Charles Garland Benson II

Michael Zotto is a financial advisor with Zone Investment Management, LLC in New Bern, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 27 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his current firm in 2021, he worked at Jarred Bunch Consulting, LLC, INVST, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. Zone Investment Management is an independent registered investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients with ongoing portfolio management. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods and offers investment solutions including insurance products, equities, and exchange-traded funds, managing accounts on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Paul Scavuzzo is the sole advisor at PJ Scavuzzo, Inc., an independent firm based in New Bern, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 44 years of industry experience. He has led PJ Scavuzzo, Inc. since 2009. PJ Scavuzzo, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and investment advice to a range of clients including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a broad and active investment strategy that includes fundamental and technical analysis, options transactions, margin trading, and short sales, tailoring portfolios to each client’s investment objectives and risk tolerance.

Deborah Tayloe is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience. She founded Tayloe Financial Services, LLC in 2007 and has prior experience with Linsco/Private Ledger Corp. Her firm offers individual tax preparation services as part of its business. Tayloe Financial Services provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning—including standalone Social Security retirement reviews—and basic tax return preparation. The firm focuses on fundamental analysis, long-term holdings, broad asset diversification, and client education, serving individual clients on a fee-only basis.

David Blain is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license, with 22 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has been with BlueSky Wealth Advisors, LLC (formerly D.L. BLAIN & CO., LLC) since 1999. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Swift Creek Plantation LLC, a real estate holding and development company in New Bern, NC. BlueSky Wealth Advisors primarily serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $850 million in discretionary client assets and focuses on strategic asset allocation with an emphasis on low-cost, tax-efficient investments, complemented by selective use of active managers.

Christie Bonacci is a financial advisor at BlueSky Wealth Advisors, LLC with six years of industry experience. She holds the PFS™ and Series 65 credentials. Prior to joining BlueSky in 2019, Christie worked at Deloitte & Touche, LLC and Marc Jessup Insurance Services. She is also an adjunct professor at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, where she teaches audit and assurance. BlueSky Wealth Advisors provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management primarily to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $850 million in discretionary client assets and employs a strategic asset allocation approach with a focus on low-cost, tax-efficient investments.

John Staton is a CFP® with two years of experience in financial advising, currently with BlueSky Wealth Advisors, LLC. Prior to joining BlueSky, he worked at Equitable Advisors and held various roles including a 12-year tenure with the United States Navy, Naval Special Warfare. BlueSky Wealth Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional and trust entities, providing comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and select tax preparation services. The firm manages over $1 billion in client assets, emphasizing strategic asset allocation with a focus on low-cost, tax-aware, primarily passive strategies supplemented by selected active managers.