James Baugh is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Wells Fargo and J.P. Morgan, spanning from 2013 to the present. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation, manager selection, and ongoing client reviews.

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.

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 bringing 20 years of industry experience. Her career includes 15 years with Hightower Advisors and Hightower Securities, LLC, following earlier roles at Morgan Stanley from 2006 to 2011. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individual and institutional clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a network of Advisor Practices. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and diverse 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. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 12 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at BB&T Securities, SunTrust Advisory Services, SunTrust Investment Services, and SunTrust Bank. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools, partnering with Envestnet platforms, and provides ongoing monitoring and reporting supported by extensive affiliated financial relationships.

Brandon Phillips is a CFP® professional with 11 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has worked at MAI Capital Management, LLC since 2021 and previously spent 12 years at Solamere Advisors. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Charlotte, NC. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides discretionary and non‑discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm manages a broad range of investment strategies and offers trust and insurance administration through affiliated entities.

Joel Gardner is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance since 2017. Gardner also conducts outside insurance sales focused on fixed health, life, and annuities. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Securities LLC, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, and organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and consulting services, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and access to proprietary and third-party investment platforms.

Benjamin Murray is a financial advisor at Valic Financial Advisors with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and served in the United States Coast Guard for 20 years before entering the financial services industry. Murray is also appointed as an agent to sell non-securities insurance products for AGIA. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Kelsey Dietzman is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and four years of industry experience. She has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2023 and previously held roles at Credit Union Investment Services and Secu Life Insurance Company. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients through advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple investment programs via the Passageway Managed Account platform and operates as a broker-dealer, SEC-registered investment adviser, and municipal advisor.

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 at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Investment Institute, he worked with Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan Chase, and held roles at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Rutgers University, and other organizations. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and unaffiliated financial institutions. The firm offers non-discretionary model portfolios constructed from research-based recommendations, serving as a research and model provider rather than a direct portfolio manager or financial planner.

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® with 12 years of industry experience, currently advising at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC in Charlotte, NC. His prior roles include positions at The Vanguard Group and AssetMark Financial Holdings. Outside of his advisory work, he is a managing partner and co-founder of Southpark Family Tax, a firm specializing in seasonal income tax preparation for individuals and families. 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 and employs a diversified investment approach blending passive and active strategies, supported by an internal Investment Committee and a suite of implementation tools.

Darren Parson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 21 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Merrill, and Banc of America Investment Services prior to joining Truist. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides 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 and AI tools in its advisory process and leverages its affiliation with Truist Financial and various broker-dealer and banking entities.

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 15 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Janney Montgomery Scott and Wells Fargo Clearing. 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 including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs through a combination of 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 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameritas Advisory Services since 2021 and has over a decade of experience with Ameritas Investment Corp and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Carpenter is also the owner of a family timber farm, Carpenter Timber LLC, overseeing tree planting and future harvests. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm utilizes a combination of model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities, offering a range of program platforms and leveraging third-party technology and managers to customize investment solutions.