Khutchnai Kang is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Empower, Kang worked at Fidelity Investments and held various roles outside the financial industry. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Richard Nathan is a financial advisor at Mariner with 8 years of industry experience. He previously spent 28 years at Forte Capital LLC. Outside of advising, he serves on the management committee of Forte Capital, which solely holds Mariner F-1 Units without providing investment advice or financial planning. Mariner serves a diverse client base through customized, discretionary portfolio management supported by in-house research and third-party managers, and offers integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness services in addition to traditional investment solutions.

Christopher Walsh is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network. His career includes multiple periods at Commonwealth as well as roles at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting and Wealth Wise Planning. He is also involved in fixed insurance sales as a secondary business activity. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of nearly 2,900 advisors and managing over $212 billion in client assets. The firm provides a comprehensive support platform, including discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody services.

Joseph Shore is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with pre-existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates within a vertically integrated group, offering model and customized portfolios, and acts as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Thomas Oberg Jr. is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for seven years. Before entering the financial sector, he was employed by the YMCA of the Triangle Area for five years. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, estates, and institutional clients, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs.

Gordon Pruitt is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Edward Jones in Chapel Hill, NC, with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Bull City Learning and Syneos Health. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, with over $1 trillion in assets under management and a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Terence Wiles is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James and its affiliated entities since 2013. Wiles is also an author working on a retirement planning book intended for client distribution and commercial sale. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm employs a non-discretionary approach tailored to client goals using analytical tools and supports municipal and public finance work through its affiliation with a municipal advisor.

Christopher Jenkins is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Cary, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining MassMutual and its affiliate MML Investors Services in 2021, he worked at Chesapeake Energy and Independent Energy Standards. Outside of his advisory role, Jenkins is involved in several business ventures including serving as president of Ascolano Ventures, LLC, co-founding Silver Diamond Technologies, LLC, and preparing to launch a fencing franchise through Alpe Adria Services, Inc. MML Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser subsidiary of MassMutual that serves individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers with comprehensive financial planning and asset management services. The firm emphasizes collaborative, goal-oriented planning using advanced software tools and offers various specialized planning programs alongside educational seminars.

Roger Werner is a financial advisor with OSAIC based in Chapel Hill, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 55 years of industry experience, including 25 years at Signator Investors, Inc. and John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, and has been with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a volunteer on the UNC Board of Visitors, assisting with communication to prospective honors students. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors, offering brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform. The firm employs a model-based investment process with tools for asset allocation and portfolio optimization, and it supports various account types and third-party manager programs.

Daniel Odeh is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Fidelity with two years of industry experience. He has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2024 and has prior experience in retail and banking roles. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Daniel Bayait is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2015. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of managed strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds under a fiduciary standard. The firm is notable for its large nationwide network of advisors and branches, as well as its additional capabilities including a trust company and securities-based lending options.

Wyatt Thompson III is a financial advisor with Fidelity in Durham, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Midtown Events LLC and DICK's Sporting Goods. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary advisory services and manages model portfolios composed of mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Benjamen Parker is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked across various Fidelity entities since 2008. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, as well as registered investment companies. The firm uses proprietary fundamental research combined with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, offering services that include discretionary portfolio management, fund advisory, and model portfolio delivery.

Andrew Snider is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. His prior work includes 14 years at Cuso Financial Services and more than two decades at Coastal Federal Credit Union. He serves as a board member for the Triangle Adult Soccer League, a nonprofit organization in North Carolina. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management solutions, supported by research-driven strategies and technology tools.

Cyrus Smith Jr. is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 46 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2021, with prior experience at CUSO Financial Services and Scottrade. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a broad range of clients, including retail and institutional investors. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop systematic model portfolios.

Justin Gorney is a financial advisor at Fidelity with the Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Fidelity and its related entities since 2015. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a combination of proprietary fundamental research and quantitative analysis to construct model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs. The firm also serves as a registered commodity pool operator and advisor to multiple registered investment companies, utilizing algorithmic methods and AI in its investment process.

Steven Kocher is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 38 years of experience, currently serving at UBS Financial Services since 1987. He is based in Troy, MI, and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a range of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services that include proprietary research and tailored financial planning.

Kerry Goodman is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 21 years of industry experience and holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining OSAIC in 2026, Goodman worked at several firms including Founders Financial Alliance, LLC, Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, LPL Financial, LLC, Invest Financial Corporation, and Truist Investment Services, Inc. Goodman serves as an at-large board member of the Abecedarian Education Foundation, a nonprofit focused on early childhood education. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform with an investment process centered on model-based asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and a suite of advisory strategies.

Mikel Chalmers is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he currently assists clients and their families in understanding and achieving their financial goals. He collaborates with clients to analyze all aspects of their financial lives and develops plans to work towards meeting those goals. Mikel has held several roles in the financial services industry, including Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023, and Paraplanner at Ameriprise Financial during 2020 and 2021. Prior to that, he was an Associate Advisor at Millennium Advisory Services from 2018 to 2020. He holds insurance licenses in both Arkansas and California.

Sandra Gunnels is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, she held positions at various companies including Henson Novelties and Trophy Brewing and Pizza. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a systematic investment process that integrates proprietary research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm serves a diverse client base and is noted for its use of algorithmic methods, formal advisory roles to registered investment companies, and established governance procedures.