Mitchell Ludwig is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently associated with UNITED PLANNERS' FINANCIAL SERVICES of AMERICA. His prior work includes roles at OSAIC, FSC, Wealthcare Capital Management LLC, and The Family Firm. He is also involved as an Associate Partner in Carolina Wealth Partners, a marketing entity based in Raleigh, NC. United Planners Financial Services is a national wealth-management enterprise serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers advisory and brokerage services through independent Investment Adviser Representatives and employs a mix of custodians and third-party managers to implement client strategies.

Joseph Lucente is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Cary, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fifth Third Securities in 2021, he worked at Fifth Third Bank and SunTrust Bank, and he also has six years of experience with Chipotle Mexican Grill. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage channels. The firm offers a variety of managed account programs, including advisor-directed mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed accounts, and tax overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Kenneth Bollinger is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC since 2026. His prior roles include positions at Emerald Investment Partners, LLC, Niagara International Capital Limited, and Principal Financial Company. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved as a healthcare benefits insurance agent with Triangle Insurance & Benefits Insurance Agency. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets through a large advisor network and employs a diversified investment process blending passive and active strategies supported by an internal Investment Committee.

Cody Wagner is an advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. based in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has experience working at Fifth Third Securities since 2026 and has previous roles at Fifth Third Bank, Truist, and Wells Fargo dating back to 2016. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway platform, combining advisor-guided strategies with advanced portfolio management techniques.

Julie Knight is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience and is currently an advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott. Her prior experience includes roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. She volunteers with the Estate Planning Council of the Lehigh Valley and is involved as a member and volunteer with Lehigh Valley Aging in Place. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large enterprise firm managing approximately $110 billion in client assets, serving a diverse client base with brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs. The firm combines in-house and third-party portfolio management and offers custody and trustee services through a subsidiary trust company.

Kyle Scott is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Raleigh, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has four years of industry experience and has worked at several firms including New York Life Insurance Co. and GPAC. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of KTNDJE Publishing and an author of the book *Killing Chaos: Making Relationship Decisions That Lead to Less Drama*. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and corporate and charitable clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, delivering solutions through multiple program types and emphasizing tailored recommendations to client objectives.

Roberto Pflaumer is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Entrust from 2009 to 2024 and has been affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors and WealthWave since 2015 and 2017, respectively. Pflaumer is involved in the sales of insurance and non-insurance products for companies affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services, utilizing proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary options.

Alfred Sosa is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 29 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at National Life Group, MassMutual, Mutual of Omaha, and Transamerica Financial Advisors. He is also the managing director and agent of Financial Partners Group LLC. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm operates as both a broker-dealer and an SEC-registered investment adviser, offering multiple advisory platforms that combine long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and third-party asset management.

Kevin Berry is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has worked at Brookstone Capital Management since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Security Financial, Retirement Wealth Advisors, FormulaFolio Investments, and Secure Financial Solutions. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates Security Financial, providing insurance sales and investment advisory services. Brookstone Capital Management offers fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset allocation models, a turnkey asset management platform, and a variety of investment strategies, serving both direct clients and other advisory programs.

Rachel Liquori is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. She has worked in various roles within Truist and its predecessor entities since 2011 and has prior experience at City National Bank and First Citizens Investor Services. Outside of her advisory work, Rachel is a co-owner of a consulting business that assists military veterans with disability claims, though she is not involved in its operations. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, utilizing third-party managers and AI-enabled research tools, with notable inter-affiliate integration across Truist entities.

Diane Bonner is a Certified Financial Planner® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC since 2025. Her prior experience includes roles at Arky & Miller Financial Group, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Truist Investment Services. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered firm providing wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm’s investment approach focuses on customized, primarily long-term portfolios utilizing ETFs, mutual funds, and other securities, supported by an extensive network of advisors and sub-advisory arrangements.

David Hackney is a financial advisor with Money Concepts Capital Corp in Pittsboro, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Money Concepts, Inc. since 2008 and ProEquities, Inc. since 2003. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in consulting services through David G Hackney Consulting. Money Concepts Advisory Service provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a variety of managed programs and utilizes model portfolios, third-party sub-advisers, and a combination of fundamental and technical analysis in its investment approach.

April Van Nieuwland is a Series 66 licensed advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with four years of industry experience. She previously worked with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC and Capital Investment Group, Inc., and has also held positions outside the financial industry, including roles at Starbucks and Mellow Mushroom. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, through a network of over 400 independent advisers. The firm offers a range of portfolio management options and delivers advice via dually licensed advisers who develop their own investment strategies under firm supervision.

William Gilbert is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Holly Springs, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2005 and also has experience with Sunamerica Capital Services, Inc. since 2013. Valic Financial Advisors 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 and providing various overlay options.

John Passey is a financial advisor at Private Advisor Group, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at firms including LPL Financial LLC, Good Life Advisors, Sterling Fox Financial, Raymond James Financial Services, and Edward Jones. He also operates Good Life Advisors, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers managed account solutions through proprietary platforms and third-party managers, employing a fiduciary-based advisory model.

Tyler Zieker is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Commonwealth in 2026, he worked at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting and has a diverse background including roles in hospitality and banking. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and hundreds of thousands of clients, managing about $212.7 billion in assets. The firm offers a broad platform of managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and various custody and clearing services.

Kenneth Shores is a CFP® and ChFC® with 24 years of industry experience. He is currently with First Command Advisory Services and has previously worked at firms including The Huntington Investment Company, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and J.P. Morgan Securities. First Command Advisory Services serves individuals, corporate, and charitable clients with a focus on active-duty service members and their families, offering financial planning and wrap-fee asset management programs managed through a centralized investment team and wealth portfolio managers.

John Eason II is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, Equitable Advisors, and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for 15 years. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC manages approximately $110 billion in client assets and serves a diverse clientele including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services supported by both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Tao Zhang is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Morrisville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Transamerica Financial Advisors, World Financial Group, International Medical Group, HCC Medical Insurance Service, Datalenty Inc., and Lyft. Outside of advising, he serves as president of an IT consulting firm, Datalenty Inc., and works as an independent producer for international medical insurance products. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a wide range of clients including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party model portfolios with both discretionary and non-discretionary options.

Benjamin Summers is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Financial Partners. His prior roles include positions at IFP Securities, LLC, LPL Financial, Truist Investment Services, and Banc of America Investment Services. In addition to his advisory work, Summers is involved in the sales and service of fixed insurance products through firms such as Crump Life Insurance Services and The Pinnacle Group. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisers. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, with a notable focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.