Michael Mann is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with six years of industry experience. He is currently with Equity Services, Inc. and has prior experience at Bankers Life Securities and Summit Advisory Group. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent with Stone Press Financial Group. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations, utilizing multiple advisory platforms and third-party asset managers.

Cindy Ghattas is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the CFP® and Series 66 designations and has been with Creative Planning since 2016. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term objectives while incorporating private market investments and other tailored solutions.

Jennifer Beaulieu is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 24 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Scott & Stringfellow, Raymond James & Associates, BB&T Investment Services, and Truist Investment Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation and manager selection, offering ongoing client monitoring and consultative services.

Rocco Testa Basi is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with less than one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at General Dynamics Electric Boat, Soundwater Properties, and Connecticut College. Wells Fargo Investment Institute specializes in manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, and model-portfolio services for Wells Fargo affiliates and other financial institutions. The firm provides non-discretionary, non-customized investment models developed by specialist divisions, rather than individualized portfolio management or financial planning.

Laura Brown is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. Her career includes tenures at LPL Financial, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and Centaurus Financial. Brown also manages an investment-related business within LPL Financial, dedicating significant time to it. 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. The firm utilizes a network model combining discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with technology platforms and access to third-party managers and estate-planning resources.

Jenny Fernandez is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley, First Republic Securities Company LLC, and PNC Bank. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services and operates as a registered broker-dealer with capabilities in securities transactions, variable insurance products, placement, and investment banking.

Michael Proud is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC. He has prior experience with Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing, and is also a co-owner of Nine Bridge Financial Partners LLC, an investment-related business. Concurrent Investment Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes customized, primarily long-term portfolios using ETFs, mutual funds, and other securities, supported by affiliated sub-advisory arrangements and integrated platform solutions.

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 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Truist Advisory Services since 2021, as well as previous positions at Bb&T Securities and BB&T Investment Services. 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 with AI-enabled tools and provides ongoing client reviews, leveraging its broad financial and operational affiliations.

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.

Robert Maloney is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 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 plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes IAR-led financial assessments and utilizes fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis for portfolio allocation across various investment vehicles.

Thomas Roediger is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at multiple firms including BB&T Securities, PNC Wealth Management, and National Planning Corporation. Truist Advisory Services provides 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-enabled tools to support its advisory process and offers services through multiple affiliated financial entities.

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.