Patrick Hawkins is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Oakwood Capital Securities, 49 Wealth Management, and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Hawkins is also associated with the Financial Independence Group, where he serves as a fiduciary financial professional. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, other advisers, and corporations. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related services, using model-based portfolios with ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and alternative investments when appropriate.

Richard Fallon III is a financial advisor at Cornerstone Wealth with eight years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and JP Morgan Chase & Co. Outside of his advisory role, he works occasionally as a freelance golf caddy in Charlotte, NC. Cornerstone Wealth Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, employer plan sponsors, other advisers, and corporations. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning, utilizing model-based portfolios that include ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and, when suitable, alternative investments managed by third parties.

Ethan Bemis is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining AlphaStar, he held positions at Fleet Feet Huntersville, Cabarrus Country Club, and Catawba College. AlphaStar Capital Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.84 billion for individuals, trusts, small businesses, pension plans, and other advisers. The firm employs both model portfolios and custom strategies using strategic asset allocation and quantitative analysis, and it also serves as a subadviser and referral agent to other investment advisers.

Austin Lytle is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at IFG Advisory, LLC. His background includes roles at BluHawk Wealth Management and LPL Financial LLC. He provides administrative support to IFG Advisory, an independent investment advisor firm. IFG Advisory offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies and third-party managers to tailor portfolios to client objectives, including management of held-away assets like 401(k)s and HSAs.

Cody Lewallen is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently affiliated with IFG Advisory, LLC in Mooresville, NC. His prior roles include positions at Marsh McLennan Agency, LPL Financial, and Old North State Trust. Lewallen also conducts non-investment related activities for Marsh McLennan Agency, supporting its insurance services. IFG Advisory, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies using sub-advisors and third-party models, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios across a broad range of asset types.

Gregory Bennett is a financial advisor with IFG Advisory, LLC, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials and over 30 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Merit Financial Group, LPL Financial, Private Portfolio Partners, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A.G. Edwards & Sons. He serves as trustee for his deceased father’s trust, managing fiduciary responsibilities related to family beneficiaries. IFG Advisory, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse clientele, including individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm customizes investment strategies using sub-advisors and third-party managers and offers a broad range of portfolio management and consulting services.

William Ham is a financial advisor with AlphaStar Capital Management holding a Series 65 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Armis Advisers, Ham Asset Management, and a long-standing role with Financial Independence Group, where he serves as Vice President of Sales in the Annuity Division. AlphaStar Capital Management manages approximately $1.84 billion for a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, small businesses, and pension plans. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing strategic asset allocation and quantitative tactical approaches.

John Matthews is a financial advisor at Brookwood Investment Group with 12 years of experience in the industry. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms, including Redwood Private Wealth LLC and his own Matthews & Co Private Wealth Advisors, where he serves as CEO and managing member. Outside of finance, he owns The Cut Barbershop in Charlotte, NC. Brookwood Investment Group serves individual investors, businesses, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management and financial planning with a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary management. The firm uses a variety of investment strategies tailored to client objectives and operates multiple affiliated businesses and proprietary partner offices.

Richard Reber is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has prior experience with Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. Reber is also the author of "How to Talk to Your Partner About Money and Not Kill Each Other." Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a network model of advisory representatives and integrates various portfolio management strategies along with technology platforms to support its services.

Kevin Burton is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Alphastar Capital Management and Nationwide Securities. Outside of his professional career, he serves as an assistant high school football coach at the Community School of Davidson. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, frequently serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while offering both model and customized portfolio management.

Kiara Hackshaw Gary is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., based in Mooresville, NC. She has four years of industry experience and has worked with Fifth Third Securities since 2022, following prior roles at Fifth Third Bank and other companies. Outside of her advisory role, she engages in pastry baking as a home-based activity. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts, offering a range of investment advisory and brokerage services through its Passageway Managed Account Program and multiple third-party portfolio managers.

Brennon Hawkins is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management. His prior experience includes roles at Exencial Wealth Advisors, Wells Fargo, and The Vanguard Group. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and related services to individuals, families, pension plans, charitable organizations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and sub-advised mandates, supported by a broad range of affiliated legal, accounting, and trust services.

Evangeline Lodwick is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 28 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials. Her prior roles include positions at Valic Financial Advisors, TIAA-CREF, and Encompass Investments. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services feature an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and consistent rebalancing within established plan lineups.

Robert Steele is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 66 and Series 63 designations and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Truist Advisory Services since 2023 and previously worked at Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and BB&T Investment Services. 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 with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of fiduciary and discretionary services through partnerships with Envestnet platforms.

Daniel Finnerty is a financial advisor with Osaic Advisory Services, LLC, holding the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Kingsbury Capital, Inc., Kingsbury Capital Investment Advisors LLC, and SW Financial prior to joining Osaic Wealth in 2026. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise adviser serving a broad client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporate and charitable entities, retirement plan participants, and sovereign wealth fund clients. The firm offers a variety of managed programs, retirement plan consulting, financial planning, and access to alternative investments, utilizing a range of investment strategies and platform relationships that differentiate its operating model.

Robert Bogia is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Cornelius, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo and ongoing positions with Principal Life Insurance Company and Fulcrum Capital Partners. Outside of his advisory duties, he serves as president of his local homeowners association. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, businesses, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager programs under both advisory and promoter arrangements.

James Bailey is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management. He previously worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, LLC, where he was an equity partner, and at Willingdon Wealth Management LLC. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Bailey is involved in managing rental properties with his wife. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, families, and institutional clients. The firm combines evidence-based asset allocation with actively managed strategies and benefits from extensive in-house capabilities supported by a large advisor base.

Brandon Bastuba is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with NewEdge Advisors. His prior roles include positions at Assetmark, Inc., Brinker Capital Securities, and Intelliflo. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a broad range of services, including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party advisory programs, utilizing centralized due diligence, technology tools, and a variety of program structures.

Kyle Thomas is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 12 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Bank of America and Merrill from 2014 to 2023. Kyle also operates Founders Private Wealth, LLC, an investment advisory business affiliated with his current firm. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with a technology-driven approach and maintains a unique network model supported by its partial ownership by LPL Financial.

Derek Smith is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Mooresville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Principal Securities Inc since 1993 and with PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY since 1998, and he founded Smith Financial Corporation in 2008. He serves as a board member at large for the South Cove Homeowners' Association. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.