diff --git a/src/profile-fields/profile-fields.service.ts b/src/profile-fields/profile-fields.service.ts
index 5fb28c1..6b49dd0 100644
--- a/src/profile-fields/profile-fields.service.ts
+++ b/src/profile-fields/profile-fields.service.ts
@@ -308,16 +308,12 @@ export class ProfileFieldsService {
       return opt.label.toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, '_').replace(/^_+|_+$/g, '') === 'prefer_not_to_say';
     };
 
-    // Entire fields to hide from search filter UI (still usable on profile forms via admin)
-    const normalizeKey = (s: string) =>
-      s.toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, '_').replace(/^_+|_+$/g, '');
-    const EXCLUDED_FIELD_KEYS = new Set([
-      'what_sets_us_apart',
-      'what_sets_you_apart',
+    // Entire fields to hide from search filter UI (by stable slug — labels may change via admin)
+    const EXCLUDED_FIELD_SLUGS = new Set([
+      'expertise_areas', // "What Sets Us Apart" — filter UI hidden by request; profile form still uses it
     ]);
-    const isExcludedField = (field: { slug: string; name: string }) =>
-      EXCLUDED_FIELD_KEYS.has(normalizeKey(field.slug)) ||
-      EXCLUDED_FIELD_KEYS.has(normalizeKey(field.name));
+    const isExcludedField = (field: { slug: string }) =>
+      EXCLUDED_FIELD_SLUGS.has(field.slug);
 
     for (const field of fields) {
       if (isExcludedField(field)) continue;
@@ -375,7 +371,7 @@ export class ProfileFieldsService {
       select: { id: true, name: true, slug: true, fieldType: true },
     });
 
-    if (expertiseField && !mergedFields.has(expertiseField.slug)) {
+    if (expertiseField && !isExcludedField(expertiseField) && !mergedFields.has(expertiseField.slug)) {
       const fieldValues = await this.prisma.agentProfileFieldValue.findMany({
         where: {
           fieldId: expertiseField.id,