Sandra Russ is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network. She has a background that includes ownership and operation of The Russ Agency, Inc., an insurance business based in Granite Falls, NC, where she focused on fixed insurance sales. Her career also includes roles at Lifetime Asset Management, LLC and Allstate Insurance Co. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and hundreds of thousands of clients. The firm offers a comprehensive adviser-support platform with managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, retirement and plan consulting, and custody/clearing services.

Vernon Maples is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 46 years of industry experience, including 28 years with Principal Life Insurance Company and 10 years at Principal Securities INC. His outside business activities include work with fixed insurance products such as fixed life, annuities, disability income, and long-term care insurance. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Jonathan Wakin is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 designations and has previously worked at First Citizens Investor Services, Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Edward Jones, and RGA Investments. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel abroad. The firm’s advisory services include direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Halah Little is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Fidelity Investments, Barings, and Transamerica Life Insurance Company. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through a range of advice programs focusing on asset allocation, contribution guidance, and retirement planning supported by Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary portfolio construction and oversight.

Devon Blair is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Principal, Blair held positions at Thrivent Financial, S&P Global, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of advisory roles, Blair has business experience with Restaurant Applications, LLC and Hamptons Delivery Service, Inc. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

Blake Gaulden is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Osaic Advisory Services, LLC and Gaulden & Associates Wealth Management, having previously worked at firms including LPL Financial, Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation, and Ameriprise Financial Services. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisor serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporate and charitable entities, retirement plan participants, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers a range of investment programs and consulting services, utilizing both fundamental and technical strategies, and operates within an affiliated ecosystem that integrates alternative investments and annuity sub-account management.

Jordan Janis is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Principal Securities, Principal Life Insurance, Raymond James & Associates, and Morgan Stanley. Janis serves as a board member of the Wake Forest College Board of Visitors and is president-elect of WAKERaleigh, a volunteer group that engages Wake Forest University alumni and affiliates through various events. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm provides direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Jillian Rhyner is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience, currently with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2020. She previously worked at Morgan Stanley for 11 years. Outside of her advisory role, she is a sales consultant for BeautyCounter, a skincare and beauty brand focused on safer products. 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 a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, estates, and institutional clients, offering a variety of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services through in-house and third-party portfolio management.

John Hopper is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding credentials including ChFC®, Series 63, and Series 65. He has 55 years of industry experience, with prior roles at THE O.N. Equity Sales Company, Financial Independence Planning Group, and has maintained his own firms, Hopper Financial Group, Inc. and Blanton & Hopper Investments, for over 25 years. He is also involved in the sales and service of fixed insurance products such as fixed life insurance, annuities, disability income, and health insurance. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions, utilizing both adviser and promoter arrangements.

William Sewell is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 45 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His previous roles include positions at BB&T Securities and multiple terms at Janney Montgomery Scott beginning in 2014. 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 individuals, families, trusts and estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and various advisory programs.

David Leder is a financial advisor with United Planners Financial Services of America, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include multiple positions at Cambridge Investment Research and Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Outside of advisory work, he is president of Legacy Insurance Solutions LLC. United Planners Financial Services is a national wealth-management enterprise serving a broad client base with advisory and brokerage services. The firm supports a large network of independent advisors and primarily manages accounts on a non-discretionary basis.

Casey Pickett is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Transamerica Life Insurance, and Merrill, among others. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including model and customized portfolios, and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Peter Sargent is a CFP® and CFA® credentialed financial advisor with 34 years of industry experience, currently with Janney Montgomery Scott in Raleigh, NC, where he has worked since 2012. Prior to joining Janney, he spent 11 years at Merrill. 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, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and municipal clients, offering a range of brokerage, planning, and advisory services supported by in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Melanie Price is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. She has worked with New York Life Insurance Company and its affiliates since 2010. Price is also appointed with outside insurance carriers for brokering investment-related non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages a large portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Jason Obermeier is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Thrivent Financial and its investment management division before joining Principal. Outside of advisory work, he receives royalties from prior work as a composer for film and television. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Joshua Denney is a ChFC® and Series 63-licensed financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Raleigh, NC. He has three years of industry experience, including positions at NYLIFE Securities and New York Life since 2022. Outside of his advisory work, Denney serves as a certified referee for the US Gaelic Athletic Association, volunteering at regional sports tournaments. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm works with individual investors, defined contribution and benefit plans, and institutional clients, emphasizing tailored advice and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Donella Winkler is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with 12 years of industry experience. She is currently with Allworth Financial, L.P. and has previously worked at Adams Chetwood Wealth Management, ZEIDERS Enterprises, Bancwest Investment Services, Bank of the West BNP Paribas, and Charles Schwab. Outside of her advisory role, she provides financial education through ZEIDERS Enterprises, focusing on topics such as TSP, credit scores, and budgeting. Allworth Financial serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis to offer customized investment strategies and provides a range of services including wealth planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting.

Lupton Haigler is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and BB&T Capital Markets. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that manages approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering a range of brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory services.

Stephanie Bowens is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 28 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Triad Advisors and OSAIC before joining Kestra in 2025. Outside of her advisory role, she is CEO of Chrysalis Capital Management, a developer of financial education and literacy materials, and serves as a board member on the finance committee of The Hope Center at Pullen. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients such as sovereign wealth funds and large institutional investors.

Michael Dipenta is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 19 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 offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time financial planning services from ongoing portfolio management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group utilizing affiliated funds.