Elias Dau is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked previously at Ameriprise, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Principal Securities Inc., and Merrill Lynch. Outside of his advisory role, he is an author based in Raleigh, NC. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed through centralized teams that select portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers.

Andrew Kutner is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Truist, he worked at Pruco Securities and Axa Advisors. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Michael York is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 25 years of industry experience and has been with Independent Advisor Alliance since 2015, concurrently serving with LPL Financial since 2012. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm provides both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and utilizes a network model that integrates technology platforms and access to third-party managers.

Lori York is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC. Her career includes roles at Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and BB&T from 2013 onward. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, participant advice, and a manager-selection program delivered through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.

Alan Segal is a CFP® with 35 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC. His prior experience includes nearly two decades at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and Ameriprise. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered, enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through investment advisory, financial planning, and managed account programs.

Todd Davis is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials with 10 years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens Bank and its affiliated investor services firm in 2025, he spent 13 years at Ascensus, LLC. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to individuals—including high-net-worth clients—pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of strategic and tactical asset-allocation approaches and offers services on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases, including model portfolios, separately managed accounts, and an automated Guided Investing platform.

Paul Liebman is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Truist Investment Services, Fidelity Investments, and several other organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Foundation of Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he assists with donor relations related to planned giving. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates inter-affiliate resources and employs both discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by AI-enabled research tools.

Vernon Maples is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 45 years of industry experience, including over 25 years with Principal Life Insurance Company and a decade with Principal Securities Inc. His background includes work with fixed insurance, fixed life, annuities, disability insurance, and long-term care. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager programs through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Jonathan Wakin is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at several firms, including First Citizens Investor Services, Park Avenue Securities, and Edward Jones. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel abroad. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under multiple advisory and promoter arrangements.

Halah Little is a financial advisor at Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments and Barings. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs and investment education services, utilizing proprietary software and third-party model portfolios to provide both discretionary and non-discretionary investment recommendations.

Devon Blair is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Principal, Blair held positions at Thrivent Financial, S&P Global, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of advisory roles, Blair has business experience with Restaurant Applications, LLC and Hamptons Delivery Service, Inc. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

David Elliott is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Clearstead Advisory Solutions. He has also held portfolio management and advisory roles at Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management since 2001 and serves as Assistant Vice President at Lafayette Advisor, LLC. Clearstead serves affluent private clients and institutional clients, providing investment management, financial planning, tax planning, family office administration, and institutional consulting services. The firm employs an institutional investment process using mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, alternative investments, and a proprietary Direct Indexing strategy, and manages approximately $33.9 billion in assets across 59 advisors.

Andrew Sparrow is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been associated with First Citizens Bank since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner of a real estate holding company. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm combines fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis with both discretionary and non-discretionary management, leveraging its affiliation with a bank holding company to provide integrated banking and investment resources.

Blake Gaulden is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Osaic Advisory Services, LLC and Gaulden & Associates Wealth Management. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation, Securities America, Arbor Point Advisors, and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, charitable organizations, and public entities. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and related services through multiple program models, utilizing both proprietary and third-party platforms.

Amy Sharpe Verdugo is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 10 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Creative Planning since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she is the managing member of Toolbox Heroes Handyman Services LLC and serves as Board Chair of EYC Academy, a special education organization. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment strategy that integrates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold approaches, and selective private market investments.

Jordan Janis is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Principal Securities, Principal Life Insurance, Raymond James & Associates, and Morgan Stanley. Janis serves as a board member of the Wake Forest College Board of Visitors and is president-elect of WAKERaleigh, a volunteer group that engages Wake Forest University alumni and affiliates through various events. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm provides direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Adam Fletcher is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked with The Leaders Group, Inc. since 2020 and Nationwide Advisory Services from 1999 to 2020. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as president of Fletcher Insurance Group, overseeing its insurance and financial services operations. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on manager selection and ongoing monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory to construct diversified portfolios, and it offers both sub-advised account management and a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

Raymond Peterson III is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 registrations and has worked at Truist and its predecessor firms since 2011, including Sterling Capital Management LLC. Peterson serves as a board member for North Carolina Adapted Sports, a nonprofit organization offering programs for athletes with physical disabilities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration across its affiliated entities.

John Hopper is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding credentials including ChFC®, Series 63, and Series 65. He has 55 years of industry experience, with prior roles at THE O.N. Equity Sales Company, Financial Independence Planning Group, and has maintained his own firms, Hopper Financial Group, Inc. and Blanton & Hopper Investments, for over 25 years. He is also involved in the sales and service of fixed insurance products such as fixed life insurance, annuities, disability income, and health insurance. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions, utilizing both adviser and promoter arrangements.

William Sewell is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 45 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His previous roles include positions at BB&T Securities and multiple terms at Janney Montgomery Scott beginning in 2014. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, families, trusts and estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and various advisory programs.