Ryan Bannister is a financial advisor at 1Up Financial Advisors LLC in Cary, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to founding 1Up Financial Advisors, he worked at Duke University Hospital and Carr, Riggs & Ingram. Bannister is also a member of Oak City Investment Group, LLC, a real estate investment company. 1Up Financial Advisors LLC provides investment management and financial planning primarily for individual clients, offering tailored portfolio management, written financial plans, and both ongoing and hourly planning engagements. The firm integrates accounting services such as in-house tax preparation and bookkeeping, along with educational seminars and consulting for content creators, combining passive and active investments with strategic asset allocation.

Paul Finkel is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Queenfin LLC since 2015. His work history includes extensive institutional portfolio management experience at firms such as Prudential Financial and CDPQ prior to founding Queenfin. Queenfin LLC provides ongoing financial consulting and as-needed advice to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm emphasizes financial strength through income management and liquid reserves while recommending low-cost index funds and bond ladders, delivering advisory services without discretionary portfolio management or account supervision.

Rupa Pereira is a CFP® with four years of experience and the principal of FWJ Planning LLC in Apex, NC. She also owns FWJ Tax LLC, a tax planning and preparation business. Her prior roles include tax counseling with VITA and work with XY Planning Network. FWJ Planning LLC provides fee-only financial planning services focusing on project-based and comprehensive plans for individuals, households, and small businesses. The firm does not offer investment management or custody services and emphasizes passive, low-cost fund recommendations for client-implemented portfolios.

Jesse Bradin is a financial advisor with J Bradin Financial LLC in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Gradient Investments, JD Melberg Financial, Appreciation Financial, and Finely Finished. Bradin is also a licensed life insurance agent affiliated with his firm. J Bradin Financial LLC is a state-registered, solo investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, investment management, insurance review, and educational seminars, using a discretionary model investing approach alongside possible third-party manager recommendations.

David Lundberg is a financial advisor with Awaken Financial Designs LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and eight years of industry experience. His prior positions include roles at Merrill Lynch and Equitable Advisors. Lundberg is also involved in fixed insurance and fixed annuity sales through Awaken Financial Designs. Awaken Financial Designs provides financial planning and consulting services, offering discretionary asset management through third-party model portfolios. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients with customized financial plans and a structured service calendar, using a combination of hourly and fixed fees for planning and delegating portfolio management to selected sub-advisors.

Allen Bass III is a CFP® certificant with nine years of industry experience. He has been the sole advisor at Carolina Wealth Strategies, LLC since 2014. Carolina Wealth Strategies serves individual investors and small businesses with financial planning, investment supervisory services, and educational workshops. The firm uses a combination of passive and active management strategies, providing both broad-based and modular planning, and typically manages client accounts on a discretionary basis with regular monitoring and rebalancing.

David Perkins is the sole advisor at Pharos Capital Management, LLC in Fuquay-Varina, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. He has led Pharos Capital Management since 2010. Pharos Capital Management provides discretionary investment management primarily through its SYNTHESIS Investment Program and serves individuals, high-net-worth investors, businesses, and other entities. The firm employs a blend of technical and fundamental analysis across multiple timeframes and offers diversified strategies aimed at managing risk through active monitoring and a structured framework.

Dexter Perry is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience, currently operating through One Providence Capital, LLC in Apex, NC. He has been managing One Providence Capital since 2006 and concurrently leads The Providence Group of NC, LLC, where he also holds a life and health insurance license for fixed insurance products. Perry serves as a director at First Bank & First Bancorp, Inc., and as a trustee for RBC Funds Trust, overseeing fiduciary governance of mutual funds. One Providence Capital primarily serves individual investors along with churches, non-profits, corporations, and other business entities, managing approximately $23 million in client assets. The firm employs a long-term, strategic, risk-based asset-allocation approach, constructing diversified portfolios documented through investment policy statements and risk-tolerance profiles, with quarterly monitoring and rebalancing.

Michael Molitoris is a financial advisor with Flagship Wealth Management Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Pinnacle Financial Group and LPL Financial LLC and has maintained an independent insurance agent practice since 2010. Outside of advisory work, he sells fixed insurance products as part of his business activities. Flagship Wealth Management Group is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, trusts, and businesses. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, discretionary asset management, and hourly consulting, integrating multiple planning topics with an investment approach based on fundamental and technical analysis, modern portfolio theory, and Monte Carlo planning.

Chris Di Domenico is the sole advisor at Sparrows Financial in Apex, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with one year of industry experience. He previously operated DiDomenico Investments and has been a full-time student for over a decade. Sparrows Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing discretionary portfolio management and investment planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm employs fundamental analysis with intermediate-term trading and quarterly rebalancing, primarily using mutual funds, equities, fixed income, and ETFs.

Geoffrey Sirhal is the sole advisor at Charmarline Wealth Management in Cary, NC, holding Series 65 and 66 designations with 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include nearly two decades at Blackrock Investments and founding Charmarline Capital Partners, where he also oversees rental property activities. Charmarline Wealth Management serves individuals and high-net-worth clients with a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement advice. The firm uses a fundamental, long-term approach to build diversified, low-cost portfolios incorporating mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and options, managing approximately $119 million in client assets.

Travis Tracy is a CFP® and Series 65-registered advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Fortitude Financial Planning LLC and has previously worked at Sycamore Financial Planning, Raleigh Capital Management, and other firms. He serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce. Fortitude Financial Planning LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management to individual, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm integrates Modern Portfolio Theory with fundamental analysis, offers in-house tax preparation, and uses fee structures based on client income, net worth, and complexity rather than assets under management.

Carolyn Wasdell is a financial advisor at Crutchfield Advisors, Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated. Crutchfield Advisors is a two-advisor registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and government agencies. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management with a balanced approach and conducts its own research combined with external analysis to manage a mix of stocks, ETFs, bonds, and other instruments.

Charles West is a financial advisor with Endurance Financial LLC in Cary, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked previously at Sowell Management Services and Ni Advisors, Inc. Outside of advising, West is an independent licensed insurance agent, provides small business consulting, and operates a solar energy investment company focused on solar panel power systems. Endurance Financial primarily serves families, professionals, and business owners who are planning for or transitioning into retirement, offering a range of services including financial planning, investment management, insurance product sales, and business consulting. The firm uses a structured client process and actively managed model portfolios, with a focus on both individual and high-net-worth clients.

Steven Hoak is a financial advisor at ARIS Capital Strategies, LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including Lifetime Financial Inc and SRHIncome. Hoak is also the President of Agent Value Proposition, LLC, where he acts as a licensed insurance agent offering commissionable products. ARIS Capital Strategies provides retirement income planning and non-discretionary investment guidance to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm integrates commission-funded fixed annuity solutions with passively managed, low-cost investment vehicles and operates on a zero-fee business model, deriving compensation primarily through insurance commissions.

Jakub Kreuter is a financial advisor with Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial starting in 2009 and has been with Independent Wealth Advisors since 2024. Independent Wealth Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients using its Strategic Wealth Management platform. The firm employs a combination of analytical methods and maintains a monthly Investment Committee to develop and monitor model portfolios, offering discretionary management, model-based allocation, and written Investment Policy Statements tailored to client risk tolerance and time horizon.

Paul Delaney is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Capital Endurance Group, Inc. since 2016 and previously spent seven years at Piedmont Investment Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and manages rental properties in Ireland. Capital Endurance Group provides wealth management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through discretionary portfolio management and limited engagement financial planning. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach emphasizing low-cost, tax-aware strategies and uses leverage and derivatives when appropriate.

Philip Giordano is a financial advisor at Wake Wealth Management Co. in Raleigh, NC, with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at LPL Financial and Uber. Giordano has been involved with Wake Wealth Management Co. since 2013 and has additional experience in independent insurance and college admission and funding. Wake Wealth Management Co. provides financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, foundations, endowments, and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes written financial plans and generally delivers advice on a non-discretionary basis, employing a range of investment strategies tailored to client-specific plans.

Zachary Palmer is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving at Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Modera Wealth Management, The Vanguard Group, and Hilltop Wealth Advisors. Palmer also worked at Postmates during 2017-2018. Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, focusing on a long-term, diversified investment approach using low-cost passive mutual funds. The firm emphasizes client education through seminars and workshops and delivers regular performance reporting.

Wayland Crutchfield Jr. is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has been with Crutchfield Advisors, Inc. since 2015, where he is one of two advisors at the firm based in Apex, NC. Crutchfield Advisors is a two-advisor registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and government agencies. The firm combines fundamental security analysis, technical charting, and macroeconomic research to manage balanced portfolios and provides comprehensive financial planning with in-depth plans available upon request.