James Taylor is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at First Citizens Bank and RCE Theaters. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes and offers services including wrap programs, model portfolios, and tax-aware financial planning.

Christopher Thomas is a CFP® with 13 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Farther and Aurora Securities, Inc., having previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. and Transamerica Financial Advisors. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services mainly to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a combination of digital platforms and in-person meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach using proprietary model portfolios, algorithmic rebalancing, and AI tools, focusing on ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income.

David Pierce is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Infinex Investments, First Bancorp, BB&T Investment Services, and Edward Jones. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments, operating a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure with both discretionary and non-discretionary assets under management.

Brentley Priddy is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and over 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and Southern Bank. Outside of advising, he owns a rental property in Wilmington, NC, where his son and others reside. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm provides customized advisory services through a network of representatives, combining a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure with access to alternative investments and lending solutions.

Pantelis Miliotis is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network. His career includes roles at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting and The Vanguard Group. He is based in Wilmington, NC, and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing around $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm provides a comprehensive adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody services.

Jerry Smith is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with Truist Investment Services since 2006. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management, utilizing third-party platforms and manager arrangements, and integrates inter-affiliate resources to support its AMC Advantage program.

Danielle Potts is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at D.A. Davidson & Co. since 2022. Her prior work includes roles at Bozeman Health and Bridger Psychiatric Services, as well as positions at Montana State University. She is also a licensed notary, providing notary services on an as-needed basis. D.A. Davidson & Co. offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including retirement plans, individual investors, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm provides a range of solutions such as ERISA retirement plan advisory, comprehensive financial planning, and a Private Wealth program for high-net-worth clients, operating under fiduciary standards and utilizing both qualitative and quantitative investment analysis.

Alec Hutchinson is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning his industry career in 2025. Prior to joining AE Wealth Management, he was associated with Carolina Retirement Planners and has been involved in scuba diving instruction and related activities through Professional Diver Services since 2015. Outside of finance, he owns and operates a scuba diving business that includes instruction, gear sales, and fossil shark teeth salvage. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and offers various ERISA services, managing approximately $49.8 billion for over 127,000 clients across more than 440 advisors.

Miriam Lopez is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) with 33 years of industry experience. She has worked with Kestra Advisory since 2016 and has been associated with Kestra Investment Services, LLC since 2010. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a Zoom classroom host for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets under management, serving clients such as sovereign wealth funds and large institutional investors.

Dennis Mc Loughlin Jr. is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 designation and over 15 years of experience at Amerilife, where he serves as managing director and independent agent assisting clients with Medicare and other insurance products. He joined Brookstone Capital Management in 2025. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions. The firm also supports a large advisor network with back-office services and collaborates with affiliated asset managers and other advisers.

Keith Dorney is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Wilmington, NC, holding Series 65, Series 63, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fisher Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Happy Valley Partners. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm operates through an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Michael Hudson is a financial advisor at Farther with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at Zermatt Wealth Partners, LLC and RS Wealth Management. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Hudson Wealth Management, LLC, which engages in the sale of fixed life insurance. Farther serves individual investors, trusts, and estates through a technology-driven advisory platform and direct client meetings. The firm employs an investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using bespoke and algorithmic model portfolios with automatic rebalancing, primarily allocating among ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Knox Gibson is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 9 years of industry experience, having previously worked at Stratos Wealth Partners and LPL Financial. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies and integrates technology platforms to enhance client service.

Michael Tunney is a financial advisor with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC in Wilmington, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 26 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Bank of America, N.A., and Merrill. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm supports a wide range of investment approaches and platforms and operates as a fiduciary when a written advisory agreement is in place.

Ralph Williams III is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with 46 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. Williams is the owner of Sterling Wealth Management, LLC and has been affiliated with Commonwealth and Sterling Wealth Management since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-owner of BCB Farm LLC, a family farm real estate holding company that also provides accounting and tax preparation services. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and services, including discretionary model portfolios and personalized investment solutions, while offering operational and compliance support to affiliated advisors.

Randy Driskill is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Wilmington, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2002. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering advisory and brokerage services through investment adviser representatives and third-party portfolio managers. The firm emphasizes IAR-led assessments to determine financial needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon, employing various analytical methods to allocate assets across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Joseph Sizemore IV is a financial advisor with D.A. Davidson & Co., holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining D.A. Davidson, he worked at Credit Suisse for 12 years and has been involved in managing several family-owned limited liability companies focused on property management since 2018. D.A. Davidson & Co. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including retirement plans, individual investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of services such as ERISA retirement plan advisory, comprehensive financial planning, and a private wealth program for high-net-worth clients, operating under fiduciary standards with both qualitative and quantitative investment analysis.

Christopher Stern is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Wilmington, NC, holding a Series 65 credential and 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Brookstone Capital Management since 2013 and was previously with NorthStar Financial from 2009 to 2017 and CES Retirement Advisors since 2018. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, and offers model portfolios and managed account services primarily on a discretionary basis.

Patrick Dean is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Wilmington, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Transamerica Financial Advisors, United Financial Services, and W&S Brokerage Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in sales of life and health insurance products for companies affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party investment programs.

Christopher Barrett is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 20 years of industry experience. Barrett has been affiliated with Bankers Life entities since 2011, including roles at Bankers Life Advisory Services and Bankers Life Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a member of Wrightsville Beach Cleaning LLC, a commercial cleaning business. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and manage portfolios aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.