Dakota Murray is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has four years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services since 2019, preceded by studies at Western Carolina University. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a client process led by investment advisor representatives that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios across various asset classes.

Thomas Hicks II is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Janney in 2021, he worked for Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a director of sponsorship for the Catawba Ridge High School Athletic Booster Club and is a personnel committee member at Sharon Baptist Church. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a 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 plans, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and multiple advisory programs.

Andrea Hargette is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with seven years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2018 and has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2008. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs combining third-party portfolio managers, strategist portfolios, and advisor-managed sleeves, with features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service.

Joel Glasco is a financial advisor at &Partners with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has held positions at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Prudential Equity Group. He also serves as an arbitrator in a non-investment-related capacity. &Partners serves a diverse client base that includes high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of investment management and financial planning services, employing various analytical approaches and both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Hanna Yesuf is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Kingfisher Capital and Bank of America Private Bank. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm uses a globally diversified investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, employing low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds, while also offering specialized services and client education programs.

Robin Griffin is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) based in Charlotte, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. He has 40 years of industry experience, having worked at Equity Services since 1985 and previously at National Life of Vermont since 1982. In addition to his advisory work, Griffin operates Robin M. Griffin and Associates LLC, an insurance business, and owns a farm in Marshville, NC. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers various advisory platforms that combine long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and utilizes multiple third-party asset managers and model portfolios.

Craig Saurer is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and 23 years of industry experience. He has worked with PNC Investments since 2016 and joined First Citizens Investor Services in 2024. First Citizens Investor Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and financial planning. The firm’s investment process involves IAR-led assessments and uses fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate among various asset classes.

Kenneth Calhoun is a financial advisor at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC with 36 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Outside of advising, he owns and operates Basswood Creek Farms, an agricultural business in Gastonia, NC. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on customized, primarily long-term portfolios utilizing a range of investment vehicles and offers wealth management, financial planning, and retirement advisory services through a network of approximately 286 advisors.

Michael Frendak is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses with 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at PNC Investments, The Vanguard Group, SCOTTRADE, and AXA Advisors. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a digital discretionary model account available in an invitation-only pilot for employees. The firm’s approach integrates algorithmic risk assessment and invests via approved model strategies using mutual funds and ETFs, with annual rebalancing and limited direct client trading.

Jeffrey Collins is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 15 years of industry experience, including roles at Park Avenue Securities, Independent Advisor Alliance, LPL Financial, and Edward Jones. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue Securities LLC, provides brokerage and advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of financial planning, consulting, and investment management solutions, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and digital advisory platforms.

Dennis Myers III is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at both firms since 2004. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in insurance activities beyond those offered by Guardian Life. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers tailored client relationships through advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, integrating proprietary programs, third-party platforms, and a digital advisory solution.

Justin Popham is a CFP® credentialed advisor with 12 years of industry experience, currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Fisher Investments, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and E*TRADE. First Citizens Investor Services serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Jason Mertz is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill, BB&T Securities, and Banc of America Investment Services. He has worked with Truist-affiliated firms since 2017. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of traditional research and AI tools to support client portfolios and provides ongoing monitoring, reporting, and consultations.

James Ferguson is a CFP® with 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently an advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory, where he has worked since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at Roan Capital Partners, Cetera Advisor Networks, and various other firms dating back to 2006. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients, providing non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations. The firm’s approach is based on Schwab’s asset-allocation models and internal research tools, with advice tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Chad Kupreanik is a CFP® and Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2003. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for Javesca Feeds, a nonprofit focused on addressing hunger. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large enterprise firm 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 charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs.

Haley Brehm is a financial advisor with Rockefeller Financial LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Ayco. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, as well as institutional clients and corporations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform.

Joseph Norton is a CFP® with 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Creative Planning since 2021 and previously held roles at Alaris Acquisitions and The Vanguard Group. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term goals, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting and selective private market exposure.

Clay Thompson is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 30 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation as well as Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His previous roles include positions at GWFS Equities, Inc. and Prudential Insurance Company of America. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering services integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its planning approach and serves a large participant base relative to its advisor headcount.

Robert Russo is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has been associated with LPL Financial since 2007. Outside of financial advising, he owns a restaurant called Philly's Phinest (Lee's Hoagie House) and operates a technology business, We Handle Tech, LLC. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a range of services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, implementing portfolio strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by various analytical techniques and technology platforms.

Thomas Owens III is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services since 2011. Owens serves as an officer and director and is a member of the Finance Committee at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, a nonprofit organization. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios including equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs, offering a range of solutions such as model portfolios, wrap programs, and tax-aware services.