Robert Oakes is a financial advisor with Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company in Raleigh, NC. He holds the CFP® and PFS™ designations and has nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Avantax Investment Services and Hughes, Pittman & Gupton, LLP. He serves on the boards of Johnston Health and UNC Rex Healthcare. Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company advises individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and diversification, managing approximately $5 billion in client assets through a multi-team approach.

Matthew Horne is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Credit Union Investment Services, SECU Life Insurance Company, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union since 2014. 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, with investment adviser representatives as salaried employees of the parent credit union.

Timothy Naylor is a financial advisor at Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Avantax Advisory Services and 1ST Global Capital Corp. Outside of advisory work, he is a partner at EisnerAmper, focusing on tax and accounting services. Prosperity - An EisnerAmper Company serves individuals, trustees, estates, retirement plans, and business entities, providing financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and diversification, using both discretionary and non-discretionary management with third-party independent managers and model portfolios.

Brent Ciliano is a CFA® charterholder with 26 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. and serves as a supervisory principal at SVB Wealth, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Citizens Bank. Brent also serves on the board of directors for First Citizens Asset Management, focusing on portfolio construction and investment selection. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to a range of clients, including individuals, trusts, municipalities, and institutions. The firm offers multi-asset class portfolios using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, with an emphasis on strategic asset allocation and risk management.

Francis Thomas is a financial advisor with Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Rising Tide, Inc. and Capital Investment Group, Inc., alongside operating his own insurance agency, F. Michael Thomas & Associates, since 1985. Capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC offers investment advisory and supervisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an individualized process and a range of analytical methods to manage portfolios through discretionary mandates, third-party managers, or private-label model portfolios.

Jonathan Denton is a financial advisor at Strategic Blueprint, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Cornerstone Wealth Management and The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. since 2014. Strategic Blueprint, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm delivers customized, goal-based strategies through asset allocation, portfolio design, and manager selection, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with financial planning and educational programs.

Joshua Davis is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Raleigh, NC, bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has held roles at State Employees' Credit Union since 2008 and has been affiliated with Credit Union Investment Services and related entities since 2013. Davis also serves as a Financial Advisory Services District Manager at State Employees' Credit Union and acts as a trust representative for Members Trust Company. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves North Carolina residents, focusing on individual investors and trust clients. The firm offers non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, recommending low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs, with a goals-based, long-term approach.

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.

Terrence Donoghue is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 46 years of industry experience. He has worked at Founders Financial Alliance and LPL Financial since 2016, following a decade at INVEST Financial Corp. Founders Financial Alliance provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs an evidence-based investment process using ETFs, third-party managers, and regular portfolio monitoring, and offers a family-office style program under a flat fee arrangement.

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.

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.

Lawrence Mcmanus Jr. is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Modern Wealth Management, LLC since 2024. His prior roles include positions at Advisory Services Network, LLC and Team Wealth Planning and Management, Inc. He serves as treasurer and finance chair on the board of directors for Carol Woods Retirement Community and holds board roles with County Hall Insurance Company. Modern Wealth Management provides investment advisory and integrated planning services to individuals, trusts, pension and retirement plans, charitable organizations, broker-dealers, and corporations. The firm employs a centralized portfolio management model supported by an Investment Committee and offers a range of services including discretionary investment management, modular financial planning, tax and estate planning, and ERISA plan services.

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.