Benjamin Woodard Jr. is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Chapel Hill, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 51 years of industry experience, including over two decades at Equitable Advisors and its predecessor, Axa Advisors. He is also approved to conduct insurance business with carriers outside of the Equitable network. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model, offering both advisory and brokerage/insurance channels tailored through a detailed client intake process.

Michael Sterling is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and possessing 34 years of industry experience. He has previously worked with FSC Securities Corporation for 31 years and has been a partner at Banyan, Rock and Talent Insurance Agency since 1995. Outside of advising, he is involved in managing a partnership and serves as president/CEO of his financial planning firm. OSAIC Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and charitable investors. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services, using asset-allocation tools and multiple investment platforms to tailor portfolios across various asset classes.

Michael Newton is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wachovia Bank, N.A., where he has been employed since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, he is a landlord of a rental property in Raleigh, NC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services grounded in an IPS-driven, modern portfolio theory approach. The firm’s services include investment policy statement preparation, investment recommendations, performance reporting, participant education, and plan benchmarking, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related products and bank deposit sweep options.

Zachary Merritt is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2025. He has prior experience with firms including Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and Lincoln Financial Securities. Outside of his advisory role, he provides consulting services and handyman support for family businesses and related ventures. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by offering financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through third-party managers and LPL programs. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model utilizing multiple advisory programs and emphasizes individualized client planning.

Larry Swaney is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has worked with Wells Fargo in various capacities since 2009. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the finance committee of Mount Moriah Baptist Church. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that provides investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of planning services and uses proprietary research and tools to develop tailored recommendations for its clients.

Alicia Fitzsimmons is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 23 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked in various roles within Fidelity, including Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a blend of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm also serves multiple registered investment companies and employs systematic methodologies and AI tools in its investment processes.

Jennifer Curtis is Vice President and Wealth Planner at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2018. She has been with Fidelity for 17 years, during which she has progressed through several roles including Financial Consultant, Investment Representative, Financial Representative, and Workplace Guidance specialist. Her experience encompasses partnering with clients and their families to navigate financial complexities and develop tailored plans to help achieve their goals. Jennifer emphasizes attentive listening to understand the specific needs and concerns of her clients, working collaboratively to create and execute personalized financial strategies.

Dylan Schaetzel is a financial advisor at Fidelity with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2022. Prior to this, he held roles at Elon University and various companies in different sectors. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including charitable funds and registered investment companies. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage discretionary and non-discretionary accounts and model portfolios.

Ryder Seiz is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 credential with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors in 2023, Ryder's work history includes various roles outside the financial sector, such as positions at DoorDash and UNC Aquatics. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, utilizing program sponsors and third-party managers to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.

Matthew Conroy is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at TD Ameritrade Investment Management, LLC and TD Ameritrade, Inc. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm combines a large-scale, integrated structure with a client relationship model that blends non-discretionary advisory recommendations and access to discretionary separately managed accounts.

Cynthia Ward is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 26 years of industry experience. She has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC from 2014 to 2016. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice. The firm’s IPS-driven approach incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a broad range of investment options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Nancy Ayers is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Wells Fargo Bank since 1993. Her experience at Wells Fargo Clearing began in 2026. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and combines brokerage and advisory solutions, relying on research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party databases to guide investment selections.

Anthony Dowling is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network since 2009. Dowling serves as a trustee for a 401(k) plan and owns Raleigh Wealth Management Inc. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo that offers investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm provides a broad range of planning services, including niche areas such as business-owner transition and special-needs analysis, with recommendations developed using proprietary research and tools.

Morgan Litchfield is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC. Prior to this role, Morgan worked at Wells Fargo Private Bank and U.S. Trust, accumulating over a decade of experience within the Wells Fargo organization. Morgan is a co-trustee for family trusts established for his children. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates a broad range of investment options, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Matthew Brinkley is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Robinhood Markets and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Brinkley is based in Raleigh, NC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Morgan Mc Cullen is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations. Mc Cullen has experience managing wealth administration at Fidelity Bank and has worked in various roles within financial services since 2019. Prior to entering the advisory field, Mc Cullen was involved with Cousin Couture from 2015 to 2019. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Christopher Diaz is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank, Belk, and Vision NC. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions across a broad client base.

Bradley Hipps is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. with 8 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Truist Advisory Services, BB&T Securities, and Fidelity Brokerage Services. He is part of The DDK Group, a team within Baird’s Private Wealth Management department that serves individuals, corporate and business clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services, employing a combination of manager-traded and model-traded SMA strategies along with tax-management and direct-indexing capabilities.

John Matthews is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 39 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Raymond James since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a part-time professor with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting through various programs and institutional fiduciary solutions.

Matthew Szymanski is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Since beginning his career at Merrill Lynch in 2003, he has provided traditional financial advice and guidance as well as built and managed custom investment strategies. His approach includes selecting from a wide range of Merrill model portfolios and third-party investment options, with the ability to manage strategies on a discretionary basis for clients participating in the firm's Investment Advisory Program. Matthew holds several professional designations, including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Vanderbilt University and completed his secondary education at St Joseph's Collegiate Institute. Matthew, along with his wife Emily and their son Barrett, reside in downtown Raleigh and are actively involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In 2023, Matthew was named to Forbes' "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list, a recognition developed by SHOOK Research based on factors such as industry experience, credentials, client retention, and firm nominations.