Kathleen Scharl is the principal advisor at Scharl Advisory Services, Inc. in Durham, NC, holding CFP® and Series 63 designations with 23 years of industry experience. She has led her independent practice since 1989. Outside of advising, she is involved in tax preparation, bookkeeping, and small business consulting through Scharl & Associates, Inc., primarily during tax season. Scharl Advisory Services, Inc. provides fee-only financial planning and investment management to individuals and small businesses, focusing on retirement, tax, cash-flow, education funding, and estate planning. The firm employs a strategic, core-and-satellite asset allocation using no-load or low-load funds, and operates on fixed and hourly fees rather than asset-based charges.

Brian Bunn is a CFA® and CPA based in Raleigh, NC, with eight years of industry experience. He has been the principal of Brian B. Bunn CPA, PLLC since 2018, following prior roles in tax and accounting consulting and at CU Capital Market Solutions. He offers tax and accounting services alongside financial advising through his firm. Brian B. Bunn CPA, PLLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services in addition to tax and accounting, serving a diverse client base including pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, small businesses, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a combination of cyclical, fundamental, and quantitative strategies to construct diversified portfolios and typically seeks discretionary authority to implement Investment Policy Statements.

Lisa Hodges is a financial advisor at Shift to Impact with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in marketing consulting and advisory services prior to her current role. Hodges leads Shift to Impact, an independent firm based in Durham, NC. Shift to Impact is a fee-only financial planning firm serving individuals and families who seek to align their finances with social justice and environmental values. The firm emphasizes values-based investing and offers comprehensive planning, guidance on charitable giving and employee benefits, as well as educational workshops and speaking events, without managing client portfolios or exercising trading discretion.

Thomas Tolley is the managing member of Tolley Financial Group, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm based in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 65 and 66 licenses and has 15 years of industry experience, including nine years at Copperleaf Capital, LLC. Tolley Financial Group manages approximately $122 million for about 170 clients, serving individuals, high-net-worth investors, and pension and profit-sharing plan sponsors. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, using a mix of fundamental and technical analysis and both passive and active investment instruments.

Matthew Choplin is a financial advisor with Innovest Strategies LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and 12 years of industry experience. Prior to founding Innovest Strategies in 2025, he worked for Private Wealth Management of North Carolina for 12 years. Outside of his advisory role, Choplin is a partner in a tax and management consulting firm and holds an active real estate license, working as a listing and selling agent on weekends. Innovest Strategies LLC provides comprehensive asset management, retirement plan consulting, and financial and tax planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and pension or profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a range of investment strategies including fundamental and technical analysis, managing portfolios with ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and conservative cash instruments, while also offering tax, accounting, and real estate services under separate agreements.

Aditya Mahajan is a Series 65 credentialed advisor at ADI Mahajan CPA PC with experience spanning several roles in tax and accounting since 2018. He has worked at LESLIE MERRITT INC dba TAX AND QB GURU and held positions at various educational institutions prior to focusing on integrated CPA and investment advisory services. ADI Mahajan CPA PC provides integrated CPA and fee-only investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, family structures, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm combines tax expertise with investment management, utilizing IPS-driven asset allocation along with tax-aware strategies such as asset location and tax-loss harvesting to support long-term portfolio management.

Matthew Unger is the sole advisor at Unger Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 license with 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 16 years before founding Unger Financial in 2021. Unger is also an independent insurance agent, offering disability, life, and long-term care insurance products. Unger Financial provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $15.94 million across about 69 accounts. The firm offers tailored portfolio management using various strategies and integrates complex outside holdings into clients’ overall financial plans, with a focus on both discretionary and non-discretionary managed accounts.

Kent Fisher is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 63 licensed advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He currently leads Southern Investment Management Collective LLC, an independent firm he joined in 2023. Previously, he worked at Mutual Advisors, LLC and Old Peak Finance. Southern Investment Management Collective provides portfolio management and investment advice to individual and high-net-worth clients, tailoring strategies based on each client’s goals, tax situation, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The firm uses a combination of fundamental analysis, quantitative techniques, and modern portfolio theory to construct diversified portfolios and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary services.

Michael Molitoris is a financial advisor with Flagship Wealth Management Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Pinnacle Financial Group and LPL Financial LLC and has maintained an independent insurance agent practice since 2010. Outside of advisory work, he sells fixed insurance products as part of his business activities. Flagship Wealth Management Group is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, trusts, and businesses. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, discretionary asset management, and hourly consulting, integrating multiple planning topics with an investment approach based on fundamental and technical analysis, modern portfolio theory, and Monte Carlo planning.

Shrey Patel is a CFA® charterholder and the sole advisor at Ataraxis Capital, LLC in Durham, NC, with experience beginning in 2016 across several firms including Boyer Value Group and Thor Equities Group. He currently holds a salaried position as a senior investment analyst at Thor Equities Group, where he performs research and analysis. Ataraxis Capital provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a multi-method investment approach that includes fundamental and technical analysis, options, and margin. The firm manages approximately $840,000 in assets across two client accounts and offers performance-based fee arrangements for qualified clients.

Curtis Byrd is a financial advisor at Onyx Wealth Management, LLC in Durham, NC, holding the CFP® and Series 66 designations with 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Hamilton Point Investment Advisors, Hilltop Wealth Advisors, Fulbright Financial Consulting, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Onyx Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, non-profits, small businesses, and estates. The firm combines fundamental security analysis with modern portfolio theory to construct diversified portfolios, offering regular account reviews and ongoing planning consultations.

Christopher Sherman is the principal of Sherman Financial, an independent advisory firm based in Chapel Hill, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 10 years of industry experience. Sherman is also the proprietor of Sherman Financial Consulting, providing financial consulting and management services to small businesses and nonprofits, and is a co-owner of Harmony Music Studios LLC, offering music lessons locally. Sherman Financial provides fee-only financial planning and investment advice to individuals, families, trusts, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and predominantly passive investment strategies, combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside tax-loss harvesting.

Geoffrey Sirhal is the sole advisor at Charmarline Wealth Management in Cary, NC, holding Series 65 and 66 designations with 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include nearly two decades at Blackrock Investments and founding Charmarline Capital Partners, where he also oversees rental property activities. Charmarline Wealth Management serves individuals and high-net-worth clients with a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement advice. The firm uses a fundamental, long-term approach to build diversified, low-cost portfolios incorporating mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and options, managing approximately $119 million in client assets.

Nahnsan Guseh is a financial advisor with Capital Solutions Advisors, LLC in Durham, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to founding Capital Solutions Advisors in 2023, Nahnsan has held roles at Intuitive Surgical, where he currently works as a data scientist, as well as positions with Swing Low Sweet Chariot, LLC, NSG Solutions, LLC, and the U.S. EPA. He combines his advisory work with ongoing employment in the medical device and renewable energy sectors. Capital Solutions Advisors, LLC serves primarily individual clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and consulting. The firm employs a diverse investment approach incorporating fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis, with strategies that include options and hedged-equity, and also provides a paid educational digital magazine as an ancillary service.

Robert Martin is a financial advisor at Tilly, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with seven years of industry experience. He is the co-founder and active chairman of Vertical IQ, Inc., a financial industry research firm, and is also an angel investor in several startups. Additionally, Mr. Martin is the author of "The Hockey Stick Principles." Tilly serves individual and family clients through virtual comprehensive financial planning and advice, focusing on budgeting, insurance, debt management, and savings strategies. The firm emphasizes low-cost, passive investment approaches and delivers services on a flat-fee membership or one-time meeting basis.

Michael Brannock is a financial advisor at Bryant & Brannock, LLC in Durham, NC, with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Bryant & Brannock since 2010 and previously worked at H. Beck, Inc. from 2010 to 2017. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is also licensed to sell life and long-term care insurance, occasionally providing insurance quotes as part of his financial planning services. Bryant & Brannock serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, offering pension consulting, financial planning, general consulting, and portfolio management. The firm employs both fundamental and technical analysis with a range of investment strategies, managing a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Tina Purvis is a financial advisor at Hollingsworth Avent Averre & Purvis, P.A. She holds a Series 65 designation and has 18 years of industry experience. She has been with the firm since 2001. Hollingsworth Avent Averre & Purvis, P.A. serves individuals, corporations, and trusts by providing investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm integrates accounting and tax services into its planning and follows a market-efficiency, evidence-based investment approach that emphasizes passive vehicles, diversified allocations, and periodic rebalancing.

Ethan Earles is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with five years of industry experience. He has worked at Sycamore Financial Planning, LLC since 2021 and previously at Commonwealth Financial Network and Tucker Bria Wealth Strategies. Sycamore Financial Planning is a fee-only firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses with comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management. The firm manages approximately $104 million in assets, offering customized service tracks and emphasizing low-cost indexed mutual funds, educational seminars, and divorce-related financial planning.

Hannah Canipe is a financial advisor at Stone Legacy Capital LLC in Raleigh, NC, with three years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Stone Legacy Capital, she worked at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Stone Legacy Capital LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary asset management, tiered financial planning, and consultation services, utilizing a mix of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Charles West is a financial advisor with Endurance Financial LLC in Cary, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked previously at Sowell Management Services and Ni Advisors, Inc. Outside of advising, West is an independent licensed insurance agent, provides small business consulting, and operates a solar energy investment company focused on solar panel power systems. Endurance Financial primarily serves families, professionals, and business owners who are planning for or transitioning into retirement, offering a range of services including financial planning, investment management, insurance product sales, and business consulting. The firm uses a structured client process and actively managed model portfolios, with a focus on both individual and high-net-worth clients.