Carman Hicks II is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC since 2022. He previously worked at WealthShield Partners, LLC and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Since 2013, he has also engaged in fiduciary activities acting as attorney-in-fact, trustee, conservator, guardian, executor, or personal representative. Hicks & Associates Wealth Management primarily serves individual and high net worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management and non-discretionary financial planning. The firm employs a Multi-Strategy Investment Management Process that integrates fundamental and technical analysis with various investment strategies overseen by an Investment Committee.

Matthew Archer is a financial advisor with AIM Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Triad Advisors, Inc. and Arkadios Capital. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as an independent agent with The Cason Group, which focuses on life insurance and long-term care products. AIM Advisors, LLC serves individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans by providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and alternative investments tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Amy Jo Mc Elfresh is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in financial advising. She has been with Amphora Wealth Management, LLC since 2018 and previously worked at Guardian Pointe Private Wealth Management. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in management activities with Gratitude, Inc. and serves as president of AJM Consulting, Inc., a consulting and insurance-related business. Amphora Wealth Management serves individuals, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing investment management, financial planning, and specialized consulting services such as divorce and estate-plan analysis. The firm employs an evidence- and risk-based investment approach, using diversified portfolios guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and conducts ongoing account monitoring and reviews.

Emily Burgess is a financial advisor at AIM Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. She has experience working at Campbell University and Arkadios Capital, as well as being self-employed and employed in other roles prior to joining AIM Advisors. AIM Advisors serves individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans, providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm manages approximately $138 million across about 163 client relationships, employing an investment approach based on modern portfolio theory with a focus on global diversification.

William Sloan is a CFP® professional with 33 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has worked at Intercarolina Financial Services, Inc. for 25 years and has been with Sound Financial Management, Inc. since 1997. Sloan holds the Series 63 license and is based in Raleigh, NC. Sound Financial Management, Inc. provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $110.7 million in discretionary assets, employing both fundamental and technical analysis to tailor portfolio strategies, with regular reviews for suitability, rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting.

Bret Tackett is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Tackett Wealth Management, LLC since 2009, where he is one of two advisors at the firm based in Cary, NC. Tackett Wealth Management provides investment supervisory services, wealth management, and financial planning primarily to select retirees and small business owners. The firm manages approximately $62 million in client assets and employs an investment approach grounded in academic research, emphasizing broad diversification, tax efficiency, and low-cost funds.

William Sigmon III is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Physicians Financial Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. He has two years of industry experience, including prior work with The Wealth Group, Ltd, and a decade of service in the United States Navy. Physicians Financial Services, Inc. provides personalized wealth management, financial and tax planning, and retirement strategies for individuals, corporations, and nonprofit entities. The firm employs a contrarian, value-oriented investment approach focused on financially strong, cash-rich companies and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management tailored to client objectives.

David Hellinger is a financial advisor with Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC in Cary, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes a long tenure at LPL Financial. Independent Wealth Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients through its Strategic Wealth Management platform. The firm combines various analytical approaches and maintains a monthly-reviewed investment committee to tailor portfolios according to each client’s risk tolerance and time horizon.

Meghan Childs is a financial advisor at Boundary Street Partners LP with 15 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Morgan Stanley from 2010 to 2017 before joining Boundary Street Partners in 2017. Boundary Street Partners LP provides discretionary investment management and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high net worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and a private fund. The firm employs an active global value-investing approach based on fundamental research and manages approximately $18 million on a discretionary basis.

Wheeler Chapman III is a financial advisor at Kokua Capital Management with 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Kokua Capital Management since 2016 and concurrently at Chapman Financial Group since 2013. Chapman Financial Group, doing business as Kokua Capital Management, provides discretionary wealth management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as fixed-income sub-advisory services to other investment adviser firms. The firm employs an actively managed, long-term investment approach that incorporates both fundamental and technical analysis to tailor portfolios to clients’ objectives and risk tolerance.

Nicholas Ross is a CFP® professional at Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC with one year of industry experience. He has worked at Ark Royal Wealth Management and Truist, and previously spent time in education at North Carolina State University and a secondary school. Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using diversified, low-cost passive mutual funds and statistical analysis to manage risk and return.

Jeffery Campbell II is a financial advisor at Fryar Financial in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fryar Financial, he worked at Fidelity Investments and Vietri Inc. in various roles. Outside of advising, he operates a freelance marketing consulting business as an independent contractor. Fryar Financial provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and retirement plan sponsors, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary asset management tailored to client goals and risk tolerance. The firm manages approximately $19.4 million across about 56 client relationships and coordinates investment strategies with affiliated tax and accounting services.

Parker Holland is a financial advisor at Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. Holland has worked at Sofos Investments, Inc. and EQIS Capital Management, Inc. during his career. He is also a licensed independent insurance agent in North Carolina, incorporating insurance products into financial plans. Capital Financial Advisory Group serves individuals, families, businesses, charities, and small pension clients, focusing on financial planning and advisory services. The firm provides investment recommendations through third-party managers and offers ongoing monitoring without taking custody or direct investment discretion of client assets.

Terrance Green is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Blue Water Capital Management, LLC. He has been with Blue Water Capital Management since 2006. Blue Water Capital Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as charitable organizations, offering portfolio management and financial planning tailored to client goals and risk tolerance. The firm employs modern portfolio theory and primarily invests in ETFs and mutual funds, with access to a broad range of alternative investments, and operates with institutional support from Charles Schwab.

Aaron Maassel is a financial advisor at Top Rank Wealth Management, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at CoreCap Advisors, LLC and Voyageur Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he owns Voyageur Financial, which focuses on insurance and annuity sales, and he is also an attorney providing legal and estate planning services. Top Rank Wealth Management offers discretionary asset management and financial planning for individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing technical, charting, and quantitative analysis with both long- and short-term strategies. The firm maintains close ties to affiliated insurance and legal-planning services.

Arne Morris Sr. is a financial advisor at Townsend Asset Management Corp. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 24 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Townsend in 2017, he worked at McGladrey Wealth Management LLC for 16 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as an owner and managing member of multiple investment-related firms. Townsend Asset Management Corp. serves individuals, trusts, partnerships, corporations, non-profits, and retirement plans with services including investment management, financial planning, consulting, and tax preparation. The firm employs a disciplined approach combining fundamental and technical analysis, managing portfolios primarily on a discretionary, long-term basis with integrated tax and consulting services.

Kurt Underhill is a financial advisor with First Financial Group in Raleigh, NC, holding the Series 66 designation and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has been with First Financial Group since 2012 and has also been involved with Mood Food Records, a record label, since 1994. First Financial Group serves individual investors, trusts, estates, and business entities, offering portfolio management and financial planning tailored to both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a client-driven investment process that includes fundamental and cyclical analysis, customized portfolios, and may utilize non-core strategies such as option writing and margin transactions.

Brooks Nichols is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LifePlan Group. His prior experience includes roles at Fidelity Investments and Strategic Advisers LLC. LifePlan Group provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, focusing on retirement planning as well as coordinating tax, insurance, and estate considerations. The firm employs a diversified investment approach using institutional platforms, ETFs, and individual securities, and serves approximately $326 million in discretionary client assets.

Brian DeBruin is a financial advisor at BrightPath Wealth Advisors LLC in Raleigh, NC, with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Carroll Financial Associates and Eqis Capital Management. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an adjunct professor at Wake Tech Community College, teaching non-credit financial and investment courses. BrightPath Wealth Advisors LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individual, high-net-worth, and corporate clients. The firm utilizes fundamental analysis, develops tailored investment policy statements, and manages accounts with regular monitoring and reviews, including the use of third-party sub-advisors when appropriate.

Robert Revels is a CFP® and CFA® with six years of experience in financial advisory roles, currently serving at PieCapital since 2024. His prior experience includes positions at Balentine and BB&T. Outside of his advisory work, he is the author of a children's book titled *Bull & Bear Grow Together*, which teaches kids about money, and serves on the unpaid board of Strong Gray Line Corporation, a nonprofit associated with the West Point Class of 2004. PieCapital provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $69 million for 22 clients. The firm combines fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and quantitative methods, employing a range of investment strategies across various asset classes within a single-advisor structure.