Frances Hymiller is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2022. She also has a long tenure at Wrenn Financial Strategies, Inc., where she has worked since 1997. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and a range of implementation options.

Angela Smelcer is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 25 years of industry experience. She has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2005 and First Citizens Bank since 2024. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm’s approach includes IAR-led assessments and diversified portfolio management using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various asset classes.

Timothy Sumner is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with 20 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member of the Sampson County Soccer Club and is president of the Clinton High School Booster Club. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering advisory and brokerage services through individual advisors and third-party portfolio managers. The firm utilizes a client-focused process involving financial need assessments and applies fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios.

Kevin Veverka is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 66 and Series 63 designations and having 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank before joining Truist Investment Services in 2019. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled equity research tools.

Andrew Rotz is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He previously worked at Fruitful, NCSU-CVM, Simplicity Financial Marketing, and Fidelity Investments. Outside of his advisory role, Rotz is the founder and CEO of Tide & Tempest Financial Planning, LLC, and serves as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing a range of investment advisory and financial planning services. The firm employs a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and utilizes low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other investment options.

Donald Hadley III is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment who holds the ChFC® designation and has 40 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Lincoln Investment since 2012 and Capital Analysts, Incorporated since 1998. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in coaching and consulting through Applied Vision Works, Inc., focusing on leadership and strategic planning. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise investment advisory and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm combines advisor-led consulting with model portfolios and third-party managers, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that develops strategic and adaptive investment strategies.

William Norman IV is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has eight years of industry experience. Norman has been with First Citizens in various roles since 2018. He serves on the board of The Fisher Oil Company as a trustee, participating in shareholder meetings related to the oil and gas market and company financials. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers advisory and brokerage services featuring portfolio management, a Guided Investing platform, tax-aware services, and financial planning, employing a client process that emphasizes tailored assessments and diversified investment strategies.

Thomas White is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Wendell, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Empower Financial Services, Fidelity Investments, TIAA, and TD Ameritrade. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated approach links planning and managed accounts with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Johnna Kendrick is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at Edward Jones, BB&T Investments, and various entities within the First Citizens organization. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering advisory and brokerage services with a range of portfolio management and financial planning solutions. The firm’s approach combines fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis tailored through IAR-led client assessments.

Jesse Bencivenga is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors, Wells Fargo Bank, and First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering portfolio management, model portfolios, and financial planning through a process that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate across asset classes.

Matthew Belcher is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2012. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that employs algorithmic risk assessment and delegated portfolio management using mutual funds and ETFs.

Brian Luce is a financial advisor with United Planners Financial Services of America, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at United Planners since 2023 and previously spent seven years with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. In addition to his advisory role, Luce operates Heartland Financial Advisor as a marketing entity and works as an independent life insurance agent. United Planners serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and institutional clients such as sovereign wealth funds and banks. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan services, and brokerage solutions through a network of 477 independent advisors, using an open-architecture platform with multiple custodians and third-party money managers.

Barbara Key is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes six years at Merrill. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers services such as portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives who develop their own investment strategies within firm supervision.

John Stanton III is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at LPL Financial and Cuna Mutual Group. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account for employees. The firm uses algorithmic risk assessments and delegated portfolio implementation with a focus on mutual funds and ETFs.

Josh Hederick is a financial advisor at Prime Capital Financial with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Edelman Financial Engines Advisors, Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., The Mutual Fund Store, and Merrill. Prime Capital Financial is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans with a broad range of services including asset management, financial planning, qualified retirement plan services, and family office offerings. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and provides tax planning through its affiliated accounting subsidiary.

Donald Hadley Jr. is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding the ChFC® designation and a Series 63 license, and has 58 years of industry experience. He has been with Lincoln Investment since 2012 and has also worked with Capital Analysts, Incorporated and Fidelity Mutual/Capital Analyst Inc. since 1972. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner in GAITS OF HEAVEN, LLC, a horse management business focused on raising, training, and showing horses. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise investment advisory and broker-dealer serving individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, including educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management services, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team and third-party managers.

Patrick Lane is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has worked at First Citizens Investor Services since 2018, with prior roles at Pearl Staffing and Oyster Consulting. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering advisory and brokerage services through investment advisory representatives and third-party portfolio managers. The firm employs a client process focused on assessing financial needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios.

James Baker is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial for seven years before joining First Citizens Investor Services in 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of his condominium homeowners association. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client process focused on financial needs assessment and diversified portfolio allocation, offering products such as unified managed accounts, wrap programs, and tax-aware services.

Thomas Smith is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at First Citizens Bank, Oak Valley Golf Course, North Carolina State University, YMCA, Members Credit Union, and Davie County Schools. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client-centered process using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

James Phillips III is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he spent ten years managing operations at Clyde Phillips Seafood, where he remains involved in the business’s apparel sales as a sole proprietor. First Citizens Investor Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations, providing advisory and brokerage services through various portfolio management options and financial planning. The firm emphasizes IAR-led client assessments and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis in asset allocation across multiple investment vehicles.