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.

Hi! My name is Ian Bloom. I started my firm, Open World Financial Life Planning because I wanted to serve other nerds, not sell financial products. I focus on systematizing my clients’ financial lives to reduce their stress and worry, so that they can focus on their passions. As a nerd, I understand what it’s like to have hobbies and priorities outside of the norm. Whether your interests lie in gaming, programming, collecting, or something tamer, my goal is to make your financial life much more simple so that you have less stress and more time to focus on your interests. Life shouldn’t be about scrolling through google searches to solve a complex financial question. Your time should be spent doing the things you love and taking care of the people you care about. My philosophy on financial life planning was shaped through my experience getting my CFP® and RLP® designations, my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and three years of amazing mentorship in the financial industry. Comprehensive financial life planning with my firm combines the skills I’ve developed through my experience and education, the perspective I have as a nerd and Millennial, and the drive I have to increase financial literacy within my community. I chose a fee-only structure for the firm in order to minimize conflicts of interest and make payment as transparent for my clients as possible. Having no product sales involved means I can focus on the perfect solution for my clients, not getting paid. Working with my firm starts with a complimentary first meeting in which we talk through your values, goals, and finances. If we decide to work together we will gather details on your finances, analyze and prioritize your goals, and eventually arrive at a plan through collaboration. I will help with the implementation of that plan, educating you on the what’s and why’s of each checklist item so that you feel comfortable with the changes. At the end of a year, we will review our progress and reassess the plan going forward. On the personal side of things, my passions lie in gaming. I love tabletop games, trading card games, and video games. I specifically love anything that is geared toward difficult strategic decisions. My passion for gaming is what got me so interested in financial strategies! Go ahead and book that first meeting to get started! It’s always FREE. If you're not sure yet, check out my books on Amazon to learn more about my financial philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH5P83

Brian Bewley is the principal and sole advisor at Aligned Wealth Solutions, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation with 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Virtue Capital Management, Retirement Wealth Advisors, and Horter Investment Management. He also serves as an independent insurance agent and is involved in technology and financial reporting businesses outside of his advisory practice. Aligned Wealth Solutions provides discretionary investment management primarily through model marketplaces and pooled investment vehicles, focusing on portfolios constructed with low-cost mutual funds and ETFs. The firm applies Modern Portfolio Theory and strategic asset allocation, with additional services including financial planning, treasury management, and promoter/referral arrangements.

Carolyn Larsen Wieber is a financial advisor at CLW Financial Planning LLC in Raleigh, NC, with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the PFS™ designation and previously worked at Paraklete Financial and Steward Ingram & Cooper PLLC. In addition to financial advising, she owns a CPA practice that provides tax compliance and consulting services for small business owners and their families. CLW Financial Planning LLC is an independent, fee-only advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and small businesses. The firm integrates discretionary investment management with comprehensive financial planning and tax preparation, using a Modern Portfolio Theory approach focused on long-term, diversified allocations primarily through passive mutual funds and ETFs.

Pomeroy Smith II is a financial advisor at Bison Wealth Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Bison Wealth Management since 2018 and previously at Pathway Wealth Management, LLC from 2016 to 2019. Bison Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management primarily to individuals, high net worth clients, and trusts, focusing on customized portfolios and active asset management. The firm uses both fundamental and technical analysis to guide asset allocation, emphasizing capital appreciation alongside asset preservation.

Mitchel Krause is a financial advisor at Other Side Asset Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC, with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated for 11 years before founding his current firm in 2018. In addition to advisory services, he is a licensed insurance agent involved in the sale of various insurance products. Other Side Asset Management provides investment advisory and financial consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored portfolio management and planning services, employing a range of methods including asset allocation, technical analysis, and both long- and short-term trading, with at least quarterly account reviews.

Thomas Kelly III is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Kelly Investment Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC. His prior work includes roles at Curi Capital, TD Ameritrade, and Scottrade. Kelly Investment Management, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, and small-business owners. The firm offers managed accounts and written investment strategies tailored to client objectives, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements and employing techniques such as asset allocation and technical analysis.

Jose Maldonado is the principal of CIMA Financial, an independent advisory firm based in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has nine years of industry experience. Prior to founding CIMA Financial, he worked at firms including First Command and MassMutual. In addition to his advisory role, Maldonado serves as president of enFe Business Advisors, providing business coaching and consulting, and is a founding partner of Golden Arrow Properties LLC. CIMA Financial offers fee-only investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business owners. The firm’s approach is based on modern portfolio theory, utilizing a blend of passive and active investments, and includes services such as business planning, retirement strategies, and tax and risk management.

Are you passionate about preserving our Earth, upholding corporate responsibility, and contributing to a just society? If so, you’re in the right place. Do you find yourself thinking: “Where does all my money go, and how can I support causes I care about?” “I want to invest, but I refuse to support fossil fuels or the weapons industry.” “What do we need to do now that we’ve had a baby?” “How do I navigate my company benefits or start a Roth IRA?” “Am I doing the right things?” I see financial planning as a medium to facilitate long-lasting change—not just a way to accumulate “more.” My practice, Just Advising, is an advice-only space designed for environmentally and socially conscious people who want clear guidance without the baggage of commissions, high fees, or someone else managing your money. When we work together, you’ll walk away with guidance while feeling understood and empowered. My first question is not, “how much do you have?”; Instead, it’s “what do you want?” To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, ask not what you can do for money—ask what your money can do for you. Outside of the office, you can usually find me rock climbing (attempting to) or making a great (depending on the day) cup of coffee.

Patrick Walsh is a financial advisor with Walsh Capital LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 credential and nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Defender Capital and is a partner at Diligence Group, a private business consulting firm. He also maintains a personal blog to share ideas with family and friends. Walsh Capital provides discretionary asset management and consulting services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on a value-oriented, fundamental analysis approach with long-term holdings and tactical asset allocation tailored to client objectives. The firm offers portfolio construction, retirement-account rollover advice, and planning consultations, and is noted for its educational resources and work with charitable clients, including donor-advised fund management without advisory fees.

Gregory Dunne is a financial advisor at Raleigh Investment Advisors, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with nine years of industry experience. His prior work includes eleven years at General Electric and a period of self-employment beginning in 2016. Raleigh Investment Advisors is an independent firm managing approximately $25 million for a select group of individual clients. The firm provides ongoing portfolio management with a focus on client-specific factors and quantitative risk measures, conducting quarterly account reviews and typically meeting clients twice yearly for in-person updates.

With 15 years of experience in wealth management and financial planning, I bring both deep technical knowledge and a practical, people-first approach to financial planning. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work in both a large financial institution and a smaller independent firm. That range of experience has shaped how I work today, blending the structure and resources of big firms with the personalized, relationship-driven approach of a boutique firm. It also gave me a clear perspective on what clients and their families truly need: a tailored approach, proactive planning, and a partner they can count on through every life stage. I started Highwind Wealth Management with this vision in mind. At Highwind Wealth Management, we integrate investment management, tax strategy, estate planning, and financial planning into a cohesive and adaptable plan. Life, markets, and goals change, and your financial plan should evolve with them. I also believe that comprehensive financial and tax planning shouldn’t be a luxury reserved for the ultra-high-net-worth; everyone deserves access to financial planning and the financial freedom that comes with it. To deliver the highest level of service, I intentionally keep a small client base. That allows me to focus deeply on each relationship and ensure that my clients and their families always receive the time and attention they deserve, as well as my family, who also receive the same focus and attention from me. Outside of work, I’m lucky to share life with my amazing wife, Lizz, and our two kids, Fallon and Charlie. When I’m not working or with my family, you’ll likely find me on a mountain bike trail, exploring the outdoors, or lost in some great music.

Elliott Mc Cown is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at HanaFara. His prior roles include positions at UBS Financial Services, Personal Capital Advisors Corporation, Evergreen Wealth Advisors, Empower Advisory Group, and The Vanguard Group. HanaFara is an independent firm providing wealth management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes asset allocation using Modern Portfolio Theory, combining passive and active strategies, and includes the use of third-party model portfolios and Outside Managers with ongoing monitoring.

Marcus Terdik is a financial advisor with Piedmont Private Wealth, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services for eight years and has been with Piedmont Private Wealth since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, Marcus serves on the Board of Governors for North Ridge Country Club, advising on strategic planning initiatives. Piedmont Private Wealth, LLC is an independent SEC-registered advisory firm that serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and financial planning. The firm employs a long-term investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, utilizing diversified allocations across ETFs, mutual funds, municipal bonds, and equities.

Lenoris Yarborough, Jr is a financial advisor with Yarborough Asset Management Strategies in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Cisco Systems and Envestnet before founding Yarborough Asset Management Strategies in 2017. He serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations focused on education, the arts, and economic resources for African Americans. Yarborough Asset Management Strategies provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a range of investment techniques, including fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and uses both long- and short-term strategies with documented risk tolerance and occasional use of higher-risk instruments.

David Carter is a financial advisor with Wood Capital Investments LLC in Raleigh, NC. He holds the Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience. Prior to founding his independent firm, he worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley from 2017 to the present, and was previously employed at Healthtrax Fitness and Wellness from 2015 to 2017. Wood Capital Investments LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and investment analysis to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporations, and other business entities. The firm’s investment approach combines quantitative, fundamental, technical, and economic analysis, employing both long- and short-term strategies, including market-timing techniques uncommon among solo independent advisors.

Travis Tracy is a CFP® and Series 65-registered advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Fortitude Financial Planning LLC and has previously worked at Sycamore Financial Planning, Raleigh Capital Management, and other firms. He serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce. Fortitude Financial Planning LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management to individual, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm integrates Modern Portfolio Theory with fundamental analysis, offers in-house tax preparation, and uses fee structures based on client income, net worth, and complexity rather than assets under management.

Robert Martin is a financial advisor at Tilly, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with seven years of industry experience. He is the co-founder and active chairman of Vertical IQ, Inc., a financial industry research firm, and is also an angel investor in several startups. Additionally, Mr. Martin is the author of "The Hockey Stick Principles." Tilly serves individual and family clients through virtual comprehensive financial planning and advice, focusing on budgeting, insurance, debt management, and savings strategies. The firm emphasizes low-cost, passive investment approaches and delivers services on a flat-fee membership or one-time meeting basis.

David Gikoshvili is a financial advisor at Miner Wealth Management in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation. He has been with Miner Wealth Management since 2026 and previously worked at Harvard Business Review and Duke Fuqua School of Business. Miner Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as retirement plan sponsors and participants, offering discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm primarily uses a passive investment approach with index mutual funds and ETFs, and provides additional services including retirement-plan consulting, fiduciary management, and bookkeeping for businesses and nonprofits.

Steven Hoak is a financial advisor at ARIS Capital Strategies, LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including Lifetime Financial Inc and SRHIncome. Hoak is also the President of Agent Value Proposition, LLC, where he acts as a licensed insurance agent offering commissionable products. ARIS Capital Strategies provides retirement income planning and non-discretionary investment guidance to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm integrates commission-funded fixed annuity solutions with passively managed, low-cost investment vehicles and operates on a zero-fee business model, deriving compensation primarily through insurance commissions.