Rodger Isom is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Advisors Capital Management, LLC, having previously worked at West Financial Services Inc. and 1st Portfolio Wealth Advisors. Advisors Capital Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, employee benefit plans, and clients of unaffiliated broker-dealers and RIAs, providing discretionary portfolio management through customized private accounts, model strategies, and a self-directed brokerage solution for qualified retirement plans. The firm combines top-down macro analysis with bottom-up security selection across various asset classes and manages over $8.1 billion of discretionary assets.

Susan Whitfield is a Certified Financial Planner® with 22 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC in Raleigh, NC. She has held roles at Cic Advisers, LLC, Capital Investment Group, Inc., and Ballantyne Tax & Finance over the past two decades. Whitfield is the founder and owner of Ballantyne Tax & Financial, where she provides tax and financial planning services. Capital Investment Advisory Services offers portfolio management and supervisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, foundations, and charitable institutions. The firm customizes portfolios to clients’ objectives and risk tolerance, managing the majority of assets on a discretionary basis through various investment strategies.

Jason Knight is a CFP® professional with 27 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Great Valley Advisor Group, LLC in Raleigh, NC. He has worked at Gaines Financial Group and LPL Financial since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he provides non-variable insurance services including life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance. Great Valley Advisor Group is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, and trusts through personalized portfolio construction, ongoing oversight, and a combination of in-house strategies and third-party platforms. The firm supports a network of approximately 190 advisors and offers a range of investment management and financial planning services.

Kenneth Duncan is a financial advisor with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and offering 30 years of industry experience. His prior roles include various positions at PNC Bank and its affiliates. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to a range of clients including individuals, trusts, municipalities, and institutions, using global multi-asset class model portfolios that combine fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

John Palko is a CFP® professional with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC since 2018. He previously worked at Bb&T Securities, LLC from 2013 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is a general board member of the Matthews Area Chamber of Commerce. Capital Investment Advisory Services provides portfolio management and supervisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, estates, foundations, and charitable institutions. The firm offers customized investment solutions through separately managed accounts, third-party asset managers, and financial planning services, managing most assets on a discretionary basis.

Phillip Neuhart is a financial advisor with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 19 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Asset Management since 2017 and also maintains roles with First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services. In addition to his advisory duties, he serves as a Portfolio Strategist for Institutional Business within his firm. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to a range of clients including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and municipalities. The firm offers global multi-asset class model portfolios through various implementation frameworks, combining fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis with strategic asset allocation and ongoing risk management.

Evan Lockwood is a financial advisor with Arkadios Wealth Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he served in the Army National Guard for 11 years and worked with the Baltimore City Police Department. Outside of advising, he leads the tax division at Proximity Financial Partners and Proximity Tax Strategies, providing tax planning and preparation services. Arkadios Wealth Advisors offers investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a combination of advisor-managed accounts, third-party money managers, and an internal portfolio team that supports discretionary account management through fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Marcus Davis is a financial advisor with First Advisors National, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. He previously worked with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company for 12 years and Erie Insurance Group for 12 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Ultimate Choice Insurance Group Inc, where he has operated since 2007. First Advisors National provides investment management, asset allocation advice, and retirement plan consulting primarily to individual clients, including ERISA plan participants. The firm manages approximately $506.8 million in discretionary assets and implements strategies through third-party money managers, using tactical and strategic asset allocation approaches.

Matthew Vaughan is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Capital Investment Advisory Services and Capital Investment Brokerage since 2020, and previously was with Acorn Financial Advisory Services and The Strategic Financial Alliance from 2015 to 2020. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in fixed insurance sales as an agent. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers personalized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, or centrally managed private-label model portfolios, utilizing a mix of analytical methods and ongoing portfolio reviews.

Charles Mc Callum III is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. He previously held roles at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and SunTrust. He serves on the boards of SVB Wealth and First Citizens Asset Management. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, municipalities, and institutions, offering a range of multi-asset class portfolios monitored regularly by its board.

Quinton Rannells is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and eight years of industry experience. He has previously worked at TIAA-CREF and currently holds roles with SECU Brokerage Services, SECU Life Insurance Company, and State Employees' Credit Union. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning focused on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs. The firm’s salaried advisors provide recommendations while clients retain decision-making authority.

Matthew Horne is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Credit Union Investment Services, SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union since 2014. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm emphasizes low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs, fixed-income products, and a goals-based, long-term planning approach, with investment adviser representatives as salaried employees of the parent credit union.

Brent Ciliano is a CFA® charterholder with 26 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. and serves as a supervisory principal at SVB Wealth, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Citizens Bank. Brent also serves on the board of directors for First Citizens Asset Management, focusing on portfolio construction and investment selection. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to a range of clients, including individuals, trusts, municipalities, and institutions. The firm offers multi-asset class portfolios using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with an emphasis on strategic asset allocation and risk management.

Francis Thomas is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Rising Tide, Inc. and Capital Investment Group, Inc., alongside operating his own insurance agency, F. Michael Thomas & Associates, since 1985. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC offers investment advisory and supervisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an individualized process and a range of analytical methods to manage portfolios through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, or private-label model portfolios.

Jonathan Denton is a financial advisor at Strategic Blueprint, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Cornerstone Wealth Management and The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. since 2014. Strategic Blueprint, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm delivers customized, goal-based strategies through asset allocation, portfolio design, and manager selection, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with financial planning and educational programs.

Joshua Davis is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Raleigh, NC, bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has held roles at State Employees' Credit Union since 2008 and has been affiliated with Credit Union Investment Services and related entities since 2013. Davis also serves as a Financial Advisory Services District Manager at State Employees' Credit Union and acts as a trust representative for Members Trust Company. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves North Carolina residents, focusing on individual investors and trust clients. The firm offers non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, recommending low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs, with a goals-based, long-term approach.

Jason Shutts is a financial advisor with The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining The Strategic Financial Alliance, he worked at Bowers Private Wealth Management. Outside of advising, he is involved in providing tax preparation and filing services for family and a small group of friends and supports remote tax and tech assistance for TurboTax users through a business process outsourcing role. The Strategic Financial Alliance serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business clients. The firm offers portfolio management, third-party manager selection, financial planning, and consulting, implementing customized strategies through various programs and co-advisory relationships.

Benjamin Ingram is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at LPL Financial and Cuna Mutual Group. First Citizens Asset Management provides investment advisory and sub‑advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, institutional accounts, and municipal entities. The firm manages approximately $167 million on a discretionary basis through a multi‑team platform and constructs global, multi‑asset model portfolios using a combination of quantitative and qualitative criteria.

David Wahlen is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors in Raleigh, NC, with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at CapFinancial Partners LLC (CAPTRUST) and Hatteras Funds. Outside of his advisory role, Wahlen serves as a consultant for several third-party research firms, providing expertise on the competitive landscape and trends within the RIA industry. Merit Financial Group, LLC manages approximately $10.6 billion and serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using model portfolios and modular sleeves, overseen by a central Investment Management team and Investment Committee, while allowing advisors to customize portfolios on various platforms.

Donald Parrott is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. since 1996. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the committee for the Presbyterian Endowment Trust at First Presbyterian Church in Gastonia and is an advisory board member for Gaston Skills, Inc., a nonprofit supporting employment for mentally and physically challenged individuals. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers personalized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, using a mix of analytical methods and ongoing monitoring.