Timothy Fox is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has worked in various roles within the credit union ecosystem, including positions at State Employees' Credit Union since 2008, Members Trust Company, and Secu Life Insurance Company. Fox also serves as a Financial Advisory Services District Manager for State Employees' Credit Union, providing financial services to eligible members. Credit Union Investment Services primarily serves North Carolina residents with goals-based, non-discretionary investment advice focused on long-term planning using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs. The firm operates within the credit union ecosystem as a wholly owned subsidiary of State Employees’ Credit Union and emphasizes asset-based arrangements with a predominance of non-discretionary assets under management.

John Thacker II is a Certified Financial Planner® with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with SignatureFD, LLC since 2019 and previously worked at Cornerstone Wealth Group, LLC, Cornerstone Financial Advisors, and LPL Financial. SignatureFD serves individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing wealth management, retirement plan management, and consulting services. The firm manages portfolios primarily on a discretionary basis using mutual funds, ETFs, and independent managers, and is affiliated with an accounting firm and several private investment funds.

Michael Baker is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with Advisory Alpha, LLC and has previously worked at Planners Alliance LLC, Vertex Capital Advisors, and AlphaStar Capital Management. In addition to his advisory work, he owns The Wealth Technique, LLC, through which he provides financial education and public speaking. Advisory Alpha serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and specialty solutions such as retirement plan services and donor-advised fund offerings. The firm also acts as a subadvisor or co-advisor for other registered investment advisors, managing a diverse range of managed portfolio series with a discretionary investment approach.

Richard Myrick is a Series 65-licensed advisor with First Advisors National, LLC. He has been with the firm since 2026 and has over a decade of experience working with Virtual SC and the Clover School District. First Advisors National provides investment management, asset allocation advice, and retirement plan consulting primarily to individual clients, including ERISA plan participants. The firm manages approximately $506.8 million in discretionary assets and implements client strategies through third-party money managers, employing tactical and strategic asset allocation methodologies.

Marc Horgan is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. and holds a management role at SVB Wealth LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Citizens Bank & Trust. His career includes positions at First Citizens Bank and affiliated entities dating back to 1998. First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. provides investment advisory and sub-advisory services to individuals, trusts, corporations, institutional accounts, and municipal entities. The firm employs a multi-team platform with discretionary management of approximately $167 million, utilizing global multi-asset model portfolios and a combination of quantitative and qualitative investment criteria.

Sampson Reavis Jr. is a financial advisor with Asset Allocation Strategies, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Asset Allocation Strategies, he worked at Arthur J Gallagher and has involvement in multiple related businesses including serving as a partner at Reavis Financial Group. He is also a board member and secretary of Lions Services, a nonprofit supporting the blind, and volunteers with Seeds of Hope, a scholarship organization in Charlotte, NC. Asset Allocation Strategies, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to individual and high-net-worth clients as well as plan sponsors. The firm uses quantitative techniques and model portfolios to construct goal-based allocations and offers supplemental services such as 529 plan assistance and advice for 401(k)/403(b) sponsors.

I believe financial planning should feel personal, practical, and empowering, not overwhelming. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning, I combine deep academic knowledge with years of real-world advisory experience to help individuals and families make smart, confident financial decisions. On top of that, I value my relationship with my clients. Over the years, I’ve guided professionals, and families through life’s most important financial milestones, planning for retirement, funding education, managing investments, or navigating complex transitions. My approach is grounded in research, but always tailored to your unique goals and values. I take the time to listen, simplify the complex, and create strategies that bring both clarity and peace of mind. Beyond my advisory work, I serve as a professor of finance and associate dean at Winthrop University. Teaching and research keep me sharp, ensuring that the guidance I provide my clients is rooted not just in practice, but also in the latest financial insights. When I’m not working with clients or teaching, you can usually find me on the tennis court, traveling with my family, or enjoying time outdoors.

Joseph Roseman Jr. is a financial advisor at Simplicity Wealth with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. His prior experience includes roles at Retirement Capital Planners, LLC, O'Dell, Winkfield, Roseman & Shipp, LLC, Corecap Advisors, and he has owned Roseman Financial since 2000. He co-hosts webinars with Medicaid Success, a nationwide Medicaid planning service. Simplicity Wealth serves a broad mix of clients, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, institutional investors, and other financial firms. The firm offers advisory services ranging from financial planning to managed account platforms, implementing a fund-of-funds approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, combined with technology and operational support for other advisers.

Lynn Lins De Araujo is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Bragg Financial Advisors Inc in Charlotte, NC. She has worked at Wachovia Securities, LLC and Wachovia Bank, N.A. since 2002 and 2003, respectively. Bragg Financial Advisors is a family-owned, multi-advisor firm providing financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and investment companies. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and broad diversification, offering model-based portfolio management and a Small Cap Value managed account program, along with sub-advisory services to mutual funds.

Sean Powley is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Facet. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services and The Vanguard Group, Inc. Sean is based in Charlotte, NC. Facet serves individual members across a broad range of wealth levels, offering tiered, subscription-based financial planning and implementation services with a focus on holistic financial planning using its Total Financial Life Resources framework and discretionary asset-allocation programs. The firm does not charge percentage-of-AUM investment fees and leverages technology-driven features such as machine-learning recommendations for employer plan accounts.

Mark Rothwell is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at ValMark Advisers, Inc. He previously worked at State Street Corporation for eight years and has held a COO and Director of Financial Planning role at Scott Jones Financial since 2021. ValMark Advisers provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, plan sponsors, and institutional clients through a network of approximately 280 investment advisory representatives. The firm offers diversified, goal-based model portfolios primarily using mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers, supported by proprietary platforms and a range of advisory and sub-advisory services.

William Rainwater is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently with United Brokerage Services, Inc. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for 10 years and held roles at Truist Advisory Services, Inc. and Truist Investment Services, Inc. Rainwater also has experience outside finance, having owned and managed a rental property. United Brokerage Services, Inc. provides investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses, offering various managed account programs through its clearing relationship with Wells Fargo Clearing Services. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, use of mutual funds and ETFs, and tax-aware overlays in its investment process.

Bryan Woodell Sr. is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Penn Mutual Life Insurance and Hornor Townsend & Kent. He also operates Emerald Financial Group, providing brokerage and advisory services along with multi-line insurance products. Blueprint Financial Advisors is a multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in assets and employs a strategic, trend-following approach to global diversified portfolios.

Connor Emmert is a financial advisor at Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Ameriprise, Fisher Investments, and Merrill. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to a broad client base, including high net worth individuals, pension participants, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs an open-architecture platform with tailored investment strategies and a diverse range of investment tools, managing over $1.1 billion in client assets.

Matthew Papandrea is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at Ritholtz Wealth Management. He has worked at The Vanguard Group since 2008. Ritholtz Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and retirement plans, offering comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm employs a goal-based investment process focused on asset allocation and behavioral finance, utilizing diversified, low-cost ETFs alongside tactical overlays and alternative investments.

Steven Scruggs is a CFA® charterholder with 26 years of experience in the financial industry. He is affiliated with Bragg Financial Advisors Inc in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2000. Prior to and concurrently, he spent 20 years at Queens Road Securities, LLC. Bragg Financial Advisors is a family-owned, multi-advisor firm serving individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and investment companies with financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and broad diversification, offering model-based portfolios, a Small Cap Value managed account program, and sub-advisory services to mutual funds.

Jonathan Ament is a financial advisor with Ally Invest Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bull Harbor Capital, LPL Financial, AlphaTheory, and Raymond James & Associates, among others. Ally Invest Advisors serves a large retail client base, offering discretionary portfolio management through automated web-based services and advisor-led guidance. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing ETF-based model portfolios across multiple risk tiers with both passive and actively managed strategies, supported by automated allocation and rebalancing processes.

John Lindros is a financial advisor with Composition Wealth, LLC in Fort Mill, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 34 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Miracle Mile Advisors, Equity Services, Inc., National Life Group, and Guardian Life Insurance of America. In addition to his advisory work, he spends part of his time involved in insurance sales. Composition Wealth provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, estates, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a primarily long-term, diversified investment approach using low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks and bonds, and incorporates both fundamental and technical analysis in portfolio management.

Anthony Hinds Fritz is a CFP® and ChFC® with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC since 2019 and also maintains roles at Innovation Partners LLC and as an independent life insurance agent. Fritz serves as a board member of the Financial Planning Association of Central New York and is the committee chair for the ALS Association. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients, focusing on customized portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm provides a range of services including discretionary portfolio management and access to third-party investment advisors, with an emphasis on non-high-net-worth individuals.

Stephen Norton is a financial advisor with Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Belmont Capital Advisors, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC, Kalos Management, and Centermark Capital Management. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as an agent in the insurance and human resources sector. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC, operating under Fusion Investment Advisors, provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plan participants, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm uses an open-architecture platform to implement tailored investment strategies with continuous monitoring and rebalancing.