Steven Marasco is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Truist Advisory Services since 2021 and previously worked at BB&T Investment Services and BB&T Securities. Outside of advisory work, Marasco provides general business consulting to a coffeehouse in Greensboro, NC. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, combining discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and AI-enhanced research.

Jared Morris is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing, as well as Allegacy Federal Credit Union and BB&T. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants. The firm offers integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates in its financial planning approach.

Stephen Carruthers is a financial advisor with VALIC Financial Advisors in Greensboro, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has a legal background as a licensed attorney in North Carolina, formerly operating a consumer bankruptcy law practice and currently serving as counsel of record in a pending chapter 13 bankruptcy case. Carruthers also holds a position with Agia, offering non-securities insurance products. VALIC Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet UMA models for portfolio construction and management.

Robert Nocera is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has 15 years of industry experience, including roles at New York Life Insurance Company since 2010. Nocera’s current focus is with Eagle Strategies and Nylife Securities LLC, where he has worked since 2022. Eagle Strategies serves both individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, managing a significant portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Ralph Howell III is a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Dmj Wealth Advisors, LLC and Proequities, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Howell is a partner in the CPA firm DMJ & Co., PLLC, where he is in charge of the tax department. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse range of clients, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a multi-manager investment approach, utilizing third-party independent managers selected through a formal due-diligence process, and offers services such as discretionary wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and outsourced CIO solutions.

Susan Finley is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and has been involved with the National Network of Digital Schools since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she operates as a wedding minister and officiant through Weddings by Susan and serves as a substitute musician and preacher with Mt. Hope United Church of Christ. 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 back-office support, including investment management, compliance, and technology, allowing advisors discretion in portfolio construction alongside managed model portfolios.

Alvan Aron Jr. is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Greensboro, NC, bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2002 and also holds a position as an agent with Agia, where he is involved in non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-based individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Angela Kenan is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. She has 35 years of experience in the financial industry, including roles at Ameritas Life Insurance Corp and Ameritas Investment Corp. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved with Southeast Financial Services, Inc., where she assists with client service and business operations. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers various managed account programs and fee-based management of variable annuity and universal life subaccounts, supported by a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and multiple custodial platforms.

Jennifer Mccosley is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC since 2023. Prior to this, she worked at Triad Financial Advisors, Inc. for eight years. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of third-party independent managers selected through a proprietary due-diligence process and offers a range of services such as discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting.

Christian Blackburn is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Greensboro, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and four years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, as well as prior experience in graphic design and education at the Music Academy of NC and UNCG. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, leveraging an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and savings rates through point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

James Williams is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials. He has 45 years of industry experience, including eight years at Morgan Keegan & Company, LLC before joining Oppenheimer in 2010. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, pooled investment vehicles, and IRAs. The firm provides a range of programs and advisory services across equity, balanced, and fixed-income portfolios, emphasizing both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Paulette Mitchell is a financial advisor at Davenport & Company LLC in Greensboro, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 23 years of industry experience. She has worked at Davenport since 2009 and has over 20 years of experience with Citigroup Global Markets. Davenport & Company serves individual and institutional clients, including banks, pension plans, trusts, estates, nonprofits, and corporations, offering a range of services such as asset management, retail brokerage, fixed income, public finance, and investment banking. The firm’s investment approach involves dedicated portfolio management teams and research groups that oversee strategies across separately managed accounts, mutual funds, ETFs, and unified managed accounts.

Brittnei La Rue is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Greensboro, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Bankers Life and Casualty, Bankers Life Securities, TD Bank, and Glens Falls National Bank. Outside of advising, she is involved with the Rotary Club of Wilmington and is a candidate for the New Hanover County School Board. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and consulting primarily for mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, tax efficiency, and a blend of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in portfolio management.

Mark Harbaugh is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at UBS Financial Services for 12 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as trustee for multiple family testamentary trusts, overseeing asset management, tax filings, and beneficiary distributions. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management services to a diverse national client base, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset allocation and manager selection, integrating proprietary quantitative screens with third-party managers and individual securities.

Timothy Mellon is a financial advisor with Osaic Advisory Services, LLC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses, and has 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Osaic since 2024 and previously worked at Triad Hybrid Solutions, Triad Advisors, Kestra Financial Services, and Green Valley Financial. Outside of advising, he owns and manages a farm and serves on the board of directors for N.C. Grange Mutual. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, charitable organizations, and municipal entities. The firm provides a range of advisory services including investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing multiple program models and both proprietary and third-party platforms.

Amy Lawson is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 12 years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. She has worked at Brookstone Capital Management since 2022 and concurrently since 2017 at Retirement Wealth Advisors. Lawson also owns Lawson Financial Group, Inc., where she provides insurance and divorce financial consulting services. Brookstone Capital Management offers fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and uses a variety of investment vehicles, including proprietary funds, ETFs, and options-enhanced strategies.

Judy Hill is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, following prior roles at BB&T Securities and Wells Fargo Clearing. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering a range of solutions including asset allocation, fiduciary support, and manager selection programs. The firm integrates discretionary and non-discretionary approaches and utilizes technological tools and inter-affiliate arrangements to support its investment processes.

Brendan Stringer is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC, where he has worked since 2022. His prior roles include positions at Commonwealth Financial Network, Clarendon Wealth Management, AMERIPSE Financial Services, Inc., and Ethos Financial Partners. Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC provides wealth advisory, consulting, standalone financial planning, retirement-plan platform services, and outsourced chief investment officer services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm combines asset-allocation modeling with third-party independent managers, employing both active and passive strategies across public and private asset classes.

Gabriel Lindeen is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with various Truist entities since 2010, including Truist Investment Services and Truist Bank. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships and integrates affiliate services to deliver comprehensive investment solutions.

Matthew Barham is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Greensboro, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Credit Union Investment Services, SECU Brokerage Services, and the State Employees' Credit Union. He also has experience outside the financial sector, including work with Green Joe's Coffee and Chick-fil-A. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering a range of advisory services including retirement plan consulting and estate planning. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory approach with globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other investment vehicles, alongside client education programs and integrated affiliated service lines.