William Blackwood is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Bank and its affiliated entities since 1989, holding roles at First Citizens Investor Services since 2013 and First Citizens Asset Management since 2017. First Citizens Asset Management provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, institutional accounts, and municipal entities. The firm manages approximately $167 million through a multi-team platform of 33 advisors, offering global multi-asset model portfolios with dynamic asset allocation and discretionary management.

Jeffrey Talley is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Alliance, Founders Wealth Advisors, and LPL Financial since 2016. Founders Financial Alliance provides discretionary, fee-based investment management and financial planning for individual and high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and corporate retirement plans. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach tailored to clients' goals and risk tolerances, combining asset allocation, rebalancing, and various strategies alongside third-party manager solutions.

Roy Bass is a CFP® with 40 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC and has held roles at Cic Advisers, LLC, Charitable Management Advisors, Inc., Capital Investment Brokerage, Inc., and Strategic Asset Management Consultants, Inc. He is president and owner of Strategic Asset Management Consultants, Inc. and serves as co-trustee for multiple trusts. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, with ongoing monitoring and quarterly reviews.

Richard Gardner Jr. is a financial advisor at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations and has been with Capital Investment Advisory Services since 2013. Gardner is also the owner and Chief Investment Officer of RGA Investments. Capital Investment Advisory Services provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, employing a range of analytical methods and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Orlando Rosario is a financial advisor with SeaCrest Wealth Management, LLC in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors, Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, and Advised Assets Groups, LLC. SeaCrest Wealth Management is an SEC-registered multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a customized, long-term investment approach that combines fundamental and technical analysis and incorporates both internal and third-party AI tools as decision support.

John Billiter is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Founders Financial Alliance and LPL Financial since 2020 and previously spent nine years with UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Elite Wealth Management, LLC, an entity established for business and tax purposes. Founders Financial Alliance provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related 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 ongoing portfolio monitoring, and offers a family-office style program that integrates multiple advisory services under a flat fee.

Matthew Schanz is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company in Raleigh, NC. His prior roles include positions at Avantax Investment Services, HPG Wealthcare Advisors, and 1st Global Advisors. Schanz is also active as a licensed insurance agent, focusing on fixed insurance and annuity sales. Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company serves individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in client assets and employs a diversified investment approach using both discretionary and non-discretionary management with third-party independent managers and model portfolios.

Benjamin Brooks III is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC and Capital Investment Group, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 34 years of industry experience and has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. since 2001 and Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC since 2013. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, with ongoing monitoring and a mix of analytical methods.

Christopher Demetropoulos is a financial advisor at Modern Wealth Management, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at Advisory Services Network, LFM Wealth Management, Team Wealth Investments, and Trillium Asset Management, LLC. He serves on the advisory board for First in Families of North Carolina. Modern Wealth Management, LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $10.9 billion in assets. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and related services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and institutional clients, employing a centralized investment committee and a combination of model portfolios, third-party managers, and tactical adjustments.

Patrick Simpkins is a financial advisor at Arkadios Wealth Advisors with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has worked at Arkadios since 2019, following eight years at Triad Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of 127 Haven, a nonprofit focused on building a school in Uganda. Arkadios Wealth Advisors is an SEC-registered, multi-team firm that serves individuals, trusts, businesses, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers customized investment plans utilizing various portfolio management strategies and combines fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor solutions to client risk profiles.

Lorren Bryant is a CFP® with 36 years of industry experience, currently serving at Verity Asset Management. His career includes roles at Verity Investments, Inc., Verity Financial Group, and The Leaders Group Inc DBA Simplicity Investments. Outside of his advisory work, he is president of Manton Financial Services. Verity Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing discretionary portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning services to individual, corporate, institutional clients, and other advisers. The firm employs a model-driven investment process emphasizing tactical asset allocation across multiple asset classes and offers both internally managed and third-party models under fiduciary and ERISA standards.

Tyler Brown is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience currently serving at RFG Advisory, LLC since 2025. He previously worked at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C, Fisher Investments, and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Brown is the owner and founder of Turnpoint Wealth, a separate advisory and insurance activity. RFG Advisory is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 178 advisors managing about $8 billion for over 17,000 clients, including individuals, high-net-worth households, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, alternative investments, and annuity management, employing both actively managed and passive strategies with a focus on risk management.

Bowman Nicholson is a CFP® with 14 years of experience, currently serving at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC since 2016. He is also a bassist in musical bands, an activity unrelated to his investment work. Capital Investment Advisory Services provides portfolio management and supervisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable institutions. The firm offers customized portfolios using a variety of analysis methods and investment strategies, managing the majority of its assets on a discretionary basis.

Jared Miller is a financial advisor at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles in various sectors such as education and management but no previous advisory positions. Capital Investment Advisory Services provides portfolio management and supervisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, foundations, and charitable institutions. The firm offers customized portfolios using multiple methods of analysis and manages the vast majority of its assets on a discretionary basis.

Danielle Bailey is a financial advisor at Balentine in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 credential and with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Balentine, she held positions at Envestnet and Blackened Kraken, as well as roles at East Carolina University. Balentine serves entrepreneurs, families, high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and institutional clients, providing wealth management, financial planning, investment management, family office services, and business advisory support. The firm follows a risk-based investment approach utilizing a combination of active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and a model-driven Global Tactical Asset Allocation program.

Eric Le is a CFA® charterholder with two years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company in Raleigh, NC. Prior to joining Prosperity, he held roles at Dai Securities LLC and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company serves individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in client assets and employs a multi-team approach emphasizing asset allocation and diversification, utilizing third-party managers and technology platforms to support client service.

Nicholas Livecchi is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC, having previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. Outside of his advisory roles, he is the author of "Finding the 'Right Fit' Financial Advisor." Founders Financial Alliance provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach using ETFs, third-party managers, and portfolio monitoring, and offers a family-office style program that integrates multiple advisory services under a flat fee arrangement.

Eagan Rooney is a financial advisor at Credit Union Investment Services with Series 65 and Series 63 certifications and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining CUIS in 2025, Rooney worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of finance, Rooney has held various roles in the food and beverage industry. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual investors who are residents of North Carolina, focusing on non-discretionary, goals-based portfolio management and financial planning. The firm emphasizes long-term investment horizons using low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs, operating within a credit union ecosystem as a wholly owned subsidiary of State Employees’ Credit Union.

Craig Sullivan is a CFA® charterholder with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Franklin Street Securities, Inc. since 2012. The firm provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to individuals, pooled investment vehicles, pensions, trusts, non-profits, and governmental entities. Franklin Street Advisors employs an open-architecture approach that combines in-house and external management, guided by a quarterly Investment Policy Committee and a disciplined manager-research process.

Roy Ray is a financial advisor with Gibbs Wealth Management, LLC in Durham, NC, holding a Series 65 credential and having two years of industry experience. He has also served as CEO of Strategic Retirement Solutions, Inc., a firm focused on insurance-related products, since 2010. In addition to his advisory roles, Mr. Ray is involved in managing a commercial and residential rental property business. Gibbs Wealth Management provides discretionary investment advisory services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients through a model management program that utilizes third-party platforms and strategists. The firm focuses on assessing clients’ financial situations and risk tolerance to select and monitor model portfolios rather than managing individual securities directly.