Michael Palmer is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC since 2015. He is based in Raleigh, NC, and is one of three advisors at the firm. Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm follows a long-term investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing diversified, low-cost passive funds and utilizes statistical analysis and DFA research for risk-return profiling.

Fred Lowry is a financial advisor with BrightPath Wealth Advisors LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He is also an adjunct professor at Wake Tech Community College and operates a sole proprietorship focused on insurance sales. Additionally, he consults for Trivecta, a spa and facial sales business. BrightPath Wealth Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as corporate entities, providing discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm develops customized investment policy statements, employs fundamental analysis, and offers public educational seminars.

Andrew Davenport is a financial advisor at Quest 10 Wealth Builders, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Equitable Advisors, and AXA Advisors. Davenport also works as an insurance broker for Guardian Life in Raleigh, North Carolina, specializing in individual life and disability insurance policies. Quest 10 Wealth Builders, Inc. serves individual and high-net-worth clients, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a range of analytical strategies, utilizes third-party money managers, and conducts regular account reviews while maintaining a presence across six offices with approximately $238 million in assets under management.

Erin Tackett is a financial advisor at Tackett Wealth Management, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been with the firm since 2009. Tackett Wealth Management serves primarily retirees and small business owners, managing approximately $62 million in client assets across about 50 relationships. The firm provides investment supervisory services, wealth management, and financial planning using an investment approach grounded in academic research, emphasizing small-cap and value equity exposures, broad diversification, low-cost funds, and tax efficiency.

Cristy Head is a financial advisor with Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. She has been associated with Independent Wealth Advisors since 2024 and has prior experience with LPL Financial. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with Said and Done LLC, a business she has maintained since 2007. Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients through its Strategic Wealth Management platform. The firm uses a combination of analytical methods and a dedicated Investment Committee to develop and monitor model portfolios, offering both discretionary management and comprehensive financial planning.

Caleb Griffith is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving at Townsend Asset Management Corp. in Raleigh, NC. He has been with Townsend since 2006, contributing to a firm that manages a range of clients including individuals, trusts, corporations, and non-profits. Townsend Asset Management Corp. provides investment management, financial planning, consulting, and tax preparation services, offering a bundled wealth management approach that integrates these under a single engagement. The firm employs a disciplined, goal-oriented process utilizing both fundamental and technical analysis to manage primarily long-term portfolios, with additional strategies including short-term positions and limited options.

Michael Whitman is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving at Millennium Planning Group, LLC. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities and Millennium Insurance, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Treasurer for the Pittsboro Elementary School PTA, where he develops financial procedures and manages PTA funds. Millennium Planning Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, technical, and modern portfolio theory analyses, managing accounts primarily on a discretionary basis and utilizing both in-house and third-party strategies.

Paul Yokabitus is a financial advisor at Cary Financial Planning, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has a background that includes ownership and practice as an attorney specializing in estate planning through Yokabitus Law, PLLC. He is also involved in legal marketing and tax planning through affiliated entities. Cary Financial Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, business owners, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a long-term, evidence-based investment approach focused on diversification, cost control, and tax-aware decisions, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and factor-based funds, supported by technology including AI-assisted tools.

Matthew Scuderi is a financial advisor at Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Foundations Investment Advisors and Equitable Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is also active as an insurance producer, reviewing and proposing insurance and annuity solutions. Capital Financial Advisory Group serves individuals and families preparing for retirement, including high-net-worth households, small pension plans, and charitable entities. The firm provides customized financial planning and advisory services, referring clients to third-party asset managers for portfolio management while also distributing insurance and annuity products.

Dana Gower is a financial advisor with Millennium Planning Group, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Millennium in 2023, he has been self-employed and worked with Chariot Advisors/Olympia Advisors. Outside of advisory work, Gower is an author and speaker on topics including careers, ethics, digital assets, and artificial intelligence, and he serves as an executive recruiter and career advisor. Millennium Planning Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, charitable organizations, and business entities, managing approximately $34 million in client assets. The firm employs a variety of analytical approaches to portfolio construction and offers services such as 401(k) consulting and oversight of third-party managers through an institutional platform.

James Tarkenton is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Townsend Asset Management Corp. since 2018 and previously spent nine years at Lateef Investment Management. Townsend Asset Management Corp. serves individuals, trusts, partnerships, corporations, non-profits, and retirement plans, offering investment management, financial planning, consulting, and tax preparation services. The firm employs a disciplined process combining fundamental and technical analysis to guide portfolio management and provides both standalone services and bundled wealth management engagements.

Katherine Alepa is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Ithaka Financial Planning, LLC. She has been with Ithaka since 2017 and holds a Series 65 license. Prior to her financial planning career, she worked at Food Lion from 2015 to 2016. Ithaka Financial Planning offers integrated financial planning and portfolio management for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and personal trusts and estates. The firm emphasizes customized portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory, incorporating index funds, ETFs, and occasionally individual securities, and provides ongoing monitoring, rebalancing, and fiduciary advisory services.

Troy Smith is a financial advisor with Wake Wealth Management Co. in Raleigh, NC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 37 years of industry experience, including roles at LPL Financial, Grove Point Investments, and as an independent insurance agent. Outside of advising, Smith is active as an artist and musician. Wake Wealth Management Co. provides financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, foundations, endowments, and other institutional clients. The firm emphasizes written financial plans and primarily delivers advice on a non-discretionary basis, employing a variety of investment strategies tailored to client-specific plans.

Bryson King is a financial advisor at Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential. He has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at Capital Financial and Insurance, LLC, Zunzibar, and Duckworth's. Capital Financial Advisory Group serves individuals, families, businesses, charities, and small pension clients with financial planning and advisory services. The firm refers clients to third-party managers and pooled investment products, focusing on customized financial plans and ongoing portfolio monitoring without taking custody or direct discretion over assets.

Paul Richards is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC. His prior roles include positions at WealthShield Partners, Ameriprise Financial Services, Edward Jones, and METLIFE Investors Distribution Company. Hicks & Associates Wealth Management primarily serves individual and high net worth clients, including trusts, estates, IRAs, and 401(k) plans, providing discretionary portfolio management through separately managed accounts alongside non-discretionary financial planning and consulting services. The firm applies a Multi-Strategy Investment Management Process combining fundamental and technical analysis, emphasizing risk controls such as rules-based stops and regular position reviews.

Carman Hicks II is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC since 2022. He previously worked at WealthShield Partners, LLC and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Since 2013, he has also engaged in fiduciary activities acting as attorney-in-fact, trustee, conservator, guardian, executor, or personal representative. Hicks & Associates Wealth Management primarily serves individual and high net worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management and non-discretionary financial planning. The firm employs a Multi-Strategy Investment Management Process that integrates fundamental and technical analysis with various investment strategies overseen by an Investment Committee.

Bret Tackett is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Tackett Wealth Management, LLC since 2009, where he is one of two advisors at the firm based in Cary, NC. Tackett Wealth Management provides investment supervisory services, wealth management, and financial planning primarily to select retirees and small business owners. The firm manages approximately $62 million in client assets and employs an investment approach grounded in academic research, emphasizing broad diversification, tax efficiency, and low-cost funds.

David Hellinger is a financial advisor with Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC in Cary, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes a long tenure at LPL Financial. Independent Wealth Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients through its Strategic Wealth Management platform. The firm combines various analytical approaches and maintains a monthly-reviewed investment committee to tailor portfolios according to each client’s risk tolerance and time horizon.

Nicholas Ross is a CFP® professional at Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC with one year of industry experience. He has worked at Ark Royal Wealth Management and Truist, and previously spent time in education at North Carolina State University and a secondary school. Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using diversified, low-cost passive mutual funds and statistical analysis to manage risk and return.

Parker Holland is a financial advisor at Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. Holland has worked at Sofos Investments, Inc. and EQIS Capital Management, Inc. during his career. He is also a licensed independent insurance agent in North Carolina, incorporating insurance products into financial plans. Capital Financial Advisory Group serves individuals, families, businesses, charities, and small pension clients, focusing on financial planning and advisory services. The firm provides investment recommendations through third-party managers and offers ongoing monitoring without taking custody or direct investment discretion of client assets.