Blake Cason is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience, currently with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC. Prior to joining Steward Partners in 2026, he worked for Edward Jones for 12 years. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a vacation rental property in Beaufort, North Carolina. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering various investment advisory and financial planning services.

John Rumsey is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 16 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America N.A. and Merrill from 2010 to 2021 before joining Sanctuary Wealth in 2021. Outside of his advisory role, Rumsey serves on the advisory board of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, contributing to fundraising efforts. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through a network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management solutions and utilizes multiple investment approaches while acting as a fiduciary when a written advisory agreement is in place.

Eugenia Grimmer is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at TIAA and Wells Fargo, and she is involved in managing rental properties through Grimmer Getaways LLC. She also serves on the board of the Pender Sheriff’s Charitable Foundation. 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 involving financial needs assessment and diversified investment strategies, managing over $2.6 billion in client assets as of 2025.

Kevin Tamson is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 27 years of experience. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 1999. 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 uses a client-centered process focused on financial needs assessment and diversified asset allocation, offering portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and tax-aware services.

Lee Hopper is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 29 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Principal Life Insurance Company, The O.N. Equity Sales Company, and Financial Independence Planning Group, Inc. Hopper is also the owner and vice president of operations at Hopper Financial Group, Inc., a family corporation involved in accounting and expense management for him and a relative. 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 solutions through both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Carrie Pedersen is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and bringing 10 years of industry experience. She previously worked at The Fidelity Bank and LPL Financial from 2015 to 2022. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the finance committee at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, using a client-centered process that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Alexander Brese is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has five years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Eagle Strategies LLC, NYLIFE Securities LLC, Legacy Private Client Services, and Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm works with individual investors and institutional clients, emphasizing tailored recommendations and non-discretionary asset management within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Thomas Pemberton is a financial advisor with Guardian Life who holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 30 years of industry experience, including roles at Principal Mutual Life Insurance Co and Cp Advisory Services, Inc. Since 2013, he has been with Guardian Life in Raleigh, NC. Outside of his advisory role, he sells non-Guardian life long-term care and disability insurance products. Guardian Life’s Park Avenue® Wealth Management provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and offers access to proprietary programs, third-party solutions, and insurance products through its connection to Guardian Life.

John Corcoran is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 designations with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens, he worked at CrossCountry Mortgage and spent nine years in full-time education. First Citizens Investor Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, offering portfolio management and financial planning through various investment strategies and platforms. The firm emphasizes IAR-led client assessments and uses a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis for asset allocation.

John Underhill is a CFP® and Series 66 licensed advisor with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Farther since 2026, with prior roles at Acorn & Oak Wealth Management, Northwest Asset Management, and Edward Jones. He is a cofounder of Good Barrels of the Triangle, a nonprofit that organizes events to raise funds and awareness for small local nonprofits. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a web and mobile platform and in-person meetings. The firm applies Modern Portfolio Theory using proprietary model portfolios, algorithmic rebalancing, and a range of investment vehicles including ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income.

Tara Hulse is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Principal Securities Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2019 and previously worked at Princor Financial Services Corporation and Principal Life Insurance Co. for two decades. 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.

Gordon Grimes II is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services since 2021. He previously worked with SunTrust Advisory Services and SunTrust Investment Services from 2005 through 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and manages a second home rental property in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a mix of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting. The firm integrates inter-affiliate resources and employs AI-enabled tools to support investment research and manager selection.

Thomas Schaffer is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with 18 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with New York Life Insurance Co. since 2007 and has operated Transitions Financial Strategies, LLC since 2014. Schaffer serves as a board member of the Financial Planning Association of the Triangle and the XPX of the Triangle, local professional organizations related to financial planning and business succession. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individual investors, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes tailored advice and primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Michael Taylor is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 credential with seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Bank of America, Merrill, Edward Jones, and Murphy Family Ventures. He serves on the Board of Directors for the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawk Club, assisting in organizational decision making for their athletic student aid initiatives. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm’s investment process integrates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, offering a range of portfolio management solutions and financial planning tailored to varied client needs.

Michael Uhland is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Janney Montgomery Scott and its affiliated entities since 2019, following over a decade at Investors Title Insurance Company. 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 wide range of clients, including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and municipal clients, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory services.

Austin Houser is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc., holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and possessing one year of industry experience. His background includes positions in education and banking, including roles at Appalachian State University, the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and Fifth Third Bank. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services, offering various managed account programs and portfolio management options. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and manages a broad client base with multiple investment strategies and service platforms.

Neal Brincefield is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Guardian Life since 2015. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a special consultant leading efforts related to The Living Balance Sheet through Alternate Strategy Consulting LLC. Guardian Life’s Park Avenue® Wealth Management offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, and organizations. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and provides access to proprietary programs, third-party solutions, and insurance products through its connection with Guardian Life.

Stanley Godwin is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 19 years of industry experience. His career includes tenures at Merrill and Bank of America, N.A. prior to joining First Citizens in 2016. 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 entities. The firm employs a client-centered process led by Investment Adviser Representatives that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across a range of investment products and offers services such as portfolio management, tax-aware strategies, and financial planning.

Jocelyn Mc Bride is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, following prior roles at BB&T and Bbtis. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, fiduciary support, and third-party manager selection through its AMC Advantage program, utilizing a combination of discretionary management and non-discretionary consulting supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration.

Martin Green Jr. is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2016 and has affiliations with Nylife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company dating back to 1990. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a partner in two real estate partnerships in Raleigh. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional sponsors, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the large majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.