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.

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.

Thomas Norris is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Greensboro, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic since 2000 and is also associated with Agia. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member of Connection Valley Church. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and wrap programs through a large network of advisors. The firm utilizes third-party model managers and centralized technology to manage approximately $29.2 billion in assets for nearly 300,000 clients.

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.

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, 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 66 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked with Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. His background also includes roles outside finance, such as positions at Kreber Graphics Inc and Quaintance Weaver Corporation. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants. The firm uses an integrated service model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

James Williams is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer in Greensboro, NC, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials and bringing 46 years of industry experience. He has worked at Oppenheimer since 2010 and previously spent eight years with Morgan Keegan & Company, LLC. Oppenheimer serves individuals—including high net worth clients—corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm provides a range of programs and advisory services across equity, balanced, and fixed-income portfolios, employing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies tailored to client objectives.

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 with Cerity Partners LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He worked at UBS Financial Services from 2014 to 2026 before joining Cerity Partners. Harbaugh serves as trustee for multiple family trusts, overseeing asset management, tax filings, and distributions according to trust terms. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, and institutions, offering customized wealth management services and access to specialized investment strategies such as private market solutions.

Timothy Mellon is a financial advisor with Osaic Advisory Services, LLC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and Series 65 licenses, with 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Triad Advisors, Kestra Financial Services, and Green Valley Financial, where he is a managing partner. Mellon also serves on the board of directors for N.C. Grange Mutual and is involved in financial education as an instructor at Alamance Community College and Guilford Tech Community College. Additionally, he owns a farm business, Hedge Farm, LLC. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, charitable entities, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and offers services such as representative-managed programs, third-party manager and wrap programs, retirement plan consulting, and access to alternative investments.

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.