Jeffrey Marko is a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at DMJ & Co., PLLC, where he is a partner, and Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP. He serves on the finance committee of Housing for New Hope, a nonprofit organization. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a manager-driven investment approach using third-party platforms and sponsors proprietary investment vehicles and private funds.

John Eason II is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, Equitable Advisors, and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for 15 years. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC manages approximately $110 billion in client assets and serves a diverse clientele including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services supported by both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Virginia Lee is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 19 years of industry experience. She has been with First Citizens in various capacities since 2007. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm emphasizes IAR-led financial assessments and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Robert Scholes is a financial advisor at Allworth Financial, L.P. in Durham, NC, with six years of industry experience. He holds the CFP®, CFA®, and Series 63 credentials. Prior to joining Allworth Financial in 2025, he worked at Investors Trust Company, Cook Wealth Management Group, Park Avenue Securities, and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Scholes also spent nine years at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Allworth Financial is a fee-based SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm implements customized portfolios using a range of model strategies and employs third-party sub-advisers, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning services.

Aagat Pandey is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing one year of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens in 2025, Pandey worked at Fidelity Investments and has held various roles outside the financial industry. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm emphasizes IAR-led assessments and uses fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios that include equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Tao Zhang is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at World Financial Group, Datalenty Inc., and International Medical Group, where he provides IT consulting and insurance services. Outside of advisory work, he is also involved in ride-sharing as a Lyft driver. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services with access to proprietary and third-party investment models.

Benjamin Summers is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Independent Financial Partners since 2019. He previously worked at LPL Financial for eight years. Summers also has involvement as a producing agent in the sale and service of fixed insurance products, including life, disability, long-term care, and fixed annuities. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisers. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary management options, with notable expertise in retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

Tonja Womble is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 23 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with SunTrust Advisory Services since 2016 and SunTrust Investment Services, Inc. since 2013. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches alongside third-party manager arrangements and AI-enabled research tools.

Steven Dinh is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Citizens Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Wells Fargo Bank. He is based in Garner, NC. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform arrangements and AI-enabled research tools.

Amy Chapin is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and 9 years of industry experience. She has been with First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank since 2012 in various roles. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities by providing advisory and brokerage services. The firm uses a client-centered process emphasizing assessments of financial needs and risk tolerance, applying multiple analytical approaches to manage diversified portfolios.

David Bellia is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. He also acts as an insurance agent specializing in life, annuities, disability, long-term care, health, and group benefits. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, 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 asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Shenghao Song is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Morrisville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and nine years of industry experience. He has been associated with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2015 and is also involved in language translation services through Fluent Language Solutions and provides bookkeeping, accounting, and tax consulting services via Melody Song, CPA. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, delivering advisory and brokerage services primarily through model portfolios and third-party managers across multiple program platforms.

Sophia Yacobi is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with a Series 66 credential and no prior industry experience. Her work history includes roles outside the financial industry, such as positions at Dirty Vegan and Outer Banks Brewing Station. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm supports its network of over 400 independent advisers with diverse investment approaches and offers both onshore and offshore separately managed accounts.

Robert Lareau is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services and its affiliated entities since 2015, including prior roles at BB&T and its related firms. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and an AI-enabled Equity Research team.

Troy Fairbank is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2008. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services. The firm’s approach involves IAR-led assessments of client financial needs and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Ryan Ferguson is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. since 2022. He previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and UBS Financial Services Inc. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client process based on financial needs assessment and risk tolerance, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various investment vehicles.

John Swindell is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services based in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform arrangements and AI-enabled research tools.

David Wilder is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an elder and committee member at Triangle Grace Church and is the treasurer for the Voyager Academy Booster Club. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates point-in-time planning from ongoing management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group that includes affiliated funds.

Zachary Ziemba is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., based in Raleigh, NC. He has four years of industry experience, including prior roles at Credit Union Investment Services, SECU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union. Outside of his advisory work, Zachary serves as a board member and director of development for the Applied Data Research Institute, a nonprofit focused on data analytics and systems modeling for sustainable and equitable societal challenges. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm’s client process includes comprehensive needs assessments and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Amber Mc Neill is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF based in Durham, NC, holding a Series 65 designation. She has been with TIAA-related firms since 2015. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised fund services.