John Brais is a financial advisor at Horizon Financial Services, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Horizon Financial Services since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he is president and CEO of New Horizon Financial Services, Inc., an insurance sales and services business. Horizon Financial Services provides discretionary asset management and financial planning for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm typically serves individuals and families with approximately $1 million in investable assets, employing a combination of proprietary model portfolios, sub-advisors, and a range of analytical methods.

Robert Masten is a financial advisor with AdaptFirst Investments LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. He was previously with Masten Capital Management for 13 years before joining AdaptFirst in 2021. Outside of advising, he is a co-owner of a solar farm. AdaptFirst Investments serves individuals and small businesses with portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services including outsourced CIO and CFO roles. The firm uses a value-oriented investment approach combining technical and fundamental analysis, and provides additional services such as bookkeeping, tax preparation, and financial coaching.

William Hollan is a CFP® with 14 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has been with Arbor Investment Advisors since 2011. Hollan holds a Series 65 license and is based in Winston Salem, NC. Arbor Investment Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing discretionary and non-discretionary investment management along with financial planning and consulting services. The firm’s investment approach focuses on asset allocation and modern portfolio theory, utilizing exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, closed-end funds, and individual securities as appropriate.

Lawrence Vanlandingham is a financial advisor with Semmax Financial Advisors, Inc. in Winston-Salem, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Maestro Wealth Advisors LLC, Avantax Advisory Services, CUSO Financial Services, and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Semmax, Inc., an insurance agency where he dedicates time to writing new business and researching annuity and insurance options. Semmax Financial Advisors, Inc. provides advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across various investment vehicles and integrates tax and estate planning considerations in its offerings.

Phu Roy O is a financial advisor at Sheets Smith Wealth Management in Winston Salem, NC, with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Sheets Smith Wealth Management since 2012. Sheets Smith Wealth Management serves individuals and families, including high-net-worth clients, as well as foundations, endowments, and retirement plans. The firm offers investment management, wealth preservation, and financial planning services, using tailored asset allocation strategies and a long-term, buy-and-hold approach to equities.

Carter Lievens is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He has worked at JT Stratford, LLC since 2020 and has prior experience in tax services and retail. JT Stratford, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $815 million for individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations through a 14-person team. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, employer retirement plan services, and access to third-party model portfolios and sub-advisory strategies.

John Tyner Jr. is a financial advisor with Semmax Financial Advisors, Inc. in Winston-Salem, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Semmax Financial Advisors since 2007 and also leads affiliated companies including Semmax Inc., an insurance agency, and Semmax Tax, Inc., a tax preparation firm. Semmax Financial Advisors provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and advisory services to individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across multiple asset classes and integrates tax and estate considerations into its investment process.

Samuel Merrick Jr. is a financial advisor at Horizon Financial Services, LLC in Winston Salem, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Horizon Financial Services, he spent 11 years at Summit School. Horizon Financial Services provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, ERISA 3(21) fiduciary services, and consulting for individuals, families, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm typically serves clients with approximately $1 million in investable assets and implements portfolios using variable annuity subaccounts, mutual funds, and donor-advised fund accounts.

John Woodard is a financial advisor with Woodard & Co Asset Management Group Inc in Bermuda Run, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 7 years of industry experience. Woodard has been with Woodard & Co Asset Management Group Inc since 1985. Woodard & Co Asset Management Group Inc provides discretionary asset management for individual and institutional clients, as well as retirement plan services including design and participant education. The firm manages approximately $1.039 billion across about 3,000 accounts and uses a tactical asset allocation and “market leaders” equity approach, supported by proprietary research and external data sources.

John Woodard III is a financial advisor at Woodard & Co Asset Management Group Inc with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Fidelity and the YMCA. Woodard & Co Asset Management Group Inc provides discretionary asset management and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a team-based investment approach combining tactical asset allocation with a concentrated equity strategy and emphasizes risk management through broad diversification and hedging techniques.

Scott Cawood is a CFP® and CFA® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving at Arbor Investment Advisors since 2003. He holds the position of Chairman of the Board at Piedmont Federal Savings Bank. Arbor Investment Advisors provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs an investment approach based on asset allocation and modern portfolio theory, utilizing a range of investment vehicles including ETFs, no-load mutual funds, and individual equities.

Thomas Cartee Jr. is a financial advisor with Sheets Smith Wealth Management in Winston-Salem, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Sheets Smith Wealth Management since 1997. Sheets Smith Wealth Management serves individuals and families—including senior corporate executives and heirs—along with trusts, foundations, endowments, and retirement plans, providing investment management, financial planning, and wealth-preservation strategies tailored to each client’s risk tolerance and time horizon.

Jonathan Kacmarcik is a financial advisor at Three Magnolias Financial Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Merrill Lynch and Bank of America. Outside of finance, he has limited involvement in a family entertainment business that provides gaming equipment to various venues. Three Magnolias serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and project-based consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to construct portfolios and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management.

Erika Mielke is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at Arbor Investment Advisors since 2018. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. Arbor Investment Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management and financial planning services. The firm’s approach is based on asset allocation and modern portfolio theory, utilizing a range of investment vehicles including ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities.

Jared Gibbs is a financial advisor at AdaptFirst Investments LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at American Federal Mortgage as a Mortgage Loan Officer, where he assisted borrowers with loan applications and financial document analysis. AdaptFirst Investments serves individuals and small businesses by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services including outsourced CIO and CFO roles. The firm employs a value-oriented investment approach and offers additional services such as bookkeeping, tax preparation, and financial coaching.

John Sheets is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Sheets Smith Wealth Management since 2017. He has a long tenure with the firm, having been with Sheets Smith Wealth Management and its predecessor entities since 1982. Sheets Smith Wealth Management serves individuals, families, trusts, and institutional clients such as foundations and retirement plans. The firm offers customized investment management and financial planning services, often coordinating with clients’ accountants and estate planning attorneys, and is known for its long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach combined with tactical asset allocation.

Mary Shamburg is a financial advisor at Sheets Smith Wealth Management with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Sheets Smith Wealth Management since 2017, following prior roles at HMC Partners and JBJ Investment Partners, LLC. Sheets Smith Wealth Management serves individuals and families, including high-net-worth clients, as well as foundations, endowments, and retirement plans. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services, tailoring asset allocation and investment strategies to clients’ risk tolerance and investment horizon, with a focus on a long-term, buy-and-hold approach.

Angel Moorefield is a financial advisor at Horizon Financial Services, LLC in Winston Salem, NC, holding a Series 65 designation. Moorefield has been with Horizon Financial Services since 2023 and has prior experience at Short Street Kitchen, Summit Credit Union, SunTrust Bank, and Michael C. Riley Elementary School. Horizon Financial Services provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and fiduciary services for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm typically serves individuals and families with approximately $1 million in investable assets, utilizing a combination of proprietary model portfolios, sub-advisors, and various investment platforms to implement tailored investment strategies.

Jonathan Short is a financial advisor at Semmax Financial Advisors, Inc. in Winston-Salem, NC, with seven years of industry experience. He has been with Semmax Financial Group since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Semmax, Inc., an affiliated insurance agency where he integrates risk management products like life and long-term care insurance into client financial planning. Semmax Financial Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis across various investment strategies and maintains affiliated businesses including an insurance agency and tax services.

Jennifer Johnson is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Three Magnolias Financial Advisors in Winston-Salem, NC. She has worked with Cetera Advisor Networks and Private Client Services prior to her current role. Outside of her advisory work, Johnson is involved locally as a youth leader at Boonville United Methodist Church, a member of the Reynolda Rotary Club membership committee, and serves on the board and investment committee of the Shallowford Foundation. Three Magnolias Financial Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and project-based consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to construct portfolios that may include mutual funds, ETFs, annuities, REITs, and individual securities, offering both wrap and non-wrap account arrangements.