Joshua Maida is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2016 and is also associated with AGIA, where he works with non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm operates at scale with over 1,200 advisors and integrates technology and model solutions to manage a large client base.

Serene Alsous is a CFP® and ChFC® with nine years of experience in financial advising, currently with Valic Financial Advisors in Durham, NC. She has been with Valic Financial Advisors and NC State University since 2017 and also has experience at BMW Manufacturing and Agia. Alsous serves as a notary public in Wake County. Valic Financial Advisors is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer serving primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management and financial planning services through a network of over 1,200 advisors, utilizing discretionary unified managed accounts on Envestnet’s platform with optional tax-aware and ESG overlays.

Allen Smith is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at Infinex Investments, Inc. since 2012 and has been EVP of Wealth Management at First Bancorp since 2011. Additionally, he serves as a consultant to Midwood Financial Services, a third-party marketing firm. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, wrap programs, third-party asset manager referrals, and access to alternative investments and lending solutions.

Carey Hunter Jr. is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Principal Securities Inc., Mid Atlantic Executive Benefits, and PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. Hunter also serves on the Poyner YMCA Branch Committee and the WakeEd Partnership finance committee. 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 consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Peter Adcroft is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2016. 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 range of clients, including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services through various wrap programs and a centralized asset management platform.

Vincent Perry is a CFP® and ChFC® with 29 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, where he has worked since 2017, and previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. from 2005 to 2017. Perry is also the owner and organizer of Mattocks Legacy Event Center LLC, a business unrelated to investment advisory. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a network model with advisory representatives offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, utilizing various investment strategies and technology platforms.

Conrad Kunkel is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Chapel Hill, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone since 2015 and also owns GPS Financial Strategies, where he counsels individuals, families, and business owners on financial security matters. Prior to Brookstone, he worked briefly at Gradient Advisors, LLC. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a wide range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through a turnkey asset management platform and related wrap-fee programs.

John Todd is a financial advisor with Osaic Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Arbor Point Advisors, Securities America, Ameriprise Financial Services, and Edward Jones. Todd also engages in insurance sales on a limited basis. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporate and charitable entities, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers a broad range of investment strategies and consulting services, utilizing both fundamental and technical analysis along with access to alternative investments through platform partnerships.

Joseph Broughton III is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2017 and previously worked at BB&T Securities from 2013 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with several limited liability companies, including Broughton Properties LLC, where he serves as managing member. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a wide range of clients and offers brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs, combining in-house and third-party portfolio management across multiple platforms and providing custody and trustee services through a subsidiary trust company.

Sasha Steinbeck is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 21 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Principal Securities Inc. since 2016 and at Principal Life Insurance Company since 2006. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel outside the United States. 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.

Kimberley Palladino is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Truist and its predecessor, SunTrust, since 2015. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, fiduciary support, and manager selection programs, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by AI-enabled research tools.

Charles Stratton is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services in Cary, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has five years of industry experience. Prior to his financial career, Stratton served 11 years in the U.S. Army. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm provides financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed by a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers.

John Berry is a CFP® professional with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC since 2023. He previously worked at Laurel Wealth Advisors, Inc., ARIA Wealth Management, Inc., J.W. Cole Financial, Inc., and Concert Wealth Management, Inc. In addition to his financial advisory roles, Berry serves as President of CONCERT Retirement Plan Consulting, Inc. and is an Executive Officer in the United States Navy Reserves. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, consulting, and retirement plan advisory services, utilizing customized portfolios and a combination of internal and third-party asset management.

Samir Alame is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Cary, NC, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2009 and has been involved in financial literacy initiatives through his ownership of Financial Literacy LLC and Financial Literacy Inc. Outside of advisory services, he brokers non-investment insurance products through his business Protection And Finance Inc. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm operates within the New York Life affiliate structure and emphasizes tailored advice delivered largely through non-discretionary asset management and fiduciary standards for retirement investors.

Elisha Pope is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services in Cary, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with First Command in various capacities since 2025. Her prior work experience includes roles at Target, UPS, and the US Post Office. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, utilizing model portfolios managed by a centralized Investment Management Team.

Dale Berry is a ChFC® with 40 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Raleigh, NC. He has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2011 and has been associated with NYLife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company since 2004. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individuals and institutions, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers tailored advice through multiple program types and manages a substantial portion of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

George Arky is a CFP® with 37 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC since 2025. He previously worked at Arky & Miller Financial Group, LLC and Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Arky is a board member of the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and also leads wine tours in Durham, NC. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers wealth management, financial planning, and retirement advisory services through customized, primarily long-term portfolios that utilize ETFs, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles.

Khutchnai Kang is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Empower, Kang worked at Fidelity Investments and held various roles outside the financial industry. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Matthew Kelleher is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. and has held various roles including positions at Bates College and Momenta Pharmaceuticals. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and managing about $213 billion in client assets. The firm offers adviser support through managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, retirement consulting, and custody services.

Richard Nathan is a financial advisor at Mariner with 8 years of industry experience. He previously spent 28 years at Forte Capital LLC. Outside of advising, he serves on the management committee of Forte Capital, which solely holds Mariner F-1 Units without providing investment advice or financial planning. Mariner serves a diverse client base through customized, discretionary portfolio management supported by in-house research and third-party managers, and offers integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness services in addition to traditional investment solutions.