Edward Harris is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. He is currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., where he has worked since 2019. Prior to this, he spent 19 years at Valic Investment Services Company. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate/business entities, offering advisory and brokerage services through a variety of portfolio management solutions and financial planning. The firm’s client process focuses on assessing financial needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon to allocate assets using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

John Eason II is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, Equitable Advisors, and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for 15 years. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC manages approximately $110 billion in client assets and serves a diverse clientele including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services supported by both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Tao Zhang is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at World Financial Group, Datalenty Inc., and International Medical Group, where he provides IT consulting and insurance services. Outside of advisory work, he is also involved in ride-sharing as a Lyft driver. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services with access to proprietary and third-party investment models.

Benjamin Summers is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Independent Financial Partners since 2019. He previously worked at LPL Financial for eight years. Summers also has involvement as a producing agent in the sale and service of fixed insurance products, including life, disability, long-term care, and fixed annuities. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisers. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary management options, with notable expertise in retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

David Bellia is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. He also acts as an insurance agent specializing in life, annuities, disability, long-term care, health, and group benefits. 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 offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Shenghao Song is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Morrisville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and nine years of industry experience. He has been associated with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2015 and is also involved in language translation services through Fluent Language Solutions and provides bookkeeping, accounting, and tax consulting services via Melody Song, CPA. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, delivering advisory and brokerage services primarily through model portfolios and third-party managers across multiple program platforms.

Sophia Yacobi is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with a Series 66 credential and no prior industry experience. Her work history includes roles outside the financial industry, such as positions at Dirty Vegan and Outer Banks Brewing Station. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm supports its network of over 400 independent advisers with diverse investment approaches and offers both onshore and offshore separately managed accounts.

Troy Fairbank is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2008. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services. The firm’s approach involves IAR-led assessments of client financial needs and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Ryan Ferguson is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. since 2022. He previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and UBS Financial Services Inc. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client process based on financial needs assessment and risk tolerance, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various investment vehicles.

John Swindell is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services based in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform arrangements and AI-enabled research tools.

David Wilder is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an elder and committee member at Triangle Grace Church and is the treasurer for the Voyager Academy Booster Club. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates point-in-time planning from ongoing management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group that includes affiliated funds.

Amber Mc Neill is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF based in Durham, NC, holding a Series 65 designation. She has been with TIAA-related firms since 2015. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised fund services.

John Holding III is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. based in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining OSAIC Institutions in 2025, he worked at Members Trust Company, SECU-related firms, Principal Securities Inc., and the Holroyd Agency. He previously served as an agent and producer for several life insurance companies, receiving residual commissions from that work. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan support, wrap programs, and access to alternative investments, operating through a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer model with a focus on both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

Philip Fried is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 32 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior work experience includes positions at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. 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, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations through a variety of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services.

Dean Channell is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021 and prior to that held positions at Bb&T Securities, LLC and Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. He is based in Raleigh, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, implementing advice through both discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting.

Vijaya Arun is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. She has been self-employed since 2014, providing accounting and bookkeeping services on a part-time basis. Arun also engages in sales of insurance and non-insurance products affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC offers investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a model portfolio approach implemented through third-party managers and proprietary platforms to deliver its services.

Murat Kaptanoglu is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) with 30 years of industry experience. He currently serves as an advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has prior experience at LPL Financial and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He is involved in several investment-related business entities, including Lipson, Williams, Perry & Kaptanoglu, LLC. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a range of services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside various analytical techniques and technology platforms.

Todd Tillotson is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Truist Advisory Services, Suntrust Advisory Services, BB&T Securities, and related entities. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients with a range of advisory and brokerage services, including portfolio management, wrap programs, and financial planning. The firm emphasizes IAR-led financial assessments and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to guide investment allocations across multiple asset classes.

Sachika Motamarri is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with three years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at TIAA and UNC Charlotte among other roles. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm serves clients frequently connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans and operates within a vertically integrated model that includes affiliated fund management and donor-advised fund advisory services.

Blake Manley is a CFP® professional with 29 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Truist Advisory Services and has held positions at Truist Investment Services, Bb&T Securities, LLC, and Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. He is based in Raleigh, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches.