James Sloop is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Alliance since 2015 and also maintains an affiliation with LPL Financial since 2014. Outside of his advisory work, he creates content focused on electronic entertainment for platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. 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 that integrates multiple advisory services.

Thaddeus Yasunaga is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience. He currently works at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc., having joined the firm and its affiliated First Citizens Bank in 2024. His prior experience includes roles at PNC Bank and Busey Capital Management, Inc., where he worked for a decade. First Citizens Asset Management provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, institutional accounts, and municipal entities. The firm manages multi-asset global portfolios using a combination of quantitative and qualitative criteria, serving clients through a platform of 33 advisors.

Christy Phillips Strigel is a financial advisor with Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Franklin Street Advisors since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she is a partner and officer in two non-investment businesses involved in the importation and sales of European sport horses and equestrian activities, though she does not have active management responsibilities in these ventures. Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to a range of clients including individuals, pooled investment vehicles, pensions, trusts, non-profits, and governmental entities. The firm employs an open-architecture approach combining in-house and external managers, guided by a quarterly Investment Policy Committee, and offers strategic asset allocation models as well as bespoke mandates.

Ralph Powell is a financial advisor with Consolidated Portfolio Review Corp, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has worked at Vanderbilt Financial Group and previously spent over two decades at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an advisor for Atmos Aviation, LLC. Consolidated Portfolio Review serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering managed accounts, model portfolios, financial planning, and access to third-party advisors. The firm’s approach combines strategic asset allocation with fundamental and technical analysis, supporting both in-house and independent advisor-managed portfolios.

Marshall Brannock is a CFP® and holds a Series 63 designation with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Balentine since 2018, following a six-year tenure at The Vanguard Group, Inc. Balentine serves entrepreneurs, families, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional clients by providing wealth management, financial planning, investment management, family office services, and sub‑advisory arrangements. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach that combines active and passive strategies and emphasizes asset allocation by risk type.

Matthew West is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at Capital Investment Advisory Services and affiliated firms since 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a financial analyst in ventures and acquisitions for Liberty Senior Living and manages a consulting firm focused on finance and real estate projects. 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, using a variety of analytical methods and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Kyle Marks is a financial advisor with Advisory Solutions Group and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 15 years of industry experience, including roles at Secu Life Insurance Company, Members Trust Company, and Credit Union Investment Services. He is also affiliated with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services. Advisory Solutions Group, operating as FocusPoint Solutions, serves retail clients through a network of Investment Advisor Representatives and provides turnkey business and back-office services to other RIAs. The firm uses a mix of quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis to construct diversified portfolios and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies with periodic rebalancing and client reviews.

Jeffrey Link is a financial advisor with Guardian Wealth Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Aptus Capital Advisors, LLC and Gordon Asset Management, LLC. He is also the author of the book *Protecting the Pig*. Guardian Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, retirement plans, and institutional clients, employing a systematic investment approach that incorporates mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, options, and equities.

Kimberlee Sipe is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. She has 20 years of industry experience and has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. since 2009. She is also the owner of Insight Investment Planning, Inc., an investment and insurance business. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides 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.

Christopher Langlois is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC in Raleigh, NC. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has five years of industry experience, including four years at Fidelity Investments. Prior to his advisory career, he held positions in the healthcare and retail sectors. Capital Investment Advisory Services provides portfolio management and supervisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, foundations, and charitable institutions. The firm offers customized investment programs typically managed on a discretionary basis, utilizing fundamental, technical, and charting methods across various asset classes.

Craig Letendre is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. since 2019 as an Institutional Portfolio Strategist and has held various roles within affiliated First Citizens entities since 2018. Prior to joining First Citizens, he was with Parametric Portfolio Associates and Eaton Vance from 2015 to 2018. First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to a range of clients, including individuals, trusts, municipalities, and institutions. The firm constructs global multi-asset class portfolios using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with an emphasis on strategic asset allocation and risk management.

Lawrence Hamilton is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He is currently with Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company in Raleigh, NC, where he has worked since 2024. His prior experience includes long tenures with Hpg Wealthcare Advisors, Avantax Investment Services, and 1st Global Advisors. Hamilton is also a partner at EisnerAmper, specializing in tax and accounting services. Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company serves individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and diversification, utilizing third-party managers and technology platforms to support client services.

Matthew Inman is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. since 2016. Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary, customized investment management to high‑net‑worth individuals and institutional clients, including pension plans and trusts. The firm employs a team-based manager research process and offers tailored mandates across equity and fixed income strategies, combining internal portfolio teams with access to third-party managers.

Justin Marcinkiewicz is a CFA® charterholder with over a year of experience in the financial industry. He currently works at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc., where he has been since 2024, and has been affiliated with First Citizens Bank since 2014. First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. 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 and constructs global, multi-asset model portfolios using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research.

Tommy Porter is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Alliance and LPL Financial LLC since 2014. 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 that customizes portfolios to client goals using ETFs, third-party managers, and ongoing monitoring, and offers a family-office style program under a flat fee arrangement.

Joseph Knowles is a financial advisor with Curi Capital, LLC in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Curi Capital, he worked at Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC for eight years. Curi Capital provides wealth management, investment management, retirement plan consulting, and family office services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, fundamentally driven investment approach across a variety of portfolio management strategies and service offerings.

Matthew Hynes is a financial advisor with Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company, holding a PFS™ designation along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has six years of industry experience, including prior roles at JP Morgan Private Bank and PwC Advisory Services LLC. Prosperity advises individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in client assets and emphasizes asset allocation and diversification, using both discretionary and non-discretionary management with third-party independent managers and model portfolios.

David Arthur is a CFA® charterholder with 24 years of industry experience. He is currently with Curi Capital, LLC and previously worked at Park Ridge Asset Management, LLC and Bb&T Asset Management, Inc. Since 2017, he has also been licensed as an insurance agent. Curi Capital provides wealth management, investment management, retirement plan consulting, and family office services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, fundamentally driven investment approach combining bottom-up equity analysis and relative-value fixed income strategies across various managed accounts and funds.

Charles Johnson is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. He has held various roles within First Citizens-affiliated entities since 2013 and previously worked at PNC Bank and its affiliates from 2020 to 2024. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and public entities. The firm constructs global multi-asset class model portfolios using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with an emphasis on strategic asset allocation and risk management.

Jason Harris is a financial advisor with Strategic Blueprint, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Strategic Blueprint since 2019 and has also been associated with The Strategic Financial Alliance Inc. and Cornerstone Wealth Management for over a decade. Strategic Blueprint, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers customized, goal-based portfolio management and financial planning services through a network of independent advisory representatives, with notable features including a subscription advisory program and a focus on client education.