Kathleen Villegas is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience. She currently works at Root Financial Partners and previously held roles at Ellevest and Old Peak Finance LLC. Prior to her financial advisory career, she worked at Duke University. Root Financial Partners provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes broadly diversified, passive portfolios tailored to client goals and offers specialized strategies when appropriate, along with educational programming and separate paid online academies.

Jo Beth Mullens is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has worked in tax services as a tax analyst for H&R Block. Verity Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individual, corporate, institutional clients, and other advisers. The firm employs a model-driven investment process focused on tactical asset allocation across diverse asset classes and offers discretionary portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning services.

Terrence Donoghue is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and over 47 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Alliance and affiliated with LPL Financial since 2016, previously working at Invest Financial Corporation and National Equities Management Co. Founders Financial Alliance provides discretionary, fee-based investment management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and corporate retirement plans. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach tailored to client goals and risk tolerances, combining asset allocation, rebalancing, and multiple strategies along with third-party manager solutions.

Lawrence Mcmanus Jr. is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Modern Wealth Management, LLC since 2024. His prior roles include positions at Advisory Services Network, LLC and Team Wealth Planning and Management, Inc. He serves as treasurer and finance chair on the board of directors for Carol Woods Retirement Community and holds board roles with County Hall Insurance Company. Modern Wealth Management provides investment advisory and integrated planning services to individuals, trusts, pension and retirement plans, charitable organizations, broker-dealers, and corporations. The firm employs a centralized portfolio management model supported by an Investment Committee and offers a range of services including discretionary investment management, modular financial planning, tax and estate planning, and ERISA plan services.

Gordon Wegwart is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management with 43 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Verity Asset Management, Inc. and related entities since 1996. Wegwart serves as an officer and director of Verity Financial Group, an insurance agency, and is a board member of PlanScope360, LLC, which focuses on retirement plan governance and administration. Verity Asset Management is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm with 53 advisors overseeing approximately $1.15 billion. The firm serves individuals, retirement plan sponsors and participants, institutional clients, and other advisers, employing a largely model-based investment process that includes internally managed specialty strategies and third-party manager models.

Michael De Camillis is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with multiple firms, including The Leaders Group DBA Simplicity Investments and Tidewater Financial Group of NC. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in sales and marketing roles related to health and insurance products through several business activities. Verity Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with discretionary portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning. The firm uses a model-driven investment process focused on tactical asset allocation across diverse asset classes and offers both internally managed and third-party manager models.

Joseph Gordon is a CFP® professional with 46 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Summit Financial, LLC. He previously led Gordon Asset Management, LLC for over two decades and has been president of Strategic Financial Management, Inc. since 1981, where he offers fixed-life insurance and employee benefits. Summit Financial, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $26.35 billion in client assets, offering investment advisory, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base through both discretionary and consultative platforms.

Paul Bode is a financial advisor at Franklin Street Advisors Inc. with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has worked previously at Safe Harbor Family Capital, LLC and Johnson Development Associates. Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary, customized investment management to high-net-worth individuals and various institutional clients. The firm uses a team-based manager research process and offers separately managed accounts, combining in-house equity and fixed income management with access to third-party managers.

Russell Smith is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Aptus Capital Advisors, LLC and Gordon Smith Pension Advisors, LLC. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales and service, focusing on long-term care and fixed annuity products. Guardian Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm employs a systematic investment approach using mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, options, and equities, combining fundamental and technical analysis to manage portfolios.

Lori Taylor is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at CWA Asset Management Group since 2020. Her prior roles include positions at Fifth Third Securities and Truist Investment Services. CWA Asset Management Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and institutional clients, employing proprietary research and quantitative strategies across globally diversified portfolios. The firm also offers fiduciary retirement plan services and facilitates insurance product transactions through affiliated entities.

Nathaniel Brown is a financial advisor at Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Cambridge Investment Research and Commonwealth Financial Network. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Networking With Nate LLC, which hosts professional job networking events. Geneos Wealth Management serves a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment advisory, and brokerage services. The firm employs a range of analytic approaches and investment strategies, combining continuous account monitoring with discretionary trading authority.

Heather Dean is a financial advisor with Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 16 years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Avantax Investment Services and 1ST Global Advisors. Dean is also a partner at EisnerAmper, where she is involved in tax and accounting services. Prosperity advises individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, providing financial planning, portfolio management, and consulting services. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in assets with a multi-team approach that emphasizes asset allocation and diversification, utilizing third-party managers and technology platforms to support client services.

Terence Brown is a financial advisor with Triad Wealth Partners, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at multiple firms including Coppell Advisory Solutions and Fusion Capital Management, and has operated Left Tackle Advisors, where he is also an insurance agent focused on life insurance, annuities, disability income, and long-term care products. Triad Wealth Partners serves individual and institutional clients through a network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives and a Turnkey Asset Management Platform, providing discretionary portfolio management, access to third-party managers, model portfolios, and financial planning services. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation process supported by an investment committee, offering diversified investment strategies across a range of asset types.

Timothy Gupton is a financial advisor at Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with firms including Avantax Investment Services and 1st Global Advisors. Gupton is active outside of his advisory role, serving on various nonprofit and community boards in Blowing Rock, NC, including positions focused on civic education, tourism development, and business growth. Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company serves individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and diversification, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management with third-party independent managers and model portfolios.

Cheryl Rhew is a financial advisor with Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company in Raleigh, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Avantax Advisory Services and Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP. In addition to her advisory work, she is a partner at EisnerAmper, where she is involved in tax and accounting services. 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 third-party independent managers and model portfolios while providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Jamonica Brown is a financial advisor at IFG Advisory, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. She has worked at multiple firms, including LPL Financial LLC, Natural Investments, Cetera Advisors, and Fidelity Investments. Brown is also the founder of Aligned Support Co., where she provides paraplanning and investment support services to RIA firms. IFG Advisory, LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and utilizes sub-advisors and third-party managers to tailor portfolios to client objectives.

Jasmine Young is a financial advisor at Core Planning with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and concurrently works as a Data Scientist and Software Engineer at Microsoft, where she develops AI agents for sales support. Core Planning provides fee-only financial planning and wealth management services primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, including ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services. The firm employs a tailored investment approach using third-party model portfolios and automated rebalancing tools.

Blake Paro is a financial advisor with Advisory Services Network and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 22 years of industry experience and has worked at firms including Calton & Associates, Olde Raleigh Financial Group, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A. G. Edwards & Sons. Based in Raleigh, NC, he also operates as a private wealth manager through Paro Wealth Management and is involved in the sale and service of insurance products. Advisory Services Network provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, families, corporations, and retirement plans through a large network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing diverse investment strategies tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Richard Blankenship is a CFA® charterholder with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. He has been with Franklin Street Partners, Inc. since 1997. Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary, customized investment management to high-net-worth individuals and various institutional clients. The firm employs a team-based manager research process and manages client portfolios on a discretionary basis, offering access to both internal portfolio teams and third-party managers.

Erich Spoonhour is a financial advisor at Trajan Wealth, L.L.C. with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and PNC Wealth Management. He is also licensed as an insurance agent and offers insurance products, including annuities, as part of his client services. Trajan Wealth provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm follows a long-term, disciplined investment approach, emphasizing stocks, ETFs, and tailored portfolios aligned with clients’ risk profiles and circumstances.