Serene Alsous is a CFP® and ChFC® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Valic Financial Advisors. She has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2017 and holds an agent position with Agia. Alsous is also a notary public in Wake County, North Carolina. Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and unified managed account solutions through a large network of advisors.

Conrad Kunkel is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Brookstone since 2015. In addition to his role there, he owns GPS Financial Strategies, where he counsels individuals, families, and business owners on financial security matters. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

John Todd is a financial advisor at Osaic Advisory Services, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Arbor Point Advisors, Securities America, Inc., Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., and Edward Jones. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, charitable organizations, and government entities. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related services through multiple program models, utilizing a combination of proprietary guidance and third-party platforms.

Kimberley Palladino is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Truist and its predecessor, SunTrust, since 2015. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, fiduciary support, and manager selection programs, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by AI-enabled research tools.

Richard Nathan is a financial advisor at Mariner with 8 years of industry experience. He previously spent 28 years at Forte Capital LLC. Outside of advising, he serves on the management committee of Forte Capital, which solely holds Mariner F-1 Units without providing investment advice or financial planning. Mariner serves a diverse client base through customized, discretionary portfolio management supported by in-house research and third-party managers, and offers integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness services in addition to traditional investment solutions.

Joseph Shore is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with pre-existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates within a vertically integrated group, offering model and customized portfolios, and acts as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Gordon Pruitt is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Edward Jones in Chapel Hill, NC, with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Bull City Learning and Syneos Health. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, with over $1 trillion in assets under management and a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Roger Werner is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 54 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation as well as Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Werner previously worked at Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. since 2018 and spent 25 years at Signator Investors, Inc. and John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1993 to 2018. Outside of advisory work, he volunteers on the University of North Carolina Board of Visitors, assisting with communication to prospective honors students. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a network of affiliated advisers and multiple platforms. The firm integrates brokerage and advisory services, employing asset-allocation tools and offering portfolios with a range of securities managed on discretionary or non-discretionary bases.

Daniel Odeh is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Fidelity with two years of industry experience. He has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2024 and has prior experience in retail and banking roles. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Daniel Bayait is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2015. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of managed strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds under a fiduciary standard. The firm is notable for its large nationwide network of advisors and branches, as well as its additional capabilities including a trust company and securities-based lending options.

Wyatt Thompson III is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Midtown Events LLC, DICK's Sporting Goods, and Armstrong Relocation. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC, where Thompson works, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and a Charitable Gift Fund. The firm employs a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Benjamen Parker is a financial advisor with Fidelity, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked with Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC since 2008 and has been part of Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors since 2018. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including registered investment companies and an IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Fund. The firm employs a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios.

Andrew Snider is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. He previously worked at CUSO Financial Services, LP for 14 years and has been affiliated with Coastal Federal Credit Union for over 20 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for the Triangle Adult Soccer League, a nonprofit organization in North Carolina. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a broad range of advisory programs and financial planning services, including model portfolios and advanced technology solutions, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Cyrus Smith Jr. is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 46 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2021, with prior experience at CUSO Financial Services and Scottrade. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a broad range of clients, including retail and institutional investors. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop systematic model portfolios.

Justin Gorney is a financial advisor at Fidelity with the Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Fidelity and its related entities since 2015. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a combination of proprietary fundamental research and quantitative analysis to construct model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs. The firm also serves as a registered commodity pool operator and advisor to multiple registered investment companies, utilizing algorithmic methods and AI in its investment process.

Steven Kocher is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 38 years of experience, currently serving at UBS Financial Services since 1987. He is based in Troy, MI, and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services that include proprietary research and tailored financial planning.

Mikel Chalmers is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he currently assists clients and their families in understanding and achieving their financial goals. He collaborates with clients to analyze all aspects of their financial lives and develops plans to work towards meeting those goals. Mikel has held several roles in the financial services industry, including Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023, and Paraplanner at Ameriprise Financial during 2020 and 2021. Prior to that, he was an Associate Advisor at Millennium Advisory Services from 2018 to 2020. He holds insurance licenses in both Arkansas and California.

Sandra Gunnels is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity Investments, she held roles in various companies, including Trophy Brewing and Pizza and Henson Novelties. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, using a blend of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage model portfolios across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Aaron Schmidt is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2021 and previously was employed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Relias Learning. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm manages discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios and is noted for its use of systematic methodologies, AI-driven research, and its advisory roles with registered investment companies and fund-of-funds.

Sam Ahmed is an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments, a role held since 2023. Prior to this position, Sam advanced through roles as Investment Solutions Representative II (2022-2023) and Investment Solutions Representative I (2021-2022) at Fidelity Investments. Earlier professional experience includes serving as a Relationship Manager at Wells Fargo from 2016 to 2021 and as a Teller at Wells Fargo from 2015 to 2016. Sam holds insurance licenses in Arkansas and California. He focuses on assisting clients in working towards their financial goals by being attentive to detail and an active listener, emphasizing long-term relationship building. Outside of his professional work, Sam engages in family activities, fitness, movies, parenthood, and traveling.