Catherine Zieman is a CFP® professional with 39 years of industry experience. She has worked at firms including Advisory Services Network, Field Point Private, Dominari Securities LLC, Neuberger Berman BD LLC, and Northern Trust Securities. Outside of her advisory work, she is the managing partner of High Pointe International Equestrian Tours, a travel agency operated as a hobby. Advisory Services Network provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, families, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing various securities and third-party managers to tailor strategies to client objectives.

Simon Hawkins is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at several firms, including Dean Financial and Aldi. Outside of finance, his background includes roles in campus recreation and food service. AlphaStar Capital Management serves individual, corporate, and retirement plan clients by providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, participant account management, and subadvisory services. The firm manages approximately $2.5 billion in assets across a broad client base using model portfolios and advisor-directed strategies that combine strategic and tactical approaches.

Ernest Ceccato Jr. is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Alliance and LPL Financial since 2015. Founders Financial Alliance provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs an evidence-based investment process using ETFs, third-party managers, and regular portfolio monitoring, and offers a flat-fee family-office style program combining management, planning, and tax analysis.

Douglas Beam is a financial advisor at Creative Financial Designs, Inc. in Morganton, NC, with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at LPL Financial, LLC. Beam is also involved in independent insurance sales. Creative Financial Designs serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of investment management and financial planning services, employing asset-class model allocations and multiple risk objectives supported by an Executive Investment Committee.

Douglas Frye is a financial advisor with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Brookstone Capital Management and Spinnaker Financial, Inc. Frye is also involved in personal finance education through his ownership and hosting of TheMoneyClassroom.com, a platform that generates social media content on financial topics. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans with advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm operates both advisory and broker-dealer services, offering a comprehensive platform that includes access to third-party asset managers and both discretionary and non-discretionary account options.

Jason Beckley is a financial advisor at Farther with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Advisory Services Network, LLC and Omnistar Financial Group. Outside of his advisory role, Beckley serves as board chair of the Ore Bank Pumpkin Center Volunteer Fire Department and chairs the endowment board for Ashure Ministry, a nonprofit providing crisis assistance in Catawaba County. He is also the treasurer for the Denver Lake Norman Rotary Club and Foundation. Farther provides discretionary investment management and related advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a combination of digital platforms and in-person meetings. The firm’s approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using proprietary model portfolios and algorithmic rebalancing across a range of asset types, supplemented by advisor judgment and AI tools.

Amanda Rembert is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Stifel and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the boards of Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry and Ashure Ministry, assisting with charitable fundraising events. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through over 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and both discretionary and non-discretionary managed investment solutions.

Kathy White is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Truist Investment Services and Bb&T Securities, where she has worked since 2006 across various affiliated entities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools to support its advisory process and maintains extensive financial and operational affiliations within the Truist Financial network.

Amanda Dowell is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Farther with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Farther in 2026, she worked at Advisory Services Network and The Corner Table. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a web and mobile platform as well as in-person meetings. The firm employs an investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using proprietary model portfolios and algorithmic rebalancing, and incorporates AI tools alongside advisor judgment.

Cameron Wood is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with a Series 66 credential and approximately one year of industry experience. Before joining Empower Advisory Group, he held roles at TD Bank, MWA Financial Services Inc., Modern Woodmen of America, and Maine State Credit Union. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s integrated service model focuses on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates within plan lineups chosen by plan sponsors.

Daniel Collinson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. He has been with Truist and its affiliated entities since 2022, following an 18-year tenure at Truist itself. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation, manager selection, and ongoing client reviews.

James Gowen is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Merrill, BB&T Investments, and Bb&T Securities before joining Truist in 2018. Outside of his advisory work, Gowen serves as a volunteer firefighter with the Propst Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support its advisory process and maintains extensive affiliated financial relationships through its parent company, Truist Financial.

Thomas Rembert IV is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Wells Fargo Clearing, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a councilman and mayor pro-tempore for the Town of Maiden, North Carolina. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of advisory, brokerage, and consulting services, utilizing proprietary and third-party investment strategies alongside in-house trading and custody solutions.

Neil Ramirez is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Hickory, NC, beginning his industry career in 2025. Prior to entering finance, he spent five years with Major League Baseball. Neil is involved with Elite Performance Wealth Management LLC as an owner. Equity Services, Inc., doing business as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms, frequently utilizing third-party asset managers and combines long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and specialized instruments.

Eric Whitener is a financial advisor at Farther with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Advisory Services Network, LLC and Omni Star Financial Group. Outside of his advisory role, he is a managing partner of Grayton & Jamison LLC, a real estate business. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a digital platform and in-person meetings. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using proprietary models and algorithmic rebalancing across a range of asset classes.

Vincent Johnson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His career includes over 20 years with BB&T Investment Services, Inc. and its affiliates before joining Truist in 2021. He serves as a board member for the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, participating in regional housing program coordination and providing guidance to graduates of a family self-sufficiency program. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, combining discretionary and non-discretionary management with third-party platform support and AI-enabled research tools.

William Mode is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory work, he is a landlord of a rental property in Hickory. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through over 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory, brokerage, insurance, and M&A services, with investment solutions that include discretionary and non-discretionary managed portfolios using proprietary and third-party strategies.

Alice Scarborough is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 27 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc, Broyhill Asset Management, Wells Fargo Clearing, and BB&T Asset Management. She also serves as a Notary Public in Hickory, NC. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm provides a range of services including wrap-fee advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, investment management consulting, brokerage services, insurance products, and certain M&A advisory services.

Bailey Sigler is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked with The Leaders Group Inc. and Premier Planning NC Group. Outside of advisory services, he is also active as an independent insurance agent specializing in life insurance. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and portfolio monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, and offers both traditional and digital investment programs.

Thomas Robinson is a financial advisor at Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at firms including Equitable Distributors, LLC, CUSO Financial Services, LP, and Truliant Federal Credit Union. Outside of finance, he is a professional musician. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement advisory, utilizing both in-house and external strategies with a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary account management.