Brent Niswander is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Members Trust Company, SECU Brokerage Services, State Employees' Credit Union, and Bank of America, among others. Outside of financial services, he is involved in an e-commerce business focused on watch repair and sales. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors and a smaller number of 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 operates as a salaried employee model within the State Employees’ Credit Union system and provides clients with recommendations while leaving final investment decisions to them.

Mitchell Ludwig is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently associated with UNITED PLANNERS' FINANCIAL SERVICES of AMERICA. His prior work includes roles at OSAIC, FSC, Wealthcare Capital Management LLC, and The Family Firm. He is also involved as an Associate Partner in Carolina Wealth Partners, a marketing entity based in Raleigh, NC. United Planners Financial Services is a national wealth-management enterprise serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers advisory and brokerage services through independent Investment Adviser Representatives and employs a mix of custodians and third-party managers to implement client strategies.

Joseph Lucente is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having four years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2020, as well as prior experience at SunTrust Bank and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple investment programs and third-party portfolio management options on its Passageway platform and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Kenneth Bollinger is a CFP® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC since 2026. His prior roles include positions at Emerald Investment Partners, LLC, Niagara International Capital Limited, and Principal Financial Company. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved as a healthcare benefits insurance agent with Triangle Insurance & Benefits Insurance Agency. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets through a large advisor network and employs a diversified investment process blending passive and active strategies supported by an internal Investment Committee.

Jennifer Ploehn is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Truist and its predecessor entities since 2008. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved as a distributor for weight loss and wellness supplements and as a consultant for fragrance products. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and utilizes third-party platforms and AI-enabled tools to support investment decisions.

John Liddicoat is a CFP® with over 32 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. since 2017 and previously worked at Saybrus Equity Services, Inc. and Saybrus Partners. Outside of his advisory work, he operates a personal farm where he grows hay and is developing a truffle business. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, offering advisory and brokerage services with a focus on portfolio management, financial planning, and tax-aware strategies. The firm emphasizes IAR-led client assessments and a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage investments.

Henry Stotz is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles in automotive sales and financial services, and he volunteers with FINADDICTS LLC, a local fishing apparel brand. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering advisory and brokerage services with a client process focused on assessing financial needs and using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various investment vehicles.

Katie Peeden is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. Her career includes positions at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC before joining First Citizens Bank and its investor services division in 2021. 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 businesses. The firm uses a client-focused process to assess financial needs and risk tolerance, employing a range of investment analyses to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Vernon Russ is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including MML Investors Services, Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of finance, he was involved with The Curious Kitchen from 2015 to 2019. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, model portfolios, an automated investing platform, and tax-aware services, focusing on client assessments and a mix of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis for asset allocation.

Cody Wagner is an advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. based in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has experience working at Fifth Third Securities since 2026 and has previous roles at Fifth Third Bank, Truist, and Wells Fargo dating back to 2016. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types and third-party portfolio managers on its Passageway platform, combining advisor-guided strategies with advanced portfolio management techniques.

Michael Mordecai is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with seven years of industry experience. His career includes three years at Edward Jones before joining First Citizens Investor Services in 2021. Mordecai also attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2013 to 2017. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client-centered process that uses fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate investments across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Cynthia Harvard is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. She has worked with SunTrust Advisory Services and Sun Trust Investment Services since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member for the American Red Cross Central NC Chapter and operates a personal online resale business. 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 utilizes a range of discretionary and non-discretionary solutions supported by third-party manager relationships and AI-enabled research tools.

Julie Knight is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience and is currently an advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott. Her prior experience includes roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. She volunteers with the Estate Planning Council of the Lehigh Valley and is involved as a member and volunteer with Lehigh Valley Aging in Place. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large enterprise firm managing approximately $110 billion in client assets, serving a diverse client base with brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs. The firm combines in-house and third-party portfolio management and offers custody and trustee services through a subsidiary trust company.

Mark Weaver is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Raleigh, NC, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has worked at Crossbridge Financial Group, LLC and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in prior roles. Outside of his advisory work, he is a 50% owner of WBDFC, LLC, an entity focused on managing commercial real estate. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients, offering a variety of advisory programs and support services. The firm provides operations, trading, technology, investment management, compliance, and practice-management resources, enabling advisors to construct client portfolios using a broad range of securities and insurance products.

Kyle Scott is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Raleigh, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses, and has four years of industry experience. He previously worked at GPac, Sprint Communications, and Charter Communications. Outside of his advisory work, Scott is the owner of KTNDJE Publishing and the author of *Killing Chaos: Making Relationship Decisions That Lead to Less Drama*. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and advisory services often connected to insurance and annuity products. The firm primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis and tailors recommendations to client objectives across multiple program types.

Roberto Pflaumer is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at WealthWave, Transamerica Financial Advisors, Wfgia, and Entrust. Pflaumer also engages in sales of insurance and non-insurance products for companies affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of advisory and broker-dealer services, including proprietary model portfolios and access to third-party money managers, operating as both a registered broker-dealer and a registered investment advisor.

Alfred Sosa is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 29 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at National Life Group, MassMutual, Mutual of Omaha, and Transamerica Financial Advisors. He is also the managing director and agent of Financial Partners Group LLC. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm operates as both a broker-dealer and an SEC-registered investment adviser, offering multiple advisory platforms that combine long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and third-party asset management.

Kenneth Wilson is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes nearly a decade at Bb&T and related entities before joining First Citizens in 2020. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-owner of MSK Farms LLC and MSK Adventures LLC, which are personal family business ventures. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and tax-aware services through a combination of advisory and brokerage solutions. The firm applies fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis in managing assets and reported over $2.6 billion in client assets as of year-end 2025.

Kevin Berry is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has worked at Brookstone Capital Management since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Security Financial, Retirement Wealth Advisors, FormulaFolio Investments, and Secure Financial Solutions. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates Security Financial, providing insurance sales and investment advisory services. Brookstone Capital Management offers fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes strategic and dynamic asset allocation models, a turnkey asset management platform, and a variety of investment strategies, serving both direct clients and other advisory programs.

Rachel Liquori is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and four years of industry experience. She has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2023 and previously gained experience at City National Bank, First Citizens Investor Services, and BB&T/Truist. Outside of her advisory role, she co-owns a consulting business that assists military veterans with disability claims, though she is not involved in its operations. 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 uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration through Truist’s affiliated broker-dealer and bank.