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 Hendersonville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 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 on the Finance Committee of the Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, a nonprofit organization. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio management through various programs, an automated Guided Investing platform, tax-aware services, and financial planning, leveraging its affiliation with a bank holding company to provide integrated banking resources and operational advantages.

Jason Cross is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Corient. His prior work includes roles at Ci Brightworth and CIPW Service Company. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional entities. The firm utilizes a goals-based, team investment approach that combines in-house strategies with third-party managers, employing risk management tools and alternative investments to align portfolios with client objectives.

Michelle Kuzma Kempf is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Hightower Advisors and its affiliated broker-dealer since 2011. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering multi-manager solutions that include affiliated and third-party managers, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and access to pooled and private investment vehicles.

Bert May Jr. is a financial advisor with MAI Capital Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at The Leaders Group since 2014 and maintains a long-term role with Learfield Communications, Inc. as a radio analyst for UNC football. MAI Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, and institutional clients. The firm manages multiple asset classes and investment strategies through in-house and third-party managers, and also serves as adviser to a registered mutual fund and several private investment vehicles.

Matthew Johnson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at BB&T Securities, LLC since 2019 and has been with SunTrust Advisory Services, SunTrust Investment Services, and SunTrust Bank since 2014. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies. The firm integrates inter-affiliate resources and employs AI-enabled tools through its Equity Research team to support manager selection and investment oversight.

Brandon Phillips is a financial advisor at MAI Capital Management, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations. Prior to joining MAI Capital Management in 2021, Phillips worked for Solamere Advisors from 2009 to 2021. MAI Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base, including high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm manages a wide range of strategies and integrates financial planning and trust services, with over $72 billion in assets under management as of May 2026.

Joel Gardner is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors who holds a Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience. He has worked with Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in outside insurance sales focused on fixed insurance products, including health, life, and fixed annuities. Park Avenue Securities serves a diverse retail client base, offering brokerage and advisory services alongside financial planning and retirement consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party platforms and supports various account-level services such as lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Kelsey Dietzman is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with three years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has held roles both within Fifth Third Securities and related entities since 2023. Fifth Third Securities serves a wide range of individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services, offering access to multiple program types and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway platform. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and provides services that include managed accounts, separately managed accounts, and tax-overlay strategies.

Greg Warren is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Alight Financial Solutions, Aon Hewitt Financial Advisors, and Hewitt Financial Services. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio solution for employees that uses algorithmic questionnaires to recommend risk levels and implements investments via approved strategies using mutual funds and ETFs.

Matthew Savloff is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan Chase, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is an SEC-registered, bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides investment research, manager due diligence, and model portfolios primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its advice is generally non-discretionary and focused on impersonal guidance delivered to affiliated entities for implementation.

Benjamin Laubach is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with a Series 65 designation and experience in both advisory and other business roles, including work with Tastful Occasions and Phantom Fireworks. He began his industry career in 2025 and is based in Charlotte, NC. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing investment advisory services along with financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm’s investment approach centers on Modern Portfolio Theory, using diversified portfolios and various investment vehicles supported by comprehensive client education and specialized service lines.

Austin Lewis is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC in Charlotte, NC. His prior roles include positions at AssetMark Brokerage, LLC and The Vanguard Group, Inc. Outside of advising, he is a managing partner and co-founder of SouthPark Family Tax, LLC, a seasonal income tax preparation firm. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets, employing a diversified investment process that blends passive and active strategies overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Darren Parson is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Truist in 2023, Parson worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, participant advice, and a manager-selection program implemented through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.

Courtney Williams is a financial advisor at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and Edward Jones. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in regulatory assets. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through both proprietary and third-party solutions.

Margaret Keith is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 14 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Her prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing before joining Janney Montgomery Scott. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC manages approximately $110 billion in client assets and serves a diverse client base, including individuals, families, trusts, estates, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of services including brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs, supported by both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Jerry Carpenter Jr. is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameritas Advisory Services since 2021 and maintains roles with Ameritas Investment Corp and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp since 2013. Carpenter is also the owner and president of Carpenter Group Inc/DBA CGI Benefits, which provides group health and dental benefits, and operates a timber farm growing Loblolly Pine trees. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, charitable and corporate entities, and retirement plans. The firm provides fee-based asset management through various programs and emphasizes retirement plan advisory services with a range of fiduciary and consulting options.

Benjamin Beeson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Principal Life Insurance Company, Wells Fargo Clearing, and New York Life Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by AI-enabled research tools and extensive inter-affiliate integration.

Charles Stegall is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors since 1999 and has longstanding affiliations with CP Advisory Services, Inc. and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory work, he is a passive owner of an HVAC installation company and has invested in a resort development project in the Bahamas. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering both brokerage and fee-based advisory services, including financial planning and retirement consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party platforms and supports various account-level services such as securities-based lending and tax-harvesting.

Chason Trahan is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with nine years of industry experience, currently with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC. He has worked with multiple firms including Carroll Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Dixon Wells, and LPL Financial. Trahan serves as trustee, executor, and guardian for immediate family member estates. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a network of hundreds of advisors. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement plan consulting, utilizing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.