Leslie Watson is a CFP® with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with tru Independence Asset Management, LLC and has prior experience at APW Capital, Bank of America, and Merrill. Watson holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and serves as Managing Director at YellowWood Financial Advisors, LLC. tru Independence Asset Management, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $337 million in assets using diversified portfolios that combine active and passive strategies and offers both standalone financial plans and integrated portfolio management.

James Scharff is a financial advisor with Stark Financial Advisers, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 26 years of industry experience. His career includes over two decades at R.M. Stark & Co., Inc., where he serves as assistant branch manager with responsibilities in client account management, portfolio supervision, and trading. Stark Financial Advisers, Inc. manages approximately $94.7 million in discretionary assets for individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and other entities. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven approach using both fundamental and technical analysis and offers a range of portfolio strategies from conservative to aggressive, including the use of derivatives and options.

Ryan Knight is a financial advisor at Family Wealth Partners, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Founders Federal Credit Union. Prior to his financial career, he was employed at Liberty University, Pelican's Snoballs, and Lancaster County School District. Family Wealth Partners serves individuals, business entities, charitable organizations, and pension/profit-sharing plans, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, pension consulting, and estate plan coordination. The firm employs a diversified, model- and research-driven investment process that includes fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and a range of traditional and alternative securities.

Brian Alderson is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Providence Capital Advisors, LLC. He has been with the firm and its predecessor entity since 2016. Providence Capital Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and small businesses. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes fundamental analysis enhanced by technical and cyclical analysis, with a focus on individual securities and customized portfolio construction, including the use of derivatives and margin within separately managed accounts.

Henry Barringer is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Alpha Financial Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Alpha Financial Advisors since 2013. Alpha Financial Advisors provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, small businesses, and certain retirement plans. The firm employs strategic asset allocation primarily using no-load mutual funds and ETFs, managing client portfolios on a discretionary basis with regular reviews and rebalancing.

Nathan Carey is a financial advisor at Blue Financial with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 license and previously worked at Equitable Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is also a licensed insurance agent involved in insurance planning activities. Blue Wealth Inc., where Nathan serves on a seven-person team, provides discretionary asset management and financial planning to individuals, small businesses, trusts, and estates. The firm’s investment approach focuses on long-term strategies without the use of margin, short sales, derivatives, leverage, or options, and it offers client educational seminars and workshops.

David Williams is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving with WMS Advisors, LLC, where he has worked since 1999. He has also been associated with Grove Point Advisors, LLC, Grove Point Investments, LLC, and TWG Advisor Group, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, Williams is a trustee for the Newcomb Testamentary Trust and is involved in insurance sales related to life, long-term care, and disability insurance. WMS Advisors is a team-based SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $281 million for a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm employs asset-class oriented strategies using ETFs, index mutual funds, individual securities, and alternatives, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside comprehensive financial planning and retirement-plan consulting.

John Tonissen Jr. is a financial advisor at Hobart Wealth in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 50 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cape Securities, Inc., GF Investment Services LLC, and Global Financial Private Capital. He also works as an independent insurance agent with Navigator Financial Inc., selling disability, fixed annuities, life, accident, health, long-term care, and group insurance. Hobart Wealth is an SEC-registered advisory firm with a team of eight advisors managing approximately $430 million. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and estates, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting using a mix of analytical methods and implementation strategies.

Corey Sunstrom is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently with Hobart Wealth. He has worked at Hobart Private Capital and Hobart Financial Group since 2014 and has prior experience at GF Investment Services and Global Financial Private Capital. Sunstrom also serves as an adjunct professor teaching estate planning courses at Gardner-Webb University. Hobart Wealth is an SEC-registered advisory firm with a team of eight advisors managing approximately $430 million. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and estates, offering tailored asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting using a variety of analytical methods and investment strategies.

Cody Ritchie is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at Cornerstone Wealth Planning in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Cornerstone Wealth Planning since 2016 and previously worked at Postmates. Cornerstone Wealth Planning provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners. The firm employs an investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis, offers in-house tax preparation services, and provides flexible planning options without a minimum account size.

Kristopher Roper is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with three years of industry experience. He is currently with Fortress Private Ledger, LLC and previously worked at Sparta Wealth Partners, Coastal Bridge Advisors, and TrinityPoint Wealth. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Board Treasurer for the nonprofit Money Magnets Club, providing financial oversight and strategic guidance. Fortress Private Ledger serves individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and other entities by offering financial planning, portfolio management, and Qualified Opportunity Zone advisory services. The firm employs trend-identification and technical analysis alongside fundamental and thematic strategies, delivering model-driven solutions managed in-house or with sub-advisers.

William Shefte is a financial advisor with SB Advisory, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and over 25 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at SPC, Sigma Financial Corporation, and Centaurus Financial Inc. Since 1989, he has been president of Gold Leaf Productions, Inc., a music publishing and consulting firm. He is also involved in community service as a board member and past president of the Charlotte Southern Lions Club and currently serves as president and chairman of the Charlotte Southern Lions Foundation, which supports charitable causes including assistance for the visually impaired and homeless. SB Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm serving individuals, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $1.1 billion predominantly on a non-discretionary basis, providing tailored portfolio management through mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and outside managers using fundamental, technical, and qualitative analysis.

Thomas Searson is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license with 21 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Providence Capital Advisors, LLC since 2015. Providence Capital Advisors provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and integrated financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and small businesses. The firm employs a fundamental security selection process supplemented by technical and cyclical analysis, offering distinct strategy sleeves and utilizing derivatives and borrowing in certain separately managed accounts.

David Huff is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Providence Capital Advisors, LLC since 2023 and previously held roles at JPMorgan Securities LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, and the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. In addition to his advisory work, Huff is also licensed to sell various insurance products. Providence Capital Advisors, LLC is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and small businesses with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm emphasizes fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to build customized portfolios and routinely incorporates derivatives, margin, and alternative investments within separately managed accounts.

Scott Trease is the sole advisor at Sapere Wealth Management, LLC in Matthews, NC, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Sapere Wealth Management and affiliated entities since 2002. Sapere Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional and trust entities. The firm employs a top-down, global-macro investment approach with an absolute-return focus, combining public equities, registered funds, and privately offered funds while emphasizing active liquidity management.

Janice Mc Gunnigle is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience. She currently works at Alpha Financial Advisors, LLC, where she has been since 2019, following previous roles at Modera Wealth Management, LLC and Matrix Wealth Advisors, Inc. Alpha Financial Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, and small businesses, including high-net-worth clients. The firm offers personalized financial planning and discretionary investment management, utilizing a strategic asset allocation approach focused on global diversification, periodic rebalancing, and fundamental analysis.

Blake Hedrick is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Family Wealth Partners, LLC since 2022 and previously held roles at LPL Financial, Independent Advisor Alliance, and TIAA-CREF. Family Wealth Partners serves individuals, business entities, charitable organizations, and pension plans with discretionary investment management, financial planning, pension consulting, and estate plan coordination. The firm employs a diversified, model- and research-driven investment process that includes fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and both long- and short-term trading, covering a broad range of traditional and alternative securities.

Cooper Brown is a financial advisor at Oakworth Asset Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has prior experience at Truist Bank, Rockefeller Financial LLC, and Truist Financial Corporation, with a total of one year in the industry. Oakworth Asset Management provides financial planning, consulting, and discretionary wealth management to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm follows a top-down, macro-driven investment process and manages a diversified asset base including mutual funds, ETFs, alternative investments, and private securities.

James Mccollom is a financial advisor with CORE Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and LPL Financial. CORE Advisory Group is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $297 million in assets and offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, utilizing a range of investment strategies tailored to clients’ objectives and risk profiles.

Laura Olney is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at tru Independence Asset Management, LLC in Charlotte, NC. Her prior experience includes roles at Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade. tru Independence Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm manages diversified portfolios using both active and passive strategies across multiple asset classes and employs a combination of digital platforms and third-party managers to serve over one thousand accounts.