David Rakestraw is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Truist Advisory Services since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Bb&T Securities and Scott & Stringfellow, spanning over a decade. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration.

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016 and previously at AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for the nonprofit Alpha Light Fund Inc., focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, leveraging LPL-sponsored programs and endorsed TAMPs to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.

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.

Terence Wiles is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James and its affiliated entities since 2013. Wiles is also an author working on a retirement planning book intended for client distribution and commercial sale. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm employs a non-discretionary approach tailored to client goals using analytical tools and supports municipal and public finance work through its affiliation with a municipal advisor.

Sachin Menon is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2007 and holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. In addition to his work in finance, Menon practices physical therapy on a pro bono and consultancy basis to maintain his skills and license. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by various model portfolios and research.

Christopher Jenkins is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Cary, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining MassMutual and its affiliate MML Investors Services in 2021, he worked at Chesapeake Energy and Independent Energy Standards. Outside of his advisory role, Jenkins is involved in several business ventures including serving as president of Ascolano Ventures, LLC, co-founding Silver Diamond Technologies, LLC, and preparing to launch a fencing franchise through Alpe Adria Services, Inc. MML Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser subsidiary of MassMutual that serves individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers with comprehensive financial planning and asset management services. The firm emphasizes collaborative, goal-oriented planning using advanced software tools and offers various specialized planning programs alongside educational seminars.

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 in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She has been with Wells Fargo Bank and its affiliates since 2022 and has prior work experience at Walmart Stores and the Orange Group Franchise. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Ryan Chapman is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Spectrum, and Edward Jones. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions (SPS) Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Mallik Lewis is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Fidelity Investments and Redfin. Outside of financial services, he works as a shopper and delivery provider for Shipt. Charles Schwab serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment management with centralized custody and operational support.

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.

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.

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.

Kerry Goodman is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include tenures at LPL Financial, Founders Financial Alliance, and Independent Advisor Alliance. She serves as a board member of the Abecedarian Education Foundation, a nonprofit focused on early childhood education. OSAIC Wealth, Inc. provides a wide range of brokerage and advisory services to retail and institutional clients through a large network of advisers. The firm utilizes integrated investment platforms, asset-allocation tools, and third-party solutions to manage diversified portfolios for individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Austin Poythress is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2016 and previously worked at AXA Advisors, LLC. He also operates Legacy Wealth Strategies as part of his other business activities. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporations, charities, and institutions, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm is dual-registered as an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, working extensively with program sponsors and third-party managers to deliver advisory and brokerage solutions.

Meralyn Ratnasekera is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Her prior work includes roles at First Citizens Investor Services, First Horizon Bank, and SunTrust Bank. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, wrap-fee programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and employs over 14,000 financial advisors, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Matthew Wallace is a Benefits & Planning Consultant with the Executive Services team at Fidelity Investments. In his current role, he supports Executive Planning Consultants by meeting with clients to help them understand and maximize their employer-sponsored benefits, including 401(k) plans, pension benefits, and company stock programs. Matthew has been with Fidelity Investments since 2022, beginning his tenure as a Workplace Planning Consultant III before transitioning to his current position in 2026. His work focuses on providing education and guidance regarding available benefits, answering client questions, and assisting clients in making informed decisions to maximize the value of their benefits. Outside of his professional role, Matthew enjoys bowling, spending time with pets, snowboarding, and traveling.

Jovana Romero Hernandez is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Bank of America and Merrill. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and provides both brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources.

Seth Ellington is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he worked at Fidelity Investments and has a background that includes various roles at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and other organizations. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement plan support, and access to asset management through multiple third-party programs. The firm operates a hybrid referral and implementation model, utilizing a broad roster of asset managers and offering both advisory and brokerage channels to meet client needs.

Manish Mehta is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Cary, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS Financial Services since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, Mehta is involved in managing real estate investments through his ownership and decision-making roles in multiple real estate partnerships and sole proprietorships. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with brokerage and investment advisory services, employing model-based asset allocations and proprietary research to tailor plans to clients' goals and risk tolerances. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and offers a broad array of financial products and solutions.