneX Advisors since 2016 and StoneX Securities since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in selling insurance products through Synergy Insurance Group and manages a handyman services business. StoneX Advisors Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a variety of portfolio implementation strategies, including advisor-managed portfolios, proprietary models, and third-party money managers, supported by platforms such as Envestnet and Advyzon.

Katherine Kerns is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has eight years of industry experience and has worked with Members Trust Company, SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union. In addition to her advisory roles, she serves as a Financial Advisory Services District Manager at State Employees' Credit Union. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management and retirement 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 manages over $3.0 billion in non-discretionary advisory assets.

Jeremy Crawley is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked with multiple related entities including State Employees’ Credit Union, Secu Life Insurance Company, and Members Trust Company. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors who reside in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and asset allocation advice focused on long-term, goals-based strategies using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates within a credit union ecosystem and maintains a predominance of non-discretionary assets under management.

Jorden Masson is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Concord, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and with three years of industry experience. He has worked with SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union, where he provides financial advisory services to eligible members. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual investors residing in North Carolina, offering goals-based, non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning with a focus on long-term investment horizons primarily using mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed income products. The firm operates within a credit union ecosystem and emphasizes the use of low-cost index funds and salaried investment representatives.

John Potter is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Integrity Advisory Solutions, bringing 10 years of industry experience. Before joining Integrity Advisory Solutions in 2024, he worked at Strategic Planning Corporation for eight years and has been involved with The Potter Law Firm since 2012. He serves as treasurer for the North Carolina chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and provides estate planning and elder law services through his legal practice. Integrity Advisory Solutions is a multi-team firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and business clients through about 100 independent advisors, managing approximately $1.1 billion in client assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and sub-advisory services, utilizing a range of asset-allocation strategies and third-party platforms to support tailored client portfolios.

Zachary Popovec is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at LPL Financial, Churchill Finance LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, and Man Global Private Markets. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and pension plans. The firm employs both predefined Model Portfolios and custom strategies that combine strategic asset allocation with quantitative and momentum-based analysis, and it provides a range of portfolio management and consulting services.

Tyler Storment is a financial advisor with Accurate Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Accurate Wealth Management, he worked at Everstar Asset Management, LLC. Outside of finance, he is a co-founder of Superb Spirit, an apparel and merchandise business, and is also a professional football player in the NFL, XFL, and CFL. Accurate Wealth Management serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charities, and corporations. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, emphasizing value, safety, quality, and risk control in its investment approach.

Scott Cislo is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Mariner Independent with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC and TIAA, with a career break between 2020 and 2024. Mariner Independent provides investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm’s platform offers portfolio management, model portfolios, and third-party manager access, with notable integration of institutional and retirement plan resources through affiliated entities.

Benjamin Mc Donald is a financial advisor at Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Edward Jones for six years and BGW Wealth Advisors, LLC for two years before joining Kestra in 2023. Outside of advisory work, he is the owner of a coffee shop business, Daily Ritual Coffee LLC. Kestra Private Wealth Services provides investment advisory services through a network of independent advisors and multi-advisor teams, managing approximately $13.45 billion in client assets. The firm serves individual and institutional clients with access to a broad range of investment products and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory arrangements.

Austin Lytle is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at IFG Advisory, LLC. His background includes roles at BluHawk Wealth Management and LPL Financial LLC. He provides administrative support to IFG Advisory, an independent investment advisor firm. IFG Advisory offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies and third-party managers to tailor portfolios to client objectives, including management of held-away assets like 401(k)s and HSAs.

Christopher Wingler is a financial advisor with Gradient Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and two years of industry experience. He has been involved with Bostian Retirement Planning since 2008, where he also acts as an insurance sales agent. Gradient Advisors, LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm operates primarily through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives and third-party money managers, using a largely non-discretionary model that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Cody Lewallen is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently affiliated with IFG Advisory, LLC in Mooresville, NC. His prior roles include positions at Marsh McLennan Agency, LPL Financial, and Old North State Trust. Lewallen also conducts non-investment related activities for Marsh McLennan Agency, supporting its insurance services. IFG Advisory, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies using sub-advisors and third-party models, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios across a broad range of asset types.

Gregory Bennett is a financial advisor with IFG Advisory, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has 29 years of industry experience, including roles at Merit Financial Group, LPL Financial, and Private Portfolio Partners. Bennett serves as a trustee for his deceased father’s trust, managing assets for family beneficiaries. IFG Advisory, LLC provides advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a comprehensive investment approach that integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, utilizing in-house management, sub-advisors, and third-party managers to tailor solutions aligned with client objectives.

Charles Sowers is a financial advisor at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at firms including Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. and Capital Investment Group, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he owns CL&EKS, Inc., a support company handling accounting services. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, utilizing a range of analytical methods and conducting regular portfolio reviews.

John Matthews is a financial advisor with Brookwood Investment Group, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 11 years of industry experience. He has held roles at several firms including Redwood Private Wealth LLC and Matthews & Co Private Wealth Advisors, where he serves as Managing Member and CEO. Outside of finance, Matthews owns The Cut Barbershop in Charlotte, NC. Brookwood Investment Group is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.06 billion for over 3,100 clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services, utilizing a range of investment strategies and supporting tailored portfolios with negotiated fee arrangements.

Kevin Burton is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 65, 66, and 63 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Foreside Financial Services, Primark Capital, and AlphaStar Capital Management. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an assistant high school football coach at the Community School of Davidson. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, employing model portfolios or customized solutions under fiduciary standards.