John Bland is a financial advisor with Diversified Investment Services LLC in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Blackridge Asset Management LLC and Commonwealth Financial Network. Bland is also a licensed insurance agent offering insurance product sales alongside his advisory services. Diversified Investment Services LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a range of analysis methods and investment strategies. The firm offers discretionary management, regular portfolio monitoring, and quarterly reporting, with portfolios that may include mutual funds, ETFs, fixed income, real estate funds, annuities, and non-U.S. securities.

Bert Bennett IV is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience. He is the principal of West Fork Wealth Management LLC, an independent firm he joined in 2024 after working at Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, Bennett teaches summer camp at Carolina Friends School in Durham, NC. West Fork Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, non-profits, endowments, trusts, small businesses, and estates. The firm manages portfolios tailored to clients’ investment goals and risk tolerance, employing fundamental, technical, cyclical analysis, and modern portfolio theory.

Ohan Kayikchyan is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience. He is the principal of Alohana Financial, LLC, a fee-only registered investment adviser based in Durham, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Wells Fargo Bank NA. Alohana Financial provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals and high-net-worth clients, employing an asset-allocation approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory. The firm uses a combination of passive and active investment vehicles and offers ESG customization upon client request.

Benjamin Birken is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as the principal advisor at Pisces Financial Advisors, LLC in Chapel Hill, NC. He previously worked at Woodward Financial Advisors, Inc. for 12 years and holds a leadership role at Holistiplan, LLC, a financial services software company, where he is Vice-President for Customer Success and Engagement. Pisces Financial Advisors provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm’s investment approach focuses on strategic asset allocation using low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs with attention to diversification, cost control, and tax efficiency.

Christopher Harp is the sole advisor at CH Capital Management, an independent registered investment adviser based in Chapel Hill, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 22 years of industry experience, having led CH Capital Management since 2010. CH Capital Management provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, endowments, charitable organizations, and pension or profit-sharing plans. The firm typically serves clients with substantial assets and combines a solo advisor model with institutional-style client relationships, outsourcing operational functions to third-party providers.

Kathleen Scharl is the principal advisor at Scharl Advisory Services, Inc. in Durham, NC, holding CFP® and Series 63 designations with 23 years of industry experience. She has led her independent practice since 1989. Outside of advising, she is involved in tax preparation, bookkeeping, and small business consulting through Scharl & Associates, Inc., primarily during tax season. Scharl Advisory Services, Inc. provides fee-only financial planning and investment management to individuals and small businesses, focusing on retirement, tax, cash-flow, education funding, and estate planning. The firm employs a strategic, core-and-satellite asset allocation using no-load or low-load funds, and operates on fixed and hourly fees rather than asset-based charges.

Lisa Hodges is a financial advisor at Shift to Impact with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in marketing consulting and advisory services prior to her current role. Hodges leads Shift to Impact, an independent firm based in Durham, NC. Shift to Impact is a fee-only financial planning firm serving individuals and families who seek to align their finances with social justice and environmental values. The firm emphasizes values-based investing and offers comprehensive planning, guidance on charitable giving and employee benefits, as well as educational workshops and speaking events, without managing client portfolios or exercising trading discretion.

Aditya Mahajan is a Series 65 credentialed advisor at ADI Mahajan CPA PC with experience spanning several roles in tax and accounting since 2018. He has worked at LESLIE MERRITT INC dba TAX AND QB GURU and held positions at various educational institutions prior to focusing on integrated CPA and investment advisory services. ADI Mahajan CPA PC provides integrated CPA and fee-only investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, family structures, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm combines tax expertise with investment management, utilizing IPS-driven asset allocation along with tax-aware strategies such as asset location and tax-loss harvesting to support long-term portfolio management.

Kent Fisher is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 63 licensed advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He currently leads Southern Investment Management Collective LLC, an independent firm he joined in 2023. Previously, he worked at Mutual Advisors, LLC and Old Peak Finance. Southern Investment Management Collective provides portfolio management and investment advice to individual and high-net-worth clients, tailoring strategies based on each client’s goals, tax situation, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The firm uses a combination of fundamental analysis, quantitative techniques, and modern portfolio theory to construct diversified portfolios and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary services.

Shrey Patel is a CFA® charterholder and the sole advisor at Ataraxis Capital, LLC in Durham, NC, with experience beginning in 2016 across several firms including Boyer Value Group and Thor Equities Group. He currently holds a salaried position as a senior investment analyst at Thor Equities Group, where he performs research and analysis. Ataraxis Capital provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a multi-method investment approach that includes fundamental and technical analysis, options, and margin. The firm manages approximately $840,000 in assets across two client accounts and offers performance-based fee arrangements for qualified clients.

Curtis Byrd is a financial advisor at Onyx Wealth Management, LLC in Durham, NC, holding the CFP® and Series 66 designations with 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Hamilton Point Investment Advisors, Hilltop Wealth Advisors, Fulbright Financial Consulting, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Onyx Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, non-profits, small businesses, and estates. The firm combines fundamental security analysis with modern portfolio theory to construct diversified portfolios, offering regular account reviews and ongoing planning consultations.

Mary Macdonald is the sole advisor at Personal Path Financial Planning in Hillsborough, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses with 10 years of industry experience. She has operated her own advisory practice since 2017. Personal Path Financial Planning offers fee-only financial planning and investment consultation to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides non-discretionary advice focused on long-term, goals-based strategies using primarily low-cost index funds and ETFs, and delivers services on an hourly or fixed-fee basis without taking custody of client assets.

Thomas Sikes III is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience. He has been the sole advisor at WanderWealth Inc., an independent firm based in Hillsborough, NC, since 2006. Outside of his advisory practice, he operates Traveltirement LLC, an educational and media business focused on long-term travel and retirement planning in Italy and France. WanderWealth Inc. provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services primarily to individuals and couples, with a specialization in serving Americans retiring to or residing in France. The firm employs a passive, asset-allocation strategy using model portfolios primarily composed of ETFs and direct index portfolios for eligible clients.

Christopher Sherman is the principal of Sherman Financial, an independent advisory firm based in Chapel Hill, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 10 years of industry experience. Sherman is also the proprietor of Sherman Financial Consulting, providing financial consulting and management services to small businesses and nonprofits, and is a co-owner of Harmony Music Studios LLC, offering music lessons locally. Sherman Financial provides fee-only financial planning and investment advice to individuals, families, trusts, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and predominantly passive investment strategies, combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside tax-loss harvesting.

Nahnsan Guseh is a financial advisor with Capital Solutions Advisors, LLC in Durham, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to founding Capital Solutions Advisors in 2023, Nahnsan has held roles at Intuitive Surgical, where he currently works as a data scientist, as well as positions with Swing Low Sweet Chariot, LLC, NSG Solutions, LLC, and the U.S. EPA. He combines his advisory work with ongoing employment in the medical device and renewable energy sectors. Capital Solutions Advisors, LLC serves primarily individual clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and consulting. The firm employs a diverse investment approach incorporating fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis, with strategies that include options and hedged-equity, and also provides a paid educational digital magazine as an ancillary service.

Michael Brannock is a financial advisor at Bryant & Brannock, LLC in Durham, NC, with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Bryant & Brannock since 2010 and previously worked at H. Beck, Inc. from 2010 to 2017. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is also licensed to sell life and long-term care insurance, occasionally providing insurance quotes as part of his financial planning services. Bryant & Brannock serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, offering pension consulting, financial planning, general consulting, and portfolio management. The firm employs both fundamental and technical analysis with a range of investment strategies, managing a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Ethan Earles is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with five years of industry experience. He has worked at Sycamore Financial Planning, LLC since 2021 and previously at Commonwealth Financial Network and Tucker Bria Wealth Strategies. Sycamore Financial Planning is a fee-only firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses with comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management. The firm manages approximately $104 million in assets, offering customized service tracks and emphasizing low-cost indexed mutual funds, educational seminars, and divorce-related financial planning.

Charles Clifton is a CFP® with 14 years of experience in financial advising, currently serving at Sycamore Financial Planning, LLC since 2011. He holds the Series 65 designation and is based in Durham, NC. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Clifton serves as President of the boards for both the GPN Alliance, Inc., which promotes education in financial advising, and the Triangle Collaborative Divorce Professionals, Inc., an organization focused on collaborative practice education. Sycamore Financial Planning, LLC provides fee-only financial planning and portfolio management to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers multiple service tracks, including standalone planning and investment management, and is noted for its educational seminars and workshops, use of indexed mutual funds, and a billing structure based on hourly and fixed fees rather than assets under management.

Ryan Glover is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Tarheel Advisors, LLC since 2009. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, he holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Tarheel Advisors provides discretionary wealth management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, retirement plan sponsors, non-profits, and corporations. The firm emphasizes customized portfolios with diversification and risk management, and it also offers retirement plan consulting and business advisory services.

Karin Bryant is a financial advisor at Bryant & Brannock, LLC in Durham, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with seven years of industry experience. She has been with Bryant & Brannock since 2017 and was previously a homemaker for 14 years. Bryant & Brannock provides advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, offering financial planning, pension consulting, and portfolio management. The firm employs both fundamental and technical analysis, including options strategies, and manages a substantial portion of non-discretionary accounts while providing investment policy statements and monitoring.