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.

Adam Miller is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Greensboro, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Valic, he worked at Agia and has experience in healthcare and nonprofit sectors, including roles at Authoracare Collective and Mercy Hill Church. In addition to his advisory work, he is appointed as an agent to sell non-securities insurance products for Agia. 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-developed UMA models for portfolio construction and management.

John Schultz is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Greensboro, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2011 and also holds a position as an agent with Agia, where he is involved with non-securities insurance products. Outside of his financial advisory work, Schultz serves as a committee member for the Greater Lake Norman Young Life, a local Christian ministry for high school students. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing discretionary unified managed accounts on Envestnet’s platform with a focus on technology-driven solutions and centralized model portfolios.

Thomas Norris is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Greensboro, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2000 and also serves as a board member of Connection Valley Church, where he participates in governance discussions without financial authority. 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, and brokerage services, leveraging Envestnet UMA models and operating at scale with over 1,200 advisors.

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.

Angela Kenan is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. She has worked at multiple Ameritas entities since 2006 and has been with Southeast Financial Services, Inc. since 1989. Outside of her advisory work, Kenan is involved in managing rental properties through CARTY PROPERTIES, LLC. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and platforms, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services.

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 at Empower Advisory Group with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and related entities. His background also includes prior roles outside finance, such as at Kreber Graphics Inc and the Music Academy of NC. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to select IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns through integrated planning and managed account solutions within Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

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, with 23 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Davenport since 2009, following three years at Citigroup Global Markets. Davenport & Company serves individual and institutional clients, offering asset management, retail brokerage, fixed income, public finance, and investment banking services. The firm’s asset management teams provide a range of strategies across separately managed accounts, mutual funds, ETF portfolios, and unified managed accounts.

Michael Schultz is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Birmingham, AL, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 1986 and also holds an agent position with Agia, focusing on non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled 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 UMA models for portfolio construction.

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.

Clarence Slaughter III is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 30 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LPL Financial, and Kersey Valley Entertainment since 2016. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved with NC Physicians Retirement Strategy. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies supported by various analytical techniques and technology platforms, operating under a network model with strong connections to LPL Financial.

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.

Santos Rivera Vasquez is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Brookstone, he worked in various roles at Panda Express and Amerilife. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other entities. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset allocation models, including proprietary investment strategies and a mix of ETFs, mutual funds, and options-enhanced strategies.

John Brownlow III is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Greensboro, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 1999 and also serves as an agent with Agia, focusing on non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled 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 and management.

Braxton Towery is a financial advisor at Valic Financial Advisors with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Agia, Cru, and Vector Marketing Corporation. In addition to his advisory role, he is an agent involved in non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through a large network of advisors and utilizes centralized technology and unified managed account solutions.

Vicki Bertholomey is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services who holds a Series 66 designation and has 24 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Merrill, BB&T Securities, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. She is based in High Point, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms, to deliver its AMC Advantage manager-selection program.