Carrie Pedersen is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 designations and previously worked at The Fidelity Bank and LPL Financial. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the finance committee of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church 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 a client-centered process using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across multiple 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 Primerica Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 29 years of industry experience, including roles at Principal Mutual Life Insurance Co. and Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America. He also sells non-Guardian life long-term and short-term disability insurance products through an outside Guardian Insurance business. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm utilizes a variety of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and platforms to manage accounts across multiple asset classes.

John Corcoran is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens in 2024, he worked at CrossCountry Mortgage and spent nine years in full-time education. 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 emphasizes IAR-led financial assessments and employs a mix of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate investments across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

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 financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. Mr. Grimes has worked at SunTrust Advisory Services since 2016 and SUNTRUST INVESTMENT SERVICES, Inc. since 2005. Outside of advising, he is involved in real estate renovation and sales as the owner of a second home rental property in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with consulting services and employs AI-enabled equity research tools, serving clients through integrated inter-affiliate platforms.

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.

Crystal Woodberry is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Merrill and First Citizens Securities Corporation. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and multiple advisory programs.

Austin Houser is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. His prior work includes roles at Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina Greensboro, and Fifth Third Bank. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities through both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types via its Passageway Managed Account platform, combining third-party portfolio management with various investment strategies.

Neal Brincefield is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a special consultant for Alternate Strategy Consulting LLC, leading efforts related to the Living Balance Sheet. Primerica Advisors operates as part of Park Avenue Securities LLC, serving a broad retail client base with both brokerage and advisory services, including financial planning and retirement-plan consulting. The firm offers proprietary and third-party investment programs and supports a range of account services such as lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Jocelyn Mc Bride is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and eight years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Truist Investment Services and its predecessor firms, dating back to 2017. 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 and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools, to deliver its investment solutions.

Martin Green Jr. is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Raleigh, NC. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 35 years of industry experience. His career includes long-term roles at New York Life Insurance Company and Nylife Securities LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, emphasizing tailored recommendations and a predominantly non-discretionary asset management approach.

Kristin Ezzell is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has three years of industry experience. Kristin has been with Truist Investment Services and its predecessor since 2012. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager‑selection program, implementing advice through both discretionary and non‑discretionary strategies supported by third‑party platforms and AI-enhanced research.

James Appleby is a CFP® certified financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2018, including leadership roles at Truist Investment Services and Bb&T Securities. Appleby serves as a local board member for Beginnings, a nonprofit focused on education and assistance for children with hearing loss. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager arrangements and AI-enabled equity research tools.

Stuart Gay is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wealthshield Partners, LLC and MassMutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of advising, he owns businesses in construction, cleaning services, and farming operations. 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 and employs a diversified investment approach blending passive and active management with oversight from an internal Investment Committee.

Christopher Hill is a CFP® professional with 28 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC and has worked at Bank of America since 2011 and Merrill since 1997. Outside of advisory work, he owns FHJ Properties, LLC, a real estate investment business. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pensions, trusts, and charitable organizations, through over 400 independent advisors. The firm offers portfolio management, customized financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing various analytical approaches and maintaining fiduciary standards under written agreements.

Guy Swain is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Raleigh, NC, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and possessing 40 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Commonwealth Equity Services, Inc. since 1995. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner of LifeTime Tax Management, a private entity focused on tax-related services. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of nearly 3,000 advisors and their clients. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs and services, including discretionary model portfolios and customized investment solutions, while providing operational, compliance, and technology support to affiliated advisors.

Jacob Niles is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Raleigh Capital Management and Fidelity Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent with Raleigh Wealth Solutions. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm uses an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates through point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.