Edward Secrest is a CFP® professional affiliated with Summit Financial, LLC in Raleigh, NC, with 35 years of industry experience. He has held roles at firms including Modern Capital Securities, Liberty Partners Financial Services, Secrest Blakey & Associates, LPL Financial, and Southeast Financial Group. Outside of advisory work, he is involved with Accessible AI, mentoring on product development for a CRM aimed at managing 401(k) plans, and he is a one-third owner of Jed Farms, a hay-producing real estate firm. Summit Financial, LLC is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $26.35 billion in assets for around 17,800 clients. The firm offers a variety of investment advisory and portfolio management programs, combining discretionary and consultative services with a focus on financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and access to alternative investments.

Rodger Isom is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 10 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked with Advisors Capital Management since 2023 and previously held positions at West Financial Services Inc. and 1st Portfolio Wealth Advisors. Advisors Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individuals, employee benefit plans, and clients of unaffiliated broker-dealers and RIAs. The firm combines top-down macro analysis with bottom-up security selection across proprietary equity, fixed-income, and tactical strategies, managing over $8.1 billion in assets and serving nearly 18,000 clients.

Susan Whitfield is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC. She has worked with Capital Investment Group, Inc. since 2006 and has maintained a concurrent role at Ballantyne Tax & Finance since 2004, where she is the founder and owner providing tax and financial planning services. In addition to her advisory work, she holds a real estate license and acts as an agent for several insurance companies. Capital Investment Advisory Services provides portfolio management and supervisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable institutions. The firm offers customized investment programs using a variety of analytical methods and manages the majority of its assets on a discretionary basis.

Jason Knight is a CFP® professional with 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2011 and previously spent ten years at Charles Schwab. Knight provides investment advisory services through Great Valley Advisor Group, LLC. Great Valley Advisor Group is an SEC-registered, multi-team investment adviser serving individuals—including high-net-worth clients—retirement plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing a combination of in-house strategies and third-party managers.

Wilson Li is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Abacus Wealth Partners with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Abacus Wealth Partners in 2024, he worked at Woodward Financial Advisors from 2021 to 2024. Abacus Wealth Partners provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs an asset-class investing approach grounded in academic research, utilizing primarily no-load mutual funds, ETFs, and passive institutional funds, along with ESG screening and private pooled vehicles in client portfolios.

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.

Gavin Speck is an advisor at SEIA with a Series 66 designation and approximately one year of industry experience. Prior to joining SEIA, he was affiliated with SES LLC and spent several years as a student. SEIA is an SEC-registered, multi-team advisory firm with about 142 advisors serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, combining strategic asset allocation with tactical and qualitative investment processes.

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.

Charles Mahaffey is a financial advisor at Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Franklin Street Advisors since 2010. Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to a range of clients including individuals, pooled investment vehicles, pensions, trusts, non-profits, and governmental entities. The firm employs an open-architecture approach that combines in-house management with external managers, guided by a quarterly Investment Policy Committee and a disciplined manager-research process.

Evan Lockwood is a financial advisor at Arkadios Wealth Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with four years of industry experience. Before joining Arkadios in 2022, he served in the Army National Guard for 11 years and worked with the Baltimore City Police Department for four years. He is also involved in tax planning and preparation through his roles as Head of the Tax Division at Proximity Financial Partners and Proximity Tax Strategies, where he provides services to both internal and external clients. Arkadios Wealth Advisors is an SEC-registered, multi-team firm serving individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans with customized investment plans based on client risk profiles. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, offering various portfolio management options including internally managed accounts and third-party solutions.

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 28 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. and First Citizens Delaware Trust Company. His prior roles include positions at BB&T Securities, Truist Investment Services, and SunTrust Investment Services. He serves on the board of SVB Wealth and First Citizens Asset Management, attending quarterly meetings and supporting business activities. First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and municipal clients. The firm constructs global multi-asset class portfolios using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with continuous model monitoring and formal quarterly board reviews.

Todd Zempel is a financial advisor at Summit Financial, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for Gordon Asset Management, LLC for 12 years. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-managing member of Z & M Real Estate Holdings, LLC, a passive real estate investment entity. Summit Financial, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $26.35 billion in assets for about 17,800 clients. The firm offers investment advisory and portfolio management programs, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services through a combination of discretionary and consultative approaches.

Brent Ciliano is a financial advisor with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. He holds the CFA® designation and Series 66 license and has 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers LP and Congress Capital Partners, LLP, and he currently serves on the board of directors at 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, and public entities. The firm constructs global multi-asset class model portfolios using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with investment management generally offered on a discretionary basis.

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.

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.

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.

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.