Ashok Tapadia is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors since 1999 and has concurrent roles with CP Advisory Services, Inc. and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 1993. Tapadia is also involved in insurance services beyond Guardian and has a real estate-related business activity with Fathom Realty. Primerica Advisors is part of an enterprise firm serving a broad retail client base, offering brokerage and advisory services along with financial and business consulting. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party platforms and supports various account-level services including lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Joshua Tirado is a financial advisor with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with J.W. Cole Advisors and J.W. Cole Financial since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he manages Healthy Wealthy & Wise, a company providing marketing for educational webinar services focused on client life improvement. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, retirement plans, and other entities through a national network of more than 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party managers, and multiple managed account solutions.

Destiney Deschaines is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Primerica, she held roles at Guardian Life Insurance Company and Equitable Advisors. She is also a co-owner of J&D Cutter Row, LLC, a family business focused on real estate. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting through a variety of proprietary and third-party investment programs.

Thomas White is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Wendell, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Empower Financial Services, Fidelity Investments, TIAA, and TD Ameritrade. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated approach links planning and managed accounts with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Johnna Kendrick is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at Edward Jones, BB&T Investments, and various entities within the First Citizens organization. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering advisory and brokerage services with a range of portfolio management and financial planning solutions. The firm’s approach combines fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis tailored through IAR-led client assessments.

Jesse Bencivenga is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors, Wells Fargo Bank, and First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering portfolio management, model portfolios, and financial planning through a process that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate across asset classes.

Matthew Belcher is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2012. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that employs algorithmic risk assessment and delegated portfolio management using mutual funds and ETFs.

Brian Luce is a financial advisor with United Planners Financial Services of America, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at United Planners since 2023 and previously spent seven years with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. In addition to his advisory role, Luce operates Heartland Financial Advisor as a marketing entity and works as an independent life insurance agent. United Planners serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and institutional clients such as sovereign wealth funds and banks. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan services, and brokerage solutions through a network of 477 independent advisors, using an open-architecture platform with multiple custodians and third-party money managers.

Barbara Key is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes six years at Merrill. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers services such as portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives who develop their own investment strategies within firm supervision.

James Baker is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial for seven years before joining First Citizens Investor Services in 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of his condominium homeowners association. 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 a client process focused on financial needs assessment and diversified portfolio allocation, offering products such as unified managed accounts, wrap programs, and tax-aware services.

James Phillips III is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he spent ten years managing operations at Clyde Phillips Seafood, where he remains involved in the business’s apparel sales as a sole proprietor. First Citizens Investor Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations, providing advisory and brokerage services through various portfolio management options and financial planning. The firm emphasizes IAR-led client assessments and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis in asset allocation across multiple investment vehicles.

David Snider is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with 29 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65, Series 63, and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Oppenheimer in 2025, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC for a combined 16 years. Oppenheimer serves individuals, corporations, pooled vehicles, and retirement plans, offering a variety of advisory programs including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, consulting, and retirement services. The firm’s investment approach varies by program and includes strategic and tactical asset allocation, manager selection, and periodic rebalancing.

Angela Novak is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses with 17 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing from 2008 to 2023 before joining First Citizens in 2023. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, providing advisory and brokerage services through various portfolio management and financial planning solutions. The firm emphasizes IAR-led assessments and a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis for portfolio allocation.

Jennifer Jones is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. She previously worked at Gratus Capital, LLC for over a decade. Focus Partners Wealth serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, corporations, retirement plans, and institutions, offering a range of wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Quinton Libsack is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Cetera Investment Advisors, Cetera Wealth Services, and The John R. McAdams Company, Inc. He also serves as a board member for the Washington Terrace Homeowners Association. 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 a client-centered process integrating fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate investments across various asset classes.

Fredena James is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. She holds the Series 66 designation and has 17 years of industry experience. Ms. James has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2001. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities by providing advisory and brokerage services. The firm’s investment approach includes IAR-led assessments and a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various asset classes.

Clay Jackson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC since 2019, following previous roles at Bank of America and Merrill. Clay serves as a board member for the NC State Education Assistance Authority and the North Carolina Banking Commission, and he is a partner in the real estate investment firm Fish Hill & Jackson, LLC. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm supports a broad range of investment strategies through more than 400 independent adviser representatives and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Amber Vaughn is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens, she worked at Havoc Brewing LLC and Equitable Advisors. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a client process focused on assessing financial needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various asset classes.

Victoria Araj is a CFP® professional with two years of experience in financial advising. She is currently with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and previously worked at Wealthshield Partners, LLC and Envestnet. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and employs a diversified investment approach combining passive and active managers, supported by an internal Investment Committee and a range of implementation tools and services.

Frederick Hight IV is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and totaling six years of industry experience. His career includes a long tenure at Wells Fargo Bank, NA, from 2001 to 2021, followed by a brief period at Wells Fargo Clearing before joining Truist Advisory Services in 2021. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and uses third-party platforms, including AI-enabled research tools, to support its investment and manager selection processes.