David Rakestraw is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services. He has held roles at Truist and its predecessor firms since 2005, including BB&T Securities and Scott & Stringfellow. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled research tools and integrated inter-affiliate resources, to manage client portfolios and fiduciary responsibilities.

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, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.

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 with LPL Financial in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2007 and previously worked at Carty, Harding & Hearn, Inc. from 2004 to 2006. Menon also practices physical therapy on a pro bono and consultancy basis to maintain his license. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm supports a range of investment strategies delivered through a large network of advisors and incorporates technology for operational and research support.

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.

Daniel Odeh is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Fidelity with two years of industry experience. He has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2024 and has prior experience in retail and banking roles. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Aminata Magassouba Miller is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and one year of industry experience. She has previously worked at Wells Fargo Bank, NA and Walmart Stores. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets across more than 14,000 advisors and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Wyatt Thompson III is a financial advisor with Fidelity in Durham, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Midtown Events LLC and DICK's Sporting Goods. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, utilizing a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary advisory services and manages model portfolios composed of mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs.

Ryan Chapman is a financial advisor at Merrill holding the Series 66 designation. He has been with Merrill since 2020 and has prior experience at Bank of America, Spectrum, Renewal by Andersen, Edward Jones, Total Quality Logistics, and Spotlight Branding. He is based in Raleigh, NC. Merrill provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Mallik Lewis is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity Investments and Redfin. Outside of finance, he has been involved with Shipt, providing personal shopping and delivery services. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering a combination of non-discretionary advisory guidance and access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by an integrated platform of brokerage, custody, and investment services.

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.

Cyrus Smith Jr. is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 46 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Fidelity Investments since 2021, with prior experience at CUSO Financial Services and Scottrade. Fidelity's Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to a broad range of clients, including retail and institutional investors. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to develop systematic model portfolios.

Justin Gorney is a financial advisor at Fidelity with the Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Fidelity and its related entities since 2015. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a combination of proprietary fundamental research and quantitative analysis to construct model portfolios from mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs. The firm also serves as a registered commodity pool operator and advisor to multiple registered investment companies, utilizing algorithmic methods and AI in its investment process.

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.

Ernest Williams is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth, holding a Series 66 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, and PRUCO Securities. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in retirement income and estate planning services, as well as insurance and benefits through Griffin Distribution Partners. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage and advisory programs featuring model-based asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and access to both proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

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 at OSAIC with 21 years of industry experience and holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining OSAIC in 2026, Goodman worked at several firms including Founders Financial Alliance, LLC, Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, LPL Financial, LLC, Invest Financial Corporation, and Truist Investment Services, Inc. Goodman serves as an at-large board member of the Abecedarian Education Foundation, a nonprofit focused on early childhood education. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform with an investment process centered on model-based asset allocation, portfolio optimization, and a suite of advisory strategies.

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.

Mikel Chalmers is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he currently assists clients and their families in understanding and achieving their financial goals. He collaborates with clients to analyze all aspects of their financial lives and develops plans to work towards meeting those goals. Mikel has held several roles in the financial services industry, including Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023, and Paraplanner at Ameriprise Financial during 2020 and 2021. Prior to that, he was an Associate Advisor at Millennium Advisory Services from 2018 to 2020. He holds insurance licenses in both Arkansas and California.