Eric Patterson is a CFP® professional with over 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Paradigm Life for 12 years before joining Empower Advisory Group in 2026. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, using an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm offers point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions focused on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Matthew Kelleher is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. and has held various roles including positions at Bates College and Momenta Pharmaceuticals. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and managing about $213 billion in client assets. The firm offers adviser support through managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, retirement consulting, and custody services.

Nicholas Biron is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Truist Advisory Services and related firms since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Extreme Sport Outfitters LLC, a business he has been associated with since 2014. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled equity research tools and inter-affiliate integration features.

Gregory Bass is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Coastal Federal Credit Union, SunTrust Advisory Services, and CapFinancial Securities, as well as operating Bass Quality Landscaping for three years. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a digital discretionary model account designed for employees, which uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and managed investment strategies involving mutual funds and ETFs.

Todd Purich is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 32 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Eagle Strategies since 1989 and operates a brokerage business, Legacy Private Client Services, focused on insurance brokering with various carriers. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a broad network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers tailored solutions across multiple program types and emphasizes non-discretionary asset management while working within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Mitchell Johnson is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, bringing 13 years of industry experience. He has worked with First Citizens since 2020, following prior roles at BB&T and Wells Fargo Clearing. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves a broad client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, emphasizing an IAR-led client process that utilizes fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios.

Joseph Lloyd 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 worked at Principal Securities Inc and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2020, and previously spent eight years with National Asset Management and National Securities Corp. Lloyd serves as a volunteer board member for his condominium's homeowner association. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and active-duty military personnel. 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.

Andrew Reynolds is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has four years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens in 2023, he worked at PNC Investments and PNC Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of investment solutions including portfolio management, wrap programs, and automated guided investing, focusing on assessments led by investment advisor representatives to tailor strategies across multiple asset classes.

Craig Shively is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. based in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience. His prior work includes multiple roles within First Citizens and Wells Fargo, as well as a position at Allstate. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves a broad client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, emphasizing IAR-led financial assessments and diversified investment strategies across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

David Rakestraw is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services. He has held roles at Truist and its predecessor firms since 2005, including BB&T Securities and Scott & Stringfellow. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled research tools and integrated inter-affiliate resources, to manage client portfolios and fiduciary responsibilities.

Arjun Aggarwal is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009 and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer offering a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutions, including tailored financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process using firm-approved tools and economic modeling techniques.

Prashant Pandya serves as a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he works with individuals, families, trusts, and small to mid-size business owners to develop customized financial strategies that align with their unique goals and risk tolerances. His approach involves gaining a comprehensive understanding of clients' financial pictures and providing access to investment insights from Merrill Lynch, as well as banking and lending solutions through Bank of America. Prashant's expertise spans college education planning, family wealth management, retirement planning, legacy planning, international wealth management, and retirement income strategies among others. He holds several professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR® (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He adopts a comprehensive planning approach covering investments, tax minimization strategies, retirement, insurance, and estate planning services. He obtained a Master's Degree in Engineering from the University of Iowa and a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from the University of Bombay. Prashant is involved with professional organizations and community activities such as the American Cancer Society and the Pay it Forward Fertility Foundation. In his personal time, he enjoys cooking, ice hockey, music, spending time with his family, and watching movies.

Aminata Magassouba Miller is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and one year of industry experience. She has previously worked at Wells Fargo Bank, NA and Walmart Stores. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets across more than 14,000 advisors and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Ryan Chapman is a financial advisor at Merrill holding the Series 66 designation. He has been with Merrill since 2020 and has prior experience at Bank of America, Spectrum, Renewal by Andersen, Edward Jones, Total Quality Logistics, and Spotlight Branding. He is based in Raleigh, NC. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Michael Santos is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TD Ameritrade Investment Management, LLC, Td Ameritrade, Inc., and Scottrade. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services, offering a combination of non-discretionary advisory relationships and access to discretionary separately managed accounts with a multi-asset investment approach.

Nathan Welsh is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Raleigh, NC. He has 11 years of industry experience, all with Edward Jones since 2015. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Riley Harshbarger is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones since 2017 and previously held roles outside the financial sector at Abercrombie & Fitch and Jimmy John's. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving millions of individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Ernest Williams is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth, holding a Series 66 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, and PRUCO Securities. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in retirement income and estate planning services, as well as insurance and benefits through Griffin Distribution Partners. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage and advisory programs featuring model-based asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and access to both proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

Liliane Pascalis is a financial advisor with Merrill in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2013. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Austin Poythress is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked with Equitable Advisors since 2016 and was previously with AXA Advisors, LLC. He also operates a business under the name Legacy Wealth Strategies. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and various asset-management programs, utilizing both proprietary and third-party investment solutions delivered through a large network of Investment Adviser Representatives.