Sean Williams is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Cadence Wealth Partners, LLC since 2023. His prior experience includes roles at Instrumental Wealth, LLC and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of his financial advisory work, he is a father first. He enjoys woodworking and playing the banjo. He also loves Gator sports, even when the teams are terrible. Cadence Wealth Partners is a fee-only, fiduciary financial planning firm in Concord, NC specializing in helping business owners and pre-retirees (55+) reduce taxes, plan retirement income, and prepare for business exits and major life transitions. Our team includes CFP®, CEPA, and RICP credentialed advisors who take a whole-picture approach — investments, tax planning, estate planning, and risk management working together. We work with clients locally and virtually across the U.S. Named a 2025 & 2026 Wealthtender Voice of the Client Highly Rated Advisor.

David Whitaker is a CFP® and ChFC® affiliated with Rooted Planning LLC in Mooresville, NC, with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, and currently operates Rooted Finances LLC, providing tax preparation and consulting services. Whitaker also holds a life insurance license and is active in insurance sales. Rooted Planning LLC is an independent, state-registered investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as charitable organizations, corporations, trusts, and estates. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and fee-based financial planning, focusing on customized, primarily long-term portfolios using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, supplemented by individual securities when appropriate.

Leonard Marte is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Abundant Advisors, LLC. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for 11 years and at SmartPath, Inc. for two years. Abundant Advisors serves mass-affluent, high-net-worth, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, offering discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs investment strategies based on fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, combining passive ETFs and active funds with attention to tax efficiency and regular portfolio reviews.

Timothy Pope is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at 360 Aviation Advisors, LLC in Concord, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Cetera, PNC Investments, and The Vanguard Group. Outside of advising, he hosts a financial planning podcast called "Pilot's Portfolio," which targets professional pilots. 360 Aviation Advisors is an independent registered investment adviser that provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and coordinated tax preparation services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a passive investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and offers tailored investment policy statements without a firmwide account minimum.

Michael Sherman is a Certified Financial Planner® with 11 years of industry experience. He is the principal of Sherman Wealth Solutions LLC in Charlotte, NC, and has a background that includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services, Hightower Advisors, and several affiliated tax and insurance businesses which he owns. In addition to his advisory work, he administers the estates of two relatives as appointed by the court. Sherman Wealth Solutions provides investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and employer retirement plans, managing portfolios that include ETFs, mutual funds, stocks, and bonds. The firm also offers pension consulting and retirement-plan services, with a professional combination of accounting and planning credentials supporting integrated tax, insurance, and investment advice.

Michael Bookhardt is the sole advisor at Affluence Advisory LLC in Mount Holly, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with two years of industry experience. His background includes a year at The Vanguard Group and over 20 years as managing member of a construction business. Affluence Advisory LLC provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, businesses, trusts, foundations, and charitable entities. The firm uses passive, low-cost mutual funds and ETFs with asset-allocation strategies based on modern portfolio theory, focusing on long-term equity investments and fixed-income allocations with regular rebalancing and tax-aware adjustments.

Phillip Gussman is the sole advisor at Bulldog Asset Management, Inc., an independent firm based in Huntersville, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 16 years of industry experience. Since 2006, Mr. Gussman has been self-employed and also spends the majority of his time working with non-profits through Gussman Consulting, assisting with fundraising, messaging, and web development. Bulldog Asset Management provides investment supervisory and portfolio management services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, and trusts. The firm manages approximately $61 million across 45 client accounts, focusing on diversified asset allocation tailored to each client’s financial situation, objectives, and risk tolerance, with ongoing discretionary management and regular portfolio reviews.

Patrick Riley is a financial advisor with Optimal Planning LLC in Concord, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked with several firms, including LPL Financial and Camarda Wealth Advisory Group. In addition to his advisory role, he is an insurance agent with Wealth Management of the Carolinas. Optimal Planning LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and educational seminars to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm primarily uses a passive investment approach with portfolios of index mutual funds and ETFs, guided by client-specific investment policy statements and supplemented by fundamental and cyclical analysis.

Alexandra Rickard is the principal of Rickard Investment Consulting, LLC in Concord, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to founding her independent advisory firm in 2026, she worked at Novant Health and Bonded Logistics, among other roles. Rickard Investment Consulting, LLC provides investment advisory services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio analysis, ongoing monitoring, and optional financial planning and consulting. The firm uses fundamental and technical analysis to tailor portfolios across cash, equity, and fixed-income allocations and includes options strategy analysis as part of its service offering.

Michael Fuhr, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Founder of Evergreen Wealth Services, a fee-only financial advisory firm located in Mooresville, North Carolina. Michael provides experienced financial planning and investment management services to individuals and families. His goal is to help clients make wise financial decisions to ensure a secure financial future. Michael believes that financial planning is the cornerstone of your financial success, starting with your unique goals and objectives. Ongoing services address the following core areas: retirement planning, investments, tax strategies, maximizing employee benefits (private and Federal), education funding, real estate financing, insurance review, estate and legacy planning and charitable giving strategies. As an independent, fee-only Financial Advisor, Michael does not receive commissions or other incentives. He acts in your best interests as your fiduciary advisor and his only loyalty is to you. He serves clients in the Lake Norman, Charlotte and surrounding areas. He also works with clients virtually across the country. Michael grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He and his family reside in Mooresville, North Carolina.

James Krapfel is a CFP® and CFA® with five years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Glass Lake Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2020. Prior to that, he was with RMB Capital from 2015 to 2019. Glass Lake Wealth Management is an independent registered investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary asset management and financial planning services. The firm employs a long-term, quality-growth investment approach with diversified equity and fixed-income allocations and offers a distinctive voluntary Day Trading overlay for qualified clients under a performance-based fee arrangement.

David Hedges is a financial advisor at Bookman Bright, Inc. with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Bookman Bright, Inc. since 2012, including operating Bookman Bright Consulting, Inc. since 2013. Outside of his advisory work, he owns College Bound Financial, through which he assists clients with college financial planning, including calculating expected family contributions and completing FAFSA forms. Bookman Bright, Inc. provides comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, and pension plan consulting primarily for individual clients. The firm manages approximately $22.2 million across about 87 clients, using tailored asset allocation models and a combination of fundamental and technical analysis, and may recommend third-party investment advisers as part of its services.

Brendan Willmann is a financial advisor at Granada Wealth Management, LLC in Davidson, NC, with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and CFA® designations and has worked at Granada Wealth Management since 2016, following seven years at LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he provides tax preparation and client representation services through a related accounting and tax business and also works as a term life and disability insurance agent. Granada Wealth Management is an independent, single-advisor SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio construction using ETFs, mutual funds, and U.S. Treasuries, and offers ERISA-focused consulting and fiduciary services for corporate retirement plans, supplemented by affiliated accounting and tax services.

Kristina Schuler is a financial advisor at Allied Oak Wealth, LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds the Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Paradiem, LLC, Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Inc., and Edelman Financial Engines. Outside of her advisory role, she is an independent contractor distributor for Young Living Essential Oils. Allied Oak Wealth, LLC is a registered investment advisor serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and estates. The firm employs a long-term, fundamental-analysis approach to portfolio construction, primarily using exchange-traded funds and individual stocks, and generally manages accounts on a discretionary basis.

Mallory Warren is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Aerden LLC. Her prior roles include positions at Fidelity Investments and The Vanguard Group. Outside of her advisory work, she operates a digital financial-education practice. Aerden LLC provides fee-only, advice-only financial planning to individuals and families through one-time engagements focused on either specific questions or comprehensive plans. The firm does not manage client assets but emphasizes long-term strategic asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory, fundamental fund analysis, and considerations of diversification, cost, and taxes.

Fawzi Jaber Hyder is a CFA® charterholder and financial advisor at Mike Adams Financial Advisors, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He has held academic positions at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Lebanese American University, and the University of Central Florida, and currently serves as an assistant professor of finance at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Outside of advising, he is president of The Mike Adams Group, Inc., a holding company specializing in asset management and financial services. Mike Adams Financial Advisors, Inc. is an independent registered investment adviser providing discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutions. The firm uses cyclical and fundamental analysis alongside modern portfolio theory, implementing long-term trading and derivative strategies, and manages a small, specialized client base including non-U.S. clients.

Edin Cuskovic is the principal of Maximum Advisory, an independent registered investment adviser based in Huntersville, NC, with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the CFA® designation and Series 65 license. In addition to his work as a financial advisor, Edin owns and serves as president of Maximum Accounting and Tax Services LLC, which provides accounting and tax services in North Carolina. Maximum Advisory offers comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, businesses, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a process centered on written Investment Policy Statements and combines Modern Portfolio Theory with passive and active strategies, emphasizing ongoing client relationships and coordinated advisory services.

William Howard is a CFP® and ChFC® with 23 years of experience in financial advising. He has led Durant Wealth Management Advisory Services since 2014 and has operated Howard Financial Tax Service since 1980. Outside of advising, he also runs a construction business specializing in custom decks and small projects. Durant Wealth Management Advisory Services provides portfolio management and financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients using a diversified investment approach focused on ETFs, mutual funds, and other asset classes. The firm combines fundamental analysis with modern portfolio theory and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management alongside tailored Investment Policy Statements and regular account reporting.

Bryan Keller is the sole advisor at Social Impact Investments Inc. in Huntersville, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes four years with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. Social Impact Investments Inc. manages portfolios primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on equities alongside fixed income, ETFs, and other securities. The firm emphasizes tailored investment strategies aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerance, maintaining a small client base and explicit policies regarding client-imposed investment restrictions.

Phillip Whitley is a financial advisor with Whitley Financial, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and over 30 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Grove Point Investments, H. Beck, Sterne Agee, and Synergy Investment Group. He is also a licensed insurance professional, dedicating less than 10% of his business time to insurance activities. Whitley Financial provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and small businesses. The firm employs a primarily long-term investment approach using both fundamental and technical analysis to develop customized asset allocations, with accounts managed on a discretionary basis and reviewed at least annually.