Jason Shutts is a financial advisor with The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining The Strategic Financial Alliance, he worked at Bowers Private Wealth Management. Outside of advising, he is involved in providing tax preparation and filing services for family and a small group of friends and supports remote tax and tech assistance for TurboTax users through a business process outsourcing role. The Strategic Financial Alliance serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business clients. The firm offers portfolio management, third-party manager selection, financial planning, and consulting, implementing customized strategies through various programs and co-advisory relationships.

Kathleen Villegas is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience. She currently works at Root Financial Partners and previously held roles at Ellevest and Old Peak Finance LLC. Prior to her financial advisory career, she worked at Duke University. Root Financial Partners provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes broadly diversified, passive portfolios tailored to client goals and offers specialized strategies when appropriate, along with educational programming and separate paid online academies.

Benjamin Ingram is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at LPL Financial and Cuna Mutual Group. First Citizens Asset Management provides investment advisory and sub‑advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, institutional accounts, and municipal entities. The firm manages approximately $167 million on a discretionary basis through a multi‑team platform and constructs global, multi‑asset model portfolios using a combination of quantitative and qualitative criteria.

Jo Beth Mullens is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has worked in tax services as a tax analyst for H&R Block. Verity Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individual, corporate, institutional clients, and other advisers. The firm employs a model-driven investment process focused on tactical asset allocation across diverse asset classes and offers discretionary portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning services.

David Wahlen is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors in Raleigh, NC, with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at CapFinancial Partners LLC (CAPTRUST) and Hatteras Funds. Outside of his advisory role, Wahlen serves as a consultant for several third-party research firms, providing expertise on the competitive landscape and trends within the RIA industry. Merit Financial Group, LLC manages approximately $10.6 billion and serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using model portfolios and modular sleeves, overseen by a central Investment Management team and Investment Committee, while allowing advisors to customize portfolios on various platforms.

Joseph Bowman is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. He has worked with Members Trust Company, SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union. Outside of his financial roles, Bowman manages Bear Branch Farm, a local grocery and woodworking business selling produce and handmade items at farmer's markets. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual investors and trust clients in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management and retirement planning with a focus on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs. The firm emphasizes a goals-based, long-term planning approach and employs salaried advisers who provide recommendations while clients retain final decision-making authority.

Darlene Scoggins is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked with Members Trust Company, Secu Life Insurance Company, Secu Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union since 2010. Outside of her financial services roles, she operates a small arts and crafts business. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, providing non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm focuses on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs alongside fixed-income products, emphasizing a goals-based, long-term planning approach.

Thomas Corenevsky is a financial advisor at Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Wealthcare Advisory Partners in 2021, he worked at LPL Financial for 18 years. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC manages approximately $6 billion in client assets through a team of over 150 advisors, serving individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines a goals-based, client-centered planning process with an evidence-based investment framework that includes proprietary quantitative measures and access to alternative and private placement investments.

Ron Linton is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 designation with 23 years of industry experience. He is currently with Level Four Advisory Services, where he has worked since 2025. Prior to this, he spent 12 years at The Fidelity Bank and LPL Financial. Level Four Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $6.5 billion and serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and municipal entities. The firm offers financial planning, asset and portfolio management, retirement-plan consulting, and fiduciary services, utilizing model portfolios and a variety of platform and sub-advisor arrangements.

Evan Kramlich is a financial advisor at Redhawk Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Cary, NC, with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and previously worked for Axa Advisors, LLC from 2011 to 2017. Outside of advisory work, he is also licensed as an insurance agent with various carriers. Redhawk Wealth Advisors provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth families, estates, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a strategic and tactical asset allocation approach across multiple asset classes and supports multi-generational wealth needs, separately managed accounts, and educational seminars.

Lucas Roberson is a financial advisor at Balentine in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at CapFinancial Partners, Fisher Investments, and Whitener Capital Management. Balentine serves entrepreneurs, families, high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and institutional clients, offering wealth management, financial planning, investment management, family office services, and business advisory support. The firm uses a risk-based investment process with a mix of active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and a model-driven Global Tactical Asset Allocation program, and it is noted for its role in pooled vehicles and private fund advisory.

Gordon Wegwart is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management with 43 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Verity Asset Management, Inc. and related entities since 1996. Wegwart serves as an officer and director of Verity Financial Group, an insurance agency, and is a board member of PlanScope360, LLC, which focuses on retirement plan governance and administration. Verity Asset Management is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm with 53 advisors overseeing approximately $1.15 billion. The firm serves individuals, retirement plan sponsors and participants, institutional clients, and other advisers, employing a largely model-based investment process that includes internally managed specialty strategies and third-party manager models.

Michael De Camillis is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with multiple firms, including The Leaders Group DBA Simplicity Investments and Tidewater Financial Group of NC. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in sales and marketing roles related to health and insurance products through several business activities. Verity Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with discretionary portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning. The firm uses a model-driven investment process focused on tactical asset allocation across diverse asset classes and offers both internally managed and third-party manager models.

Donald Parrott is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Investment Group, Inc. since 1996. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the committee for the Presbyterian Endowment Trust at First Presbyterian Church in Gastonia and is an advisory board member for Gaston Skills, Inc., a nonprofit supporting employment for mentally and physically challenged individuals. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and supervisory services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers personalized investment management through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, and private-label model portfolios, using a mix of analytical methods and ongoing monitoring.

Mark Mc Cormick is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Alliance since 2018 and previously worked at NTT Data in 2016-2017. Founders Financial Alliance provides discretionary, fee-based investment management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and corporate retirement plans. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach tailored to individual goals, combining asset allocation, rebalancing, and a mix of strategies, while also supporting advisors with administrative and compliance resources.

Martha Thorne is a financial advisor at Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC with four years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with Capital Investment Group, Inc. and Mainstreet Collection prior to her current role. 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, utilizing a range of analytical methods and conducting at least quarterly portfolio reviews.

John Maddison is a CFP®, CFA®, and holds a Series 66 license, currently working at Balentine in Raleigh, NC. He has 12 years of experience at Balentine and two years in the financial industry overall. Balentine serves entrepreneurs, families, high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and institutional clients, providing comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, investment management, family office services, and business advisory support. The firm employs a risk-based investment process using a combination of active and passive strategies and manages pooled investment vehicles, including private funds.

Joseph Gordon is a CFP® professional with 46 years of industry experience, currently serving at Summit Financial, LLC since 2024. He has held roles at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Valmark Securities, and founded Gordon Asset Management, LLC in 2001. In addition to his advisory work, he is president and owner of Strategic Financial Management, Inc., a firm offering fixed life insurance, disability, long-term care, and employee benefits. Summit Financial, LLC is an SEC-registered, multi-team advisory firm with over $26 billion in assets under management and more than 200 advisors. The firm provides investment advisory, portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and access to alternative investments through a combination of discretionary and consultative services.

Joseph Barnes is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Raleigh, NC, and has three years of industry experience. He is also affiliated with Members Trust Company, SECU Life Insurance Company, and SECU Brokerage Services. Barnes has worked in various roles at State Employees' Credit Union since 2019. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm emphasizes low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs, fixed-income products, and a goals-based, long-term planning approach.

Alejandro Segovia is a financial advisor with Mission Wealth Management, LP in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 65 credential and has one year of industry experience. Before joining Mission Wealth Management in 2021, he worked at Beacon Pointe Advisors and ADP, and he has an academic background from the University of Arizona. Mission Wealth Management is a multi-team advisory firm serving affluent and high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients. The firm offers wealth management, financial planning, and portfolio management through tiered service models, employing customized, long-term strategies across a broad range of investment types.