Carl Hedstrom is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 39 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Carroll Financial Associates. Hedstrom is based in Charlotte, NC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and quantitative and fundamental research.

John Osterberg is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and over 32 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial LLC and Independent Advisor Alliance since 2016. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, pooled vehicles, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes both discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies, employs a range of analytical techniques, and leverages technology platforms for comprehensive wealth and estate planning services.

Thomas Donahue is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Charlotte, NC, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth and The Pinnacle Financial Group since 2006. Donahue is also co-owner and president of PFGNC, Inc., and serves as treasurer and part-owner of Elite Benefits Group, Inc., both involved in insurance and securities-related activities. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors with advisory programs, wealth management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm provides operations, trading, technology, compliance, and practice-management support, while offering a range of investment solutions including discretionary model portfolios and personalized indexing options.

John Teeter Jr. is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones from 2018 to 2022. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and uses AI-enabled tools to support its equity research and manager selection processes.

William Brantley is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 30 years of industry experience, including over a decade with his current firms. 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 employs a network model with numerous advisory representatives and integrates technology-driven solutions alongside discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Timothy Hamilton is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth and The Pinnacle Financial Group since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in private business ventures including serving as Vice President and Co-Owner of The Pinnacle Financial Group and as President and Part-Owner of Elite Benefits Group, Inc., which conducts fixed insurance sales. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors by providing advisory programs, technology, compliance, and practice-management support. Advisors on the platform have discretion to construct client portfolios from a broad range of securities and insurance products, while Commonwealth’s Investment Management and Research team manages discretionary model portfolios.

Carol Mansour Ezzell is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and has 44 years of industry experience, including 22 years at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2004. 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 individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, providing brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and various advisory programs.

Kellen Taylor is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Carroll Financial Associates. Based in Charlotte, NC, he is also involved in fixed insurance advisory services. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and quantitative and fundamental research.

Brian Heath is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc., where he has worked since 2019. He has a total of three years of industry experience and was previously employed at Wells Fargo from 1999 to 2021. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides institutional research, manager due diligence, model portfolio construction, and asset-allocation guidance to Wells Fargo’s wealth and fiduciary businesses as well as select external clients. The firm’s research supports affiliated advisory and fiduciary divisions through specialized teams focused on manager research, securities analysis, asset allocation, and portfolio management.

Lawrence Schierl is a financial advisor at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at LPL Financial and SII Investments. Outside of financial services, Schierl is a partner at the Appleton Beer Factory. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans through advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary account options alongside brokerage services and manages over $8 billion in assets under management.

John Harrigan is a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and multiple advisory and wealth management firms. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors and retirement plans, offering investment advisory programs alongside brokerage and insurance services. The firm utilizes both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, including a proprietary digital advisory program and Managed Account program.

Bradley Hauser is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2014. He has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2013. 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 and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, operating as a broker-dealer, SEC-registered investment adviser, and municipal advisor affiliated with Fifth Third Bank.

Jeffrey Howard is a ChFC® with over 36 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Primerica Advisors since 1999 and is also affiliated with Guardian Life Insurance Co of America. Based in Charlotte, NC, he has a long-standing career that includes ownership and management of several real estate investment entities. Primerica Advisors operates as part of Park Avenue Securities LLC, serving a broad retail client base with both brokerage and advisory services. The firm offers a range of investment programs and financial planning solutions, utilizing proprietary and third-party strategies to manage approximately $15 billion in assets.

Brandyn Shetler is a Certified Financial Planner® with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Kestra Advisory Services and Kestra Investment Services, having previously worked at The Vanguard Group. Prior to his financial career, he was involved with Nomad Aquatics and Fitness Center and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving large institutional investors and pooled employer plan arrangements.

Matthew Vannelli is a CFA® charterholder and Series 63 licensee with experience at Citadel from 2012 to 2024 before joining Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in 2026. He is based in Charlotte, NC, and has been with Wells Fargo Investment Institute for one year. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is an SEC-registered, bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, and asset-allocation guidance primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. The firm’s model portfolios and research outputs support affiliated entities, leveraging quantitative and qualitative analysis alongside proprietary forecasting tools.

Nicole Brandon is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Kingfisher Capital, LLC for six years and was self-employed for two years prior to that. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, nonprofits, and endowments with investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other strategies, supported by various specialized service lines and client education initiatives.

Jennifer Daley is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. She serves on the board of directors for Screven Christian Academy and is president of a local Business Network International chapter. Park Avenue Wealth Management, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage services, financial planning, and investment advisory programs to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm provides both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory relationships and utilizes a mix of proprietary and third-party investment models.

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 with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. She has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021 and previously at BB&T Securities and BB&T Investments. Outside of her advisory role, she owns short-term rental properties in North Carolina and Florida. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering asset allocation, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.