Ricky Whitley is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. since 2026. He has been affiliated with First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services since 2011. Whitley also teaches financial planning concepts at the Trust Advisors Institute through Campbell University. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, municipalities, and institutions. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and multi-asset class portfolio construction using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

Josh Newman is a financial advisor with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and five years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Bank for 16 years before joining First Citizens. Outside of his advisory role, he manages a long-term rental condominium property. First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. provides model-based sub-advisory services and direct investment advisory to individuals, trusts, municipalities, and institutions, offering global multi-asset class model portfolios that emphasize strategic asset allocation, manager research, and risk control.

Carlton Blanton is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC. He has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. since 2000. In addition to his advisory role, he is an insurance agent with Blanton Financial Group and has ownership in BHK Investments, LLC. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, utilizing a variety of analytical methods and ongoing portfolio reviews.

Robert Malone III is a financial advisor with Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company based in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 24 years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at firms including Avantax Advisory Services and HPG WealthCare Advisors. He is also a partner at EisnerAmper, where he is involved in tax and accounting services. Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company serves individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and diversification, utilizing third-party managers and technology platforms to support client financial planning and account administration.

Katherine Gagner is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, with six years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing Services prior to joining First Citizens. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and public entities. The firm utilizes a strategic, multi-asset class approach combining fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various investment frameworks.

Steven Katzenstein is a financial advisor with Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company based in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 31 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Avantax Advisory Services, HPG Wealthcare Advisors, and 1st Global Advisors. Katzenstein is also licensed as an insurance agent with involvement in fixed insurance and annuity sales. Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company serves individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and diversification, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches and third-party technology platforms.

Tyler Bayless Edwards is a financial advisor at Earned Wealth Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Hilltop Wealth Advisors and DASH Carolina. Outside of his advisory role, Edwards is a licensed North Carolina Real Estate Broker and earns commissions from assisting clients with residential real estate transactions. Earned Wealth Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, focusing on physicians, dentists, and their practice employees, providing financial planning, discretionary wealth management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs independent investment managers and model portfolios, integrates alternative investments when appropriate, and is affiliated with several related businesses including retirement plan services and accounting firms.

Billy Grissom III is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at PKS Investments, LPL Financial, Orion Talent, and served in the United States Marine Corps. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion with 144 advisors and over 14,000 clients. The firm serves individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and institutions, employing a long-term, diversified investment approach through customizable model portfolios and a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and third-party managers.

Brett Dysart is a financial advisor with Strategic Blueprint, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked with Strategic Blueprint since 2019 and has been associated with Cornerstone Wealth Management, LLC and The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. since 2008. Outside of his advisory roles, Dysart owns Cameo Design, LLC, a real estate remodeling and consulting business. Strategic Blueprint, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers customized, goal-based strategies through portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, family office services, and a subscription advisory program, with a distinctive emphasis on client education and a formal flat-fee subscription advisory model.

Dylan Stroud is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Curi Capital, LLC. He previously worked at BBR Partners and Simon Quick Advisors, LLC. Curi Capital is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $11.6 billion in assets, serving individuals, retirement plans, institutions, mutual funds, private funds, and family offices. The firm employs a long-term, fundamental investment approach with a mix of proprietary strategies and third-party managers, and offers specialized services including a subscription education product for medical professionals.

Richard Mc Elroy is a financial advisor at Kingswood Wealth Advisors, LLC with 28 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Glenwood Financial Partners LLC, Eudaimonia Partners, LLC, and Great Lakes and Atlantic Wealth Management. Kingswood Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutions. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, ERISA plan advisory, and consulting services, operating an open-architecture platform and integrating insurance-linked account management alongside third-party managers and sub-advisors.

Marvin Musselwhite is a financial advisor at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Capital Investment Advisory Services and Capital Investment Group since 2020. Prior to his advisory career, he held roles at McConnell Golf, DICK's Sporting Goods, and North Carolina State University. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, employing a variety of analytical methods and ongoing portfolio reviews.

Andrew Johnson is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Raleigh, NC. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has 19 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Northwestern Mutual and State Employees' Credit Union. Outside of his advisory work, he is an agent with SECU Life Insurance Company. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves individual investors who reside in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning with a focus on mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed income products. The firm operates within a credit-union ecosystem and emphasizes a goals-based, long-term investment approach using low-cost index funds.

Charles Dickinson Jr. is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as an Institutional Consultant at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. His background includes roles at First Citizens Bank and Campbell University. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, institutions, and municipalities, employing a multi-asset class approach with discretionary management focused on strategic asset allocation and risk control.

Chandler Huggins is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at White Oaks Wealth Partners and Captrust Financial Advisors. Outside of finance, he is involved with CH Wellness LLC and Counseling Choices LLC. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporate and charitable entities, and retirement plans, managing approximately $12.4 billion across about 207 advisors. The firm offers investment advisory and financial planning through various platforms and employs a multifaceted portfolio construction and management approach.

Michael Pearl is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC since 2013. He has been involved with Capital Investment Group, Inc. since 2001 and operates an accounting practice under the name Michael F. Pearl, CPA, a business he has maintained since 1988. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, using a mix of analytical methods and ongoing monitoring.

Krista Loew is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Raleigh, NC, bringing 16 years of industry experience. She holds roles at several affiliated entities, including SECU Life Insurance Company and Members Trust Company, and serves as Vice President of IRA Services at State Employees' Credit Union. Outside of finance, she assists with accounting duties for a construction and trade business owned by her spouse. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves individual investors in North Carolina, providing non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm emphasizes low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs with a long-term, goals-based approach, and its advisors are salaried employees of the parent credit union.

Richard Rose III is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Advisory Services and affiliated entities since 2016. In addition to his advisory role, he works as an insurance agent focused on fixed insurance products. Capital Investment Advisory Services provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, with ongoing monitoring and risk disclosure.

Brandon Fentress is a financial advisor at Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Triad Advisors, Inc., Gordon Asset Management, LLC, and Aptus Capital Advisors, LLC. Outside of advisory services, he is also a licensed life insurance agent. Guardian Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm uses a systematic approach combining fundamental and technical analysis and offers portfolio management through mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, options, and equities.

Sandra Ziglar is a financial advisor with Sequent Planning, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. She worked for Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation for 14 years prior to joining Sequent Planning in 2023. Outside of her advisory role, she is also a licensed real estate agent and involved in property management and insurance services. Sequent Planning, LLC serves individuals, retirement plan sponsors, businesses, endowments, and nonprofits through asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services. The firm uses a structured risk framework and a mix of firm-developed models and third-party managers to deliver diversified investment solutions.