Kwame Richards is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with four years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2022 and previously worked at First Citizens Bank from 2007 to 2025. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services including portfolio management, model portfolios, and financial planning. The firm emphasizes IAR-led assessments and applies fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis in its investment approach.

Kimberly Loftin is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and has previously worked at firms including Thrivent Financial, First Citizens Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, Edward Jones, and First Federal Bank. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement 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, and access to alternative investments and lending solutions within a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure.

Kennedy Taylor is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He currently works at Empower Advisory Group and previously was employed by Fidelity Investments and First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, delivering services through an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and savings rates in its financial planning, serving a large participant base with a higher client-to-advisor ratio than many peers.

James Simone is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 30 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2013. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm also advises donor-advised funds and combines point-in-time planning with ongoing portfolio management under a fiduciary standard.

Jacquelyn Wiggs is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 14 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 credential and has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021, following roles at BB&T Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Raymond James Financial. Outside of her advisory work, she is a certified Les Mills group fitness instructor. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships and integrates AI-supported research to inform its investment approach.

Elias Dau is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked previously at Ameriprise, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Principal Securities Inc., and Merrill Lynch. Outside of his advisory role, he is an author based in Raleigh, NC. 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 managed through centralized teams that select portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers.

Joseph Miller is a CFP® professional with 32 years of industry experience. He is currently with Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC and has previously worked at Arky & Miller Financial Group and The Variable Annuity Marketing Company. Miller also teaches CFP Board educational courses as an adjunct faculty member at Guilford College. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is a multi-team registered advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes customized, primarily long-term portfolios using ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, bonds, alternative investments, and independent sub-advisers, supported by a network of approximately 286 advisors serving over 13,000 clients.

Michael York is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 25 years of industry experience and has been with Independent Advisor Alliance since 2015, concurrently serving with LPL Financial since 2012. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm provides both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and utilizes a network model that integrates technology platforms and access to third-party managers.

Lori York is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC. Her prior roles include positions at BB&T and BB&T Securities, where she worked for a combined eight years. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Alan Segal is a CFP® professional with 36 years of industry experience, currently serving at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC since 2024. His prior experience includes 19 years at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and Ameriprise. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale, SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets and serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a range of portfolio management and financial planning services.

Todd Davis is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., holding Series 65 and Series 63 designations and 10 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Ascensus, LLC, Tower Square Securities, Inc., PASI Investments, LLC, and Dominari Securities LLC. He is based in Raleigh, NC. 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 IAR-led financial assessments and a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios across various asset classes.

Paul Liebman is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, Colliers International, Grubhub, and the USDA. Liebman serves on the Foundation Board of Directors for Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he collaborates with prospective donors on planned giving initiatives. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs, combining discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and leveraging third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Vernon Maples is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 46 years of industry experience, including 28 years with Principal Life Insurance Company and 10 years at Principal Securities INC. His outside business activities include work with fixed insurance products such as fixed life, annuities, disability income, and long-term care insurance. 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 plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Jonathan Wakin is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 designations and has previously worked at First Citizens Investor Services, Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Edward Jones, and RGA Investments. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel abroad. The firm’s advisory services include direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Halah Little is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Fidelity Investments, Barings, and Transamerica Life Insurance Company. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through a range of advice programs focusing on asset allocation, contribution guidance, and retirement planning supported by Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary portfolio construction and oversight.

Devon Blair is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Principal, Blair held positions at Thrivent Financial, S&P Global, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of advisory roles, Blair has business experience with Restaurant Applications, LLC and Hamptons Delivery Service, Inc. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

David Elliott is a CFP® with 25 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He is currently with Clearstead Advisory Solutions, having joined in 2024 after 23 years at Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management. Elliott also serves as Assistant Vice President at Lafayette Advisor, focusing on collective investment trusts. Clearstead serves affluent private clients and institutional investors, providing investment management, financial planning, tax planning, family office administration, and institutional consulting services. The firm utilizes an institutional investment process across a variety of investment vehicles and maintains approximately $33.9 billion in assets under management.

Andrew Sparrow is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has three years of industry experience. He has also worked at First Citizens Bank since 2011. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a client-focused process driven by financial needs assessments and utilizes fundamental, quantitative, and technical analyses in portfolio management across various asset classes.

Blake Gaulden is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Osaic Advisory Services, LLC and Gaulden & Associates Wealth Management, having previously worked at firms including LPL Financial, Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation, and Ameriprise Financial Services. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisor serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporate and charitable entities, retirement plan participants, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers a range of investment programs and consulting services, utilizing both fundamental and technical strategies, and operates within an affiliated ecosystem that integrates alternative investments and annuity sub-account management.

Amy Sharpe Verdugo is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 10 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Creative Planning since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she is the managing member of Toolbox Heroes Handyman Services LLC and serves as Board Chair of EYC Academy, a special education organization. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment strategy that integrates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold approaches, and selective private market investments.