Joseph Stover is a financial advisor at Reliance Financial Group, Inc. in Durham, NC, holding the PFS™ designation and Series 65 license with 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Reliance Financial Group since 1999. Reliance Financial Group is an independent firm providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting to individual investors, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and model-based portfolios, combining fundamental security analysis with long-term investment strategies and periodic rebalancing.

Jennifer Lazarus is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and holds a Series 65 license with 15 years of industry experience. She has been the sole advisor at Lazarus Financial Planning, an independent firm based in Durham, NC, since its founding in 2005. Lazarus Financial Planning is a fee-only advisory firm serving individuals, couples, trusts, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management, with a focus on socially responsible investing and a documented planning process that emphasizes asset-class allocation, diversification, and client-approved policy implementation.

Thomas Figgatt is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Portolan Financial Planning LLC in Durham, NC. He previously worked at Bank of America from 2015 to 2017 before founding Portolan Financial Planning in 2017. Portolan Financial Planning LLC offers personalized investment advisory and comprehensive financial planning, including tax preparation services. The firm serves individual clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, small businesses, and provides retirement plan consulting, utilizing a primarily technical analysis approach with strategic asset allocation and tax-management techniques.

David Isley is a financial advisor at Abound Investments with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked with various insurance carriers since 2002. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed North Carolina life and health insurance agent. Abound Investments serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as corporate pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, insurance planning, and consulting services, with an investment approach that emphasizes tailored portfolios focused on individual stocks and proprietary strategies for managed accounts.

Lyle Finley Jr. is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at RJ20, Inc. His background includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing, as well as 14 years of service with the North Carolina National Guard. RJ20, Inc. provides non-discretionary investment advice to retirement plan participants and institutional clients, focusing on participant-level guidance within corporate retirement plans. The firm utilizes an online platform for customized 401(k) reporting and financial planning tools, combining fundamental, technical, and asset-allocation analysis without offering discretionary asset management or custody.

Steven Thorpe is the sole advisor at Pragmatic Portfolios, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Durham, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 15 years of industry experience. Thorpe has managed Pragmatic Portfolios since 2010 and previously worked at MCNC for 24 years. Pragmatic Portfolios provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and select corporations or small businesses. The firm emphasizes broadly diversified, low-cost passive investments with strategic asset allocation and tax-efficient strategies, and offers client education through complimentary seminars and workshops.

Tim founded Iseler Financial to help creative professionals build stability & security in their financial lives. The firm offers hourly engagements, one-time plans, ongoing financial planning, and investment management. Tim lives in Durham NC with his family and wonder dog, Yoshi. Prior to starting Iseler Financial, he spent 18 years in the music industry as a recording & touring audio engineer. And, even further back in time, Tim grew up on a family farm before graduating with honors with a degree in mathematics.

John Bland is a financial advisor with Diversified Investment Services LLC in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Blackridge Asset Management LLC and Commonwealth Financial Network. Bland is also a licensed insurance agent offering insurance product sales alongside his advisory services. Diversified Investment Services LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a range of analysis methods and investment strategies. The firm offers discretionary management, regular portfolio monitoring, and quarterly reporting, with portfolios that may include mutual funds, ETFs, fixed income, real estate funds, annuities, and non-U.S. securities.

Ohan Kayikchyan is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience. He is the principal of Alohana Financial, LLC, a fee-only registered investment adviser based in Durham, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Wells Fargo Bank NA. Alohana Financial provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals and high-net-worth clients, employing an asset-allocation approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory. The firm uses a combination of passive and active investment vehicles and offers ESG customization upon client request.

Lisa Hodges is a financial advisor at Shift to Impact with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in marketing consulting and advisory services prior to her current role. Hodges leads Shift to Impact, an independent firm based in Durham, NC. Shift to Impact is a fee-only financial planning firm serving individuals and families who seek to align their finances with social justice and environmental values. The firm emphasizes values-based investing and offers comprehensive planning, guidance on charitable giving and employee benefits, as well as educational workshops and speaking events, without managing client portfolios or exercising trading discretion.

Shrey Patel is a CFA® charterholder and the sole advisor at Ataraxis Capital, LLC in Durham, NC, with experience beginning in 2016 across several firms including Boyer Value Group and Thor Equities Group. He currently holds a salaried position as a senior investment analyst at Thor Equities Group, where he performs research and analysis. Ataraxis Capital provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a multi-method investment approach that includes fundamental and technical analysis, options, and margin. The firm manages approximately $840,000 in assets across two client accounts and offers performance-based fee arrangements for qualified clients.

Mary Macdonald is the sole advisor at Personal Path Financial Planning in Hillsborough, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses with 10 years of industry experience. She has operated her own advisory practice since 2017. Personal Path Financial Planning offers fee-only financial planning and investment consultation to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides non-discretionary advice focused on long-term, goals-based strategies using primarily low-cost index funds and ETFs, and delivers services on an hourly or fixed-fee basis without taking custody of client assets.

Thomas Sikes is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and principal of WanderWealth Inc., an independent advisory firm based in Hillsborough, NC. He has 19 years of industry experience and has led WanderWealth since 2006. In addition to his advisory role, he owns Traveltirement LLC, an online education and media business focused on retirement planning and long-term travel in Italy and France. WanderWealth Inc. provides discretionary investment management to individual clients, including retail and high-net-worth investors, using low-cost, passive, diversified ETF model portfolios. The firm manages accounts on the Altruist custodial platform under discretionary authority and emphasizes periodic rebalancing based on academic research.

Nahnsan Guseh is a financial advisor at Capital Solutions Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and manages his own independent advisory firm. Outside of advising, Guseh works full-time as a data scientist at a medical device company. Capital Solutions Advisors, LLC serves individual investors with ongoing asset management and financial planning services, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with comprehensive financial plans. The firm tailors investment programs to client goals, using a mix of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis, and employs various strategies including options trading.

Aidis Zunde is a financial advisor at Zak Investment Management Company, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Zak Investment Management since 2008. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a senior consultant for Whitney, Bradley & Brown, supporting the Department of Defense’s Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization and leading a team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Zak Investment Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, foundations, and charitable organizations on a fee-only basis. The firm manages portfolios across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and exchange-traded products, and is notable for its willingness to negotiate performance-based fee arrangements for eligible clients.

John Stillman is a financial advisor at Rosewood Wealth Management in Durham, NC, with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has worked at firms including AE Wealth Management and Madrona Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner of a marketing company, Third Wheel Media. Rosewood Wealth Management serves individual and family clients planning for retirement by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and implementation through selected third-party managers and model portfolios. The firm also offers licensed insurance sales, tax preparation, and bookkeeping services in-house.

Jacob Yocco is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cardinal Retirement Planning, Inc. in Durham, NC. He has worked at Cardinal Retirement Planning since 2018 and is also involved with Damis, Inc. as an insurance agent. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as treasurer for the Pi Lambda Phi Omega Beta Alumni Association. Cardinal Retirement Planning primarily serves pre-retirees, retirees, high-net-worth individuals, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management. The firm employs a top-down macroeconomic investment approach supported by proprietary quantitative models and allows strategies ranging from long-term buy-and-hold to tactical trading, including the use of leverage and margin in managed accounts.

Trinity Critelli is a financial advisor at Investors Mosaic with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Royal Alliance / Osaic and Advanced Group Financial Services, as well as positions in education and retail. She has also been involved with a snowplowing and lawncare business. Investors Mosaic is a small, two-advisor firm providing fee-based wealth management and financial planning to individuals and families, primarily in the mass-affluent to high-net-worth range. The firm employs a blend of passive, low-cost asset-allocation strategies alongside an active Growth equity model for legacy clients and emphasizes a documented planning process with a focus on actionable steps.

Russell Kroeger is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with Upstart Wealth Management, LLC and Paradigm Wealth, Inc. (Trayecto), where he is the Founder and CEO, focusing on designing and building technology products for financial advisors and consumers. His prior experience includes roles at Michael Powsner CPA, Paradigm Wealth Architects, LLC, and Yeske Buie Inc. Upstart Wealth Management provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs discretionary, asset-allocation strategies using model portfolios and a range of implementation vehicles, including derivatives and margin, which are uncommon among peer team firms.

James Brown is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with Minerva Planning Group, where he has worked since 2024, following a 13-year tenure at Vaughan-Brown Wealth Management. Based in Durham, NC, he holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Minerva Planning Group provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and other advisors. The firm employs a primarily long-term, fundamental investment approach using low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs, managing approximately $237 million across a three-advisor team.