Michael Bono is a financial advisor with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TIAA-CREF and Western Southern Life. Bono is also involved with Sloan Financial Group, LLC, a financial services business operating in Clover, SC. Madison Avenue Securities serves individual and high-net-worth clients, offering investment advisory and brokerage services along with pension consulting, college-savings assistance, and services for charitable entities. The firm manages approximately $2.0 billion across 14,000 clients and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through multiple investment models and third-party managers.

Leighton Becker is a Series 65 licensed advisor with 49 Financial in Charlotte, NC. He joined the firm in 2024 and has prior experience working with Clemson Football and several other organizations. Outside of advising, he has worked as a fixed insurance agent. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm utilizes a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation approach and provides tiered fractional family office services alongside access to third-party managers.

Charles Hammond IV is a financial advisor at Foundations Investment Advisors LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with firms including Equitable Advisors, Northwestern Mutual, and Alloy Wealth Management. Outside of his advisory roles, Hammond is also active as an insurance agent specializing in fixed annuities and life insurance. Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC provides financial planning and portfolio management services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and registered investment companies. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and offers a range of services through a large network of affiliated offices and investment adviser representatives.

Margarite Lynch is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. She previously worked at LPL Financial, LLC, and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a suite attendant at the Bank of America Stadium for the Carolina Panthers. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm that serves individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and institutional clients. The firm focuses on long-term, diversified asset allocation using centrally managed model portfolios and employs an internal investment management team alongside third-party managers and sub-advisers.

Christopher Spalthoff is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining 49 Financial, he has held roles at PKS Investments and Northwestern Mutual, among others. In addition to his advisory work, he has experience in the restaurant industry. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, advanced planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm employs a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation strategy and offers tiered fractional family office services alongside third-party manager access.

Nicholas Skudlarick is a financial advisor at 49 Financial with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior experience at Equitable Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is engaged in fixed insurance sales through 49 Financial’s Financial Independence Group. 49 Financial serves a variety of clients including individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans, providing financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm employs a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation strategy grounded in a derivative of Modern Portfolio Theory and offers tiered fractional family office services.

Michael Mahoney is a financial advisor at Coastal Bridge Advisors with 32 years of industry experience. He previously worked at firms including Trinity Point Wealth, LLC, Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., and Voya Investment Management CO. LLC. Mahoney serves as Treasurer for American Legion Post 503 and the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Investment & Wealth Institute committee. Coastal Bridge Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach and constructs diversified portfolios, often incorporating external managers and specialized advisory services.

Logan Tingley is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at 49 Financial with two years of industry experience. Based in Charlotte, NC, he joined 49 Financial in 2024 after completing eleven years as a student. 49 Financial serves a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, advanced planning, retirement-plan consulting, and investment management. The firm emphasizes disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation and manages proprietary model portfolios combined with behavioral coaching.

Clarence Collins is a financial advisor with Foundations Investment Advisors LLC based in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has experience working since 2007, including a military career with the U.S. Army and roles at Driven Management, Stay Plugged In, and Alloy Investment Management. Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC provides financial planning and portfolio management services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and registered investment companies. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, model portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers to deliver tailored investment advice.

Stephanie Baszner is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Ritholtz Wealth Management since 2023. Prior to joining Ritholtz, she spent seven years at The Vanguard Group, Inc. She holds a Series 63 license and is based in Charlotte, NC. Ritholtz Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients by providing portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and college financial planning. The firm employs a goal-based investment process emphasizing asset allocation and behavioral finance, utilizing diversified low-cost ETFs alongside tactical overlays and alternative investments.

Ross Marynell is a financial advisor with Advisory Alpha, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Advisory Alpha since 2020 and has prior experience with Planners Alliance LLC, Vertex Capital Advisors, LLC, and AlphaStar Capital Management. Outside of his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent involved in selling annuities, health, and life insurance products through Vertex Capital Advisors. Advisory Alpha serves individual and high-net-worth investors with portfolio management, financial planning, and specialty solutions such as retirement plan services and donor-advised funds. The firm also acts as a subadvisor or co-advisor for other registered investment advisors, offering a broad menu of managed portfolio series that include factor, hedged, and manager-of-managers strategies.

James Newman is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience and currently serves at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC. His prior roles include positions at UBS, Ameriprise, and ORG Partners. He holds a Series 66 license and is also insurance licensed. Ascentis Independent Advisors provides asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm offers tailored investment advice across a range of securities and utilizes discretionary management, third-party managers, and a Private Direct Investments program.

Paxton Wood is a financial advisor with USAA Investment Services Company, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ally Invest Advisors, Ally Invest Securities LLC, and The Vanguard Group. He also holds director-level roles in business line risk at Ally Invest Advisors and Ally Bank, assisting with third-party risk management and new product assessment. USAA Investment Services Company provides retirement-focused advice and referral services primarily to USAA members and individual investors, offering a Retirement Income Strategy Report and facilitating referrals to third-party broker-dealers and advisers. The firm operates mainly as a referral intermediary without managing client assets or charging percentage-of-assets fees.

John Helmers is a financial advisor at 49 Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 credential. He has one year of experience in the industry and previously worked at Forward Wealth Management, Rinse N Repeat, and Aptive. Outside of advisory roles, he is also a licensed fixed insurance agent. 49 Financial serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans, offering comprehensive financial planning, advanced planning, and investment management. The firm utilizes a disciplined, long-term diversified asset allocation strategy and provides tiered fractional family office services.

Marcus Anderson is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, LPL Financial, and Uvest Financial Services Group. Anderson is also licensed to provide fixed insurance advice tailored to client needs. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, retirement plans, ESOPs, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, diversified asset allocation strategy managed through centrally coordinated models and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Anthony Montanari is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with 27 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Capital Guardian Wealth Management, Citigroup Global Markets, and Prudential Equity Group. Montanari is a Series 63 and Series 65 license holder. Prospera Financial Services is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors managing approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to multiple advisory programs and platforms.

Thomas Worth III is a CFP® certificant with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC and has previously worked at ORG Partner's LLC, Defender Capital, Kestra Investment Services, LLC, and Wells Fargo Clearing. He has also served as a Personal CFO since 2013. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, providing asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a mix of discretionary management, third-party managers, and platform solutions, including a Private Direct Investments program for illiquid private funds.

William Smiley is a financial advisor at Coastal Bridge Advisors with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at TrinityPoint Wealth, LLC, and Penland Legacy Advisors. He serves on the board of directors for the Winthrop University Foundation, providing volunteer leadership in community outreach and university engagement. Coastal Bridge Advisors offers financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach to construct diversified portfolios and provides specialized advisory services including retirement plan consulting and HSA investment management.

Lekshmi Rajaram is a financial advisor with CG Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, and UBS Financial Services. CG Advisory Services is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a largely model-driven investment approach, supplemented by fundamental and technical research, options strategies, and alternative investments, supported by AI tools and an Investment Committee.

Mitchell Roth is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Sovran Advisors, LLC and holds a Series 66 license. His prior experience includes positions at The Vanguard Group, LPL Financial, Equitable Advisors, and Ameriprise Financial Services. Sovran Advisors serves individuals, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors by providing financial planning, advisory services, and portfolio management across various program types. The firm employs both active and passive investment strategies and utilizes multiple custodial platforms to support its clients' diverse objectives.