Neil Firth is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merrill for 15 years before joining First Citizens in 2016. Outside of his advisory role, Firth serves as the Treasurer and an officer on the Parent Board of the Cape Fear Center of Inquiry, a charter school in Wilmington, NC. 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 corporate/business entities. The firm utilizes a client-centered approach incorporating fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Robert Dickinson is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. He has 30 years of industry experience and has been with First Citizens since 2010. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, providing both advisory and brokerage services. The firm employs a client process focused on assessing financial needs and risk tolerance, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios across various asset classes.

Kelly Forrester is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott, based in Raleigh, NC. She has 23 years of industry experience, all of which has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2006. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering a range of brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory services.

Andrea Hardy is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 13 years of industry experience. She holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has worked at firms including MassMutual Life Insurance Company and MML Investors Services LLC. Hardy serves as a general board member of the Triangle Women in Golf Foundation. 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.

Jacob Rudy is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Cerity Partners, he worked at Cook Wealth, LLC and CapTrust. Outside of his advisory roles, his background includes various positions at Liberty University and experience in other sectors. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, estates, business entities, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets. The firm offers customized wealth management services and utilizes a client-specific investment framework that incorporates proprietary quantitative strategies, manager selection, and alternative investment solutions.

Carson Shepherd is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and three years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Truist Investment Services and Truist Advisory Services, along with prior positions at Altria and various hospitality-related businesses. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, 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.

Stephen Selema is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 21 years of industry experience. He has worked with VOYA and its affiliated entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he is also a musician who performs live and earns income through digital sales and royalties. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale firm serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, unified managed accounts, and retirement advisory services, using a combination of in-house and external strategists, model portfolios, and technology-enabled tools to tailor client solutions.

Liam Powlen is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Fidelity Investments and involvement with the WNY Sustainable Business Roundtable. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities by providing advisory and brokerage services through investment advisor representatives and third-party portfolio managers. The firm employs a client process focused on assessing financial needs and risk tolerance, using a range of analytical methods to allocate investments across various asset classes.

Michael Holloway is a Certified Financial Planner® with 20 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cerity Partners LLC and has previously worked at Cook Wealth Management Group, LPL Financial, and UBS Financial Services. Holloway holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Cerity Partners advises a diverse range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services with a focus on client-specific investment profiles, proprietary quantitative screening, and access to alternative and private market solutions.

Chad Weatherman is a Certified Financial Planner® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2023. His prior roles include positions at Beacon Pointe Advisors, DMJ Wealth Advisors, and Millennial Wealth Design. Mariner Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party managers to provide customized portfolio solutions and maintains integrated tax and accounting services uncommon for a firm of its size.

Shawn Will is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Principal Securities Inc. since 2016 and has also worked with Principal Life Insurance Company since 2013. 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.

Derek Mccord is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) based in Cary, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equity Services, Derek worked at National Life Group and MassMutual in various capacities. Outside of his advisory role, he is a product advocate for health and wellness products through Melaleuca, Inc. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs multiple advisory platforms and uses third-party asset managers and model portfolios to offer a blend of long-term strategies and specialized investment options.

William Faircloth is a CFP® with 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked with Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, and Truist Bank since 2016, and previously was with BB&T Securities, LLC. from 2019 to 2021. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships and integrates inter-affiliate services, including affiliated broker-dealer and bank partnerships, to deliver its investment solutions.

Vincenzo Catullo is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked in various roles within Truist and its predecessor entities since 2001. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, implementing advice through a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and extensive inter-affiliate integration.

Paul Dowd is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, where he has worked since 2019. His prior experience includes roles at CapWealth Planning, Allstate Insurance Co., Principal Financial Services, GL Investment Services, and Valic Financial Advisors. He is also involved as an insurance broker outside of Guardian. Park Avenue® Wealth Management, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and provides access to proprietary and third-party investment solutions.

Santiago Vazquez is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. based in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience, having joined First Citizens Investor Services in 2025. His prior work experience includes roles at Harris Teeter, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, BMW of Wilmington, Southern Cross Farms, and Subway. First Citizens Investor Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios that include equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Gregory Weiss is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens since 2003 and is also a partner at Weiss Property Holdings, LLC, a real estate investment business he has been involved with since 2020. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm’s approach includes IAR-led financial assessments and diversified investment allocation utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

Leslie Gaddis is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network in Durham, NC. Gaddis has worked at Commonwealth Financial Network and Lifetime Asset Management since 2018. Outside of advisory services, Gaddis co-owns LifeTime Tax Management, LLC, a firm providing tax preparation services. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm offers various advisory programs and supports affiliated advisors with operations, technology, investment management, and compliance services.

Jacob Hollifield is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fifth Third Securities in 2023, he held roles at Fifth Third Bank, Best Buy, and Yogurt Mountain. Outside of his advisory work, he engages in freelance photography. 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 via the Passageway platform, utilizing third-party portfolio managers and a range of strategies from mutual funds and ETFs to separately managed accounts and tax-overlay services.

Debra Allen is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at First Citizens Investor Services since 2004 and at First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company since 2003. 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-focused process using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.