Janelle Aldridge is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services in Wake Forest, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 16 years of industry experience. Her previous roles include positions at Cantella & Co., Inc., Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Northwestern Mutual, and LPL Enterprise. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs utilizing model portfolios and third-party managers selected by a centralized Investment Management Team.

Debra Allen is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Greenville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and possessing 21 years of industry experience. She has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2004 and has worked with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company since 2003. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and business entities. The firm employs a range of portfolio management strategies, including wrap programs, guided investing platforms, and tax-aware services, leveraging its affiliation with a bank holding company to offer integrated banking resources alongside investment solutions.

Lang Mac Bain is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2016. First Citizens Investor Services provides investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of strategic and tactical asset-allocation approaches and offers portfolio management through model portfolios, separately managed accounts, wrap-fee programs, and an automated Guided Investing platform.

John Vagianos Jr. is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience, currently with Creative Planning since 2018. Prior to that, he worked at Scottrade for four years. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Raleigh, NC. Creative Planning provides comprehensive investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes a financial planning–led investment process that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting, supported by a broad advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Michael Montalvo is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Investors Services, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, PRIOR2IPO, Bank of America, Merrill, and Valic Financial Advisors. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s integrated service model emphasizes long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and savings rates rather than short-term forecasts.

Zachary Carver is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently advising at Cerity Partners LLC since 2025. He previously worked at Cook Wealth Management Group, LLC for five years and held roles at TRP Sumner PLLC, Petway Mills & Pearson PA, and Bunch & Company, LLP. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a broad national client base, including individuals, families, trusts, estates, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset allocation, manager selection, and periodic rebalancing using proprietary quantitative screens combined with third-party managers and individual securities, and also operates multiple private-market offerings and affiliated business units.

David Marshall is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2020. His prior experience includes roles at PNC Investments and PNC Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he operates a YouTube product review channel and serves as a fitness instructor at the UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions through both advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple investment programs via the Passageway Managed Account Platform, combining third-party management options with direct portfolio management capabilities.

Thomas Beck is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC for 10 years and has also been involved with the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and Raleigh Parks & Recreation/Raleigh Aquatics. Outside of finance, he operates a freelance photography business and serves as a board member for the Raleigh Area Masters swim team, in addition to contributing as a photographer and blogger for a local live music website. 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 clientele including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and municipal clients, offering a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services with a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Julie Carroll is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 23 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a co-trustee of a family trust in Warsaw, North Carolina. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and other entities, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and multiple advisory programs.

Nicholas Creekmore is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Janney since 2020. Prior to this, he was employed at MORSCO and East Carolina University. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services.

Dan Thomason III is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he owns several rental properties managed by third parties. First Citizens Investor Services provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio management through various programs and integrates banking resources as a wholly owned subsidiary of a bank holding company.

Salvatore Bottone is a CFP® and Series 66-licensed financial advisor with three years of industry experience, currently with Janney Montgomery Scott in Raleigh, NC. His prior experience includes roles at George Pickett & Associates and various other positions before joining Janney. Outside of advising, he serves as the head JV men's soccer coach and assistant varsity coach at Cardinal Gibbons High School. 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 broad range of clients, including individuals, families, trusts, corporate sponsors, and municipal clients, providing investment advice through in-house and third-party managers across multiple advisory programs.

Ryan Pope is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC. He has held roles at Hunter & See Wealth Management and Mid Atlantic Executive Benefits, among others. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the finance committee of Bethlehem Baptist Church and is treasurer of the Coats Area Chamber of Commerce, and he is also involved in athletic officiating locally. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Brian Cook is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cerity Partners Retirement Plan Consultants and previously worked at Cook Wealth Management Group LLC and LPL Financial, LLC. Cerity Partners Retirement Plan Consultants advises plan sponsors of defined contribution and defined benefit plans, providing ERISA fiduciary services, participant advice, plan design, and administrative support. The firm focuses on asset-allocation driven model portfolios, investment policy statements, and ongoing monitoring, serving a wide range of institutional clients with both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management.

Benjamin Guyton is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC holding a Series 65 designation. He has eight years of experience at Amerilife and previously worked for four years at Bonefish Grill. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset allocation models, a turnkey asset management platform, and a variety of investment vehicles including ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and options-enhanced strategies.

Bradley Williams is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC since 2017. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. from 2005 to 2017. Independent Advisor Alliance works with a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm employs a network model of advisory representatives and utilizes discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies supported by technology platforms and third-party resources.

Kenneth Marsh is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. since 2011. He also has concurrent experience with First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and business entities. The firm combines IAR-led client assessments with risk- and outcomes-based asset allocation, utilizing discretionary management, third-party managers, and automated model portfolios, while leveraging its affiliation with a bank holding company to provide integrated banking resources and operational advantages.

Frances Hymiller is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2022. She also has a long tenure at Wrenn Financial Strategies, Inc., where she has worked since 1997. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and a range of implementation options.

Angela Smelcer is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2005 and also works with SVB Wealth, LLC, an affiliate of First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, and pension plans. The firm’s approach combines client goal assessments with risk- and outcomes-based asset allocation, discretionary management, and tax-aware strategies, supported by its affiliation with a banking institution that provides integrated resources and operational advantages.

Timothy Sumner is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Clinton, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and possessing 19 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, Sumner serves as a board member of the Sampson County Soccer Club and is president of the Clinton High School Booster Club. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and business entities. The firm combines IAR-led client assessments with a variety of portfolio management options, including discretionary management and third-party managers, and benefits from its affiliation with a bank holding company to offer integrated banking and investment resources.