Brent Ciliano

Michael Kothakota is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Wolfbridge Wealth in Durham, NC. He has been associated with WolfBridge Financial Corporation since 2008. In addition to his advisory role, he lectures at Columbia University and serves as an adjunct professor at New York University. Wolfbridge Wealth provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, pension-plan consulting, business valuation, and equity research services to individuals—including high-net-worth clients—trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes client education through webinars, white papers, and presentations, and integrates fundamental, technical, and macroeconomic analysis into its investment approach. Michael Kothakota developed Interdependent Integrative Financial Planning Theory. He has sa Masters in Predictive Analytics, and a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University. He was also the inaugural Head of Research at CFP Board, the governing body of CFP(R) professionals.

Amber Schiffert is a financial advisor and co-founder at TARA Wealth with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 7 licenses. TARA Wealth is a women-owned fiduciary advisory firm, bringing something unique to wealth management: advisors who share your perspective, understand your life transitions, and have no financial incentive other than helping you succeed. TARA Wealth was founded to set a higher standard — one built on trust, independence, and a genuine commitment to the women and families they serve. TARA Wealth financial advisors are happily located in San Diego, CA, and Raleigh, NC, and serve clients nationally.

Amanda DeCesar is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience. She co-founded TARA Wealth in 2023 with Amber Schiffert. Her prior experience includes roles at MML Investors Services and J.P. Morgan Securities. TARA Wealth is an RIA serving individual and high-net-worth clients, couples, and businesses, providing Total Wealth Management, discretionary investment management, and comprehensive financial planning. The firm primarily uses a passive investment approach with index mutual funds and ETFs, delivering financial planning as an ongoing engagement and managing accounts both discretionarily and non-discretionarily.

Tyler Brown is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at RFG Advisory, LLC since 2025. Prior to joining RFG Advisory, he worked at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., Fisher Investments, and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. RFG Advisory is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $8 billion for over 17,000 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth households, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm employs a combination of actively managed and passive strategies, direct indexing, and tax-aware approaches, and is notable for its role as sub-adviser to the Bluemonte family of ETFs and its services to state and municipal clients.

Raymond Eustace is a financial advisor at Eustace Advisors in Cary, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to founding Eustace Advisors, he worked at ClearComm Technical Sales from 2003 to 2020 and operated Nadaje Holdings LLC from 2013 to 2022. Eustace Advisors is an independent, fee-only firm that provides advice-only financial planning and investment analysis to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm’s approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory with a focus on long-term, passive investment strategies, and it offers services including financial plan development, project-based planning, ongoing planning, educational seminars, and optional tax return preparation.

Mostafa Omar is the sole advisor at Astrelle Capital LLC in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 65 credential and has two years of experience in financial advising. Prior to his current role, he spent eight years working in the restaurant industry with Lugano Ristorante, Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, and Hibernian Co. Astrelle Capital LLC serves individuals, households, retirement accounts, trusts, and simple closely held entities with portfolio management and standalone financial planning. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, tax-aware implementation, and risk controls, primarily using exchange-traded funds along with selective mutual funds, equities, fixed income, and cash equivalents.