David Whitaker is a CFP® and ChFC® with nine years of industry experience. He is the principal of Rooted Planning LLC in Mooresville, NC, and has prior experience at Northwestern Mutual and Financial Analysis Inc. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in tax preparation and consulting through Rooted Finances LLC. 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 offers 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 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as the principal advisor at 360 Aviation Advisors, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Cetera Investment Advisers and The Vanguard Group. He hosts the "Pilot’s Portfolio" podcast, which focuses on financial planning for professional pilots. 360 Aviation Advisors serves individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, and sponsors of pension and profit-sharing plans, providing investment management, financial planning, and employee benefit plan advisory services. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach with primarily passive allocations and integrates financial planning with ongoing portfolio management.

Michael Sherman is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Sherman Wealth Solutions LLC in Charlotte, NC. His background includes roles in financial services, tax preparation, and insurance through various entities he owns and operates. Sherman also acts as a court-appointed administrator for the estates of two relatives. Sherman Wealth Solutions advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans, providing investment management, tiered financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm offers customized portfolio construction using ETFs, mutual funds, stocks, and bonds, and provides formal retirement-plan consulting in an ERISA fiduciary capacity, supported by affiliated tax and insurance services.

Michael Bookhardt is the managing member of Affluence Advisory LLC in Mount Holly, NC, with two years of industry experience. Prior to founding Affluence Advisory in 2023, he worked at The Vanguard Group from 2021 to 2022. He is also the managing member of SIB General Contractors LLC, a general business he has been involved with since 2006. Affluence Advisory LLC provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, businesses, trusts, foundations, and other charitable entities. The firm builds individualized portfolios using low-cost, passively managed mutual funds and ETFs, applying asset-allocation strategies based on modern portfolio theory and a long-term equity orientation.

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 the principal advisor at Optimal Planning LLC in Concord, NC, with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial from 2013 to 2016. In addition to his advisory role, Riley is an insurance agent with Wealth Management of the Carolinas, dedicating about 20% of his time to this activity. Optimal Planning LLC offers investment management, financial planning, and educational seminars to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm primarily utilizes passive investment strategies with index mutual funds and ETFs, complemented by fundamental and cyclical analysis, and manages the majority of client assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Alexandra Rickard is the sole advisor at Rickard Investment Consulting, LLC, a state-registered advisory firm based in Concord, NC. She holds a Series 65 credential and has professional experience spanning roles at Novant Health, Bonded Logistics, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Rickard Investment Consulting, LLC provides investment advisory services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio analysis, ongoing monitoring, and periodic review meetings. The firm uses fundamental and technical analysis to tailor portfolios across cash, equity, and fixed income, incorporates options strategy education, and operates on a non-discretionary basis.

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 the principal of Granada Wealth Management, LLC in Davidson, NC, with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and CFA® designations and has previously worked at LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he provides tax preparation and client representation before the IRS through a related business. Granada Wealth Management is an independent, single-advisor SEC-registered firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and corporate retirement plan advisory services, with an investment approach that includes long-term portfolio construction using ETFs, mutual funds, and U.S. Treasuries.

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® and Series 63-registered advisor with Aerden LLC, bringing over seven years of experience in the financial services industry. Her prior roles include positions at Fidelity Investments and The Vanguard Group. Outside of her advisory work, she maintains an active insurance license and operates a separate financial-education media brand. Aerden LLC provides fee-for-service financial planning to individuals and families through one-time engagements without managing client investment accounts or accepting custody. The firm’s guidance is based on modern portfolio theory and strategic asset allocation, emphasizing diversification, cost-efficiency, and tax-efficiency, with recommendations that clients implement themselves.

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 a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of industry experience. He is the founder and sole advisor at Maximum Advisory, an independent firm based in Huntersville, NC, where he has worked since 2016. Prior to that, he spent five years at ACG Advisory Services. Outside of advising, Edin serves as president of Maximum Accounting and Tax Services LLC, a North Carolina-registered firm offering accounting and tax services. Maximum Advisory provides fee-only financial planning and investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, businesses, trusts, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm integrates accounting and tax services through its affiliated company and employs a fiduciary approach that includes written investment policy statements, Modern Portfolio Theory, and a blend of passive and active investment strategies.

William Howard is a CFP® and ChFC® with 22 years of experience in financial advising. He has led Durant Wealth Management Advisory Services since 2014 and also operates Howard Financial Tax Service, which prepares tax returns for 50 to 70 clients. In addition to his financial advisory work, he is involved in 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, primarily using ETFs and mutual funds supplemented by fixed income, real estate funds, annuities, and limited non-U.S. securities. The firm employs a long-term investment approach combining fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management with regular client reporting.

Bryan Keller is a financial advisor at Social Impact Investments Inc. in Huntersville, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with seven years of industry experience. Prior to founding his firm in 2018, he worked for four years at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. Social Impact Investments Inc. provides portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on equities through a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management, prepares written Investment Policy Statements for each account, and allows clients to impose investment restrictions based on values or beliefs.

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.

Adwowa Afenyi Annan is a CFP® and Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 23 years of industry experience. She is the principal of 3A Financial Group, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Huntersville, NC. Annan has held roles at Alight Financial Solutions LLC and Alight Solutions (formerly AON Hewitt) since 2010. In addition to her advisory work, she provides tax services to clients and is an independent insurance agent. 3A Financial Group serves individuals, trusts, foundations, estates, and charitable organizations, managing approximately $17.1 million across about 26 client relationships. The firm employs a fundamentally driven, long-term asset allocation approach, primarily managing accounts on a non-discretionary basis with a focus on mutual funds, ETFs, and suitable insurance and annuity products.