David Walters is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 26 years of industry experience. He has worked with First Citizens since 2021 and previously spent eight years with Wells Fargo Advisors and its related entities. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate/business entities by providing advisory and brokerage services through registered representatives and third-party portfolio managers. The firm employs a client-centered process involving assessments of financial needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate investments across various asset classes.

Amy Boyd is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience. She has worked at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2022 and previously was with Wrenn Financial Strategies, Inc. and operated as a self-employed advisor. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and features globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts, utilizing a range of implementation options and emphasizing tax management and regular rebalancing.

Stephen Snow is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 34 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Wells Fargo Advisors, Wells Fargo Clearing, Infinex Investments, Inc., and Southern Bank and Trust, where he has participated in a financial advisor referral program. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments through a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure with a focus on both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Melanie Price is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 22 years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company and its related entities since 2010. Price is also appointed with outside insurance carriers to broker non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm offers a variety of program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with a significant portion of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Jason Obermeier is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Thrivent Financial and its investment management division before joining Principal. Outside of advisory work, he receives royalties from prior work as a composer for film and television. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Joshua Denney is a ChFC® and Series 63-licensed financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Raleigh, NC. He has three years of industry experience, including positions at NYLIFE Securities and New York Life since 2022. Outside of his advisory work, Denney serves as a certified referee for the US Gaelic Athletic Association, volunteering at regional sports tournaments. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm works with individual investors, defined contribution and benefit plans, and institutional clients, emphasizing tailored advice and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Donella Winkler is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Allworth Financial, L.P. She has prior experience at Adams Chetwood Wealth Management, Zeiders Enterprises, BancWest Investment Services, Inc., and Bank of the West BNP Paribas. Outside of her advisory role, she provides financial education through Zeiders Enterprises, focusing on topics such as Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), credit scores, and budgeting. Allworth Financial is a fee-based SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized investment portfolios using various model strategies and employs technology to manage held-away employer retirement accounts without client login credentials.

Austen Hawkey is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning. His prior roles include positions at First Oak Wealth Management, Armor Investment Advisors, and Bank of America. Creative Planning offers investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a broad range of supplemental approaches and integrated retirement plan services.

Lupton Haigler is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and BB&T Capital Markets. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that manages approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering a range of brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory services.

Bradley Curelop is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently with PNC Wealth Management. His prior roles include positions at United Brokerage Services, Suntrust Investment Services, Suntrust Bank, and Bb&T. He is a co-owner of a short-term rental business with Stacey Curelop. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an online discretionary model account available as an invitation-only pilot for employees, which uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and implements investments via approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Jonathan Shimer is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Kestra Advisory since 2016 and also serves as a financial advisor and partner at Vigilant Financial, operating under Kestra Investment Services since 2005. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse range of institutional and individual clients, offering fiduciary consulting, plan design, and investment advice supported by due diligence and a broad selection of management platforms and third-party solutions.

Hayden Lewis is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. based in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. He has worked at several entities within the First Citizens group, including First Citizens Asset Management and First Citizens Bank, as well as Fidelity Investments and State Employees' Credit Union. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate/business entities, offering advisory and brokerage services through IARs and third-party Portfolio Managers. The firm’s investment approach involves IAR-led assessments and a mix of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate assets across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Stephanie Bowens is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 28 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Triad Advisors and OSAIC before joining Kestra in 2025. Outside of her advisory role, she is CEO of Chrysalis Capital Management, a developer of financial education and literacy materials, and serves as a board member on the finance committee of The Hope Center at Pullen. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients such as sovereign wealth funds and large institutional investors.

Michael Dipenta is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time financial planning services from ongoing portfolio management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group utilizing affiliated funds.

Wesley Shade is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Truist Advisory Services. His prior experience includes roles at Truist Investment Services and First Citizens Investor Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and employs AI-enabled tools to support its investment research and fiduciary oversight.

Stephen Kanoy is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Truist Advisory Services, BB&T, and related entities. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and financial planning, focusing on client assessments and diversified investment strategies.

Joshua Maida is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2016 and is also associated with AGIA, where he works with non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm operates at scale with over 1,200 advisors and integrates technology and model solutions to manage a large client base.

Serene Alsous is a CFP® and ChFC® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Valic Financial Advisors. She has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2017 and holds an agent position with Agia. Alsous is also a notary public in Wake County, North Carolina. Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and unified managed account solutions through a large network of advisors.

Allen Smith is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has 36 years of industry experience, including roles at Infinex Investments, Inc. since 2012 and First Bancorp since 2011, where he serves as Executive Vice President of Wealth Management. Additionally, he acts as a consultant to Midwood Financial Services, a third-party marketing firm. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory and consulting services, with a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure that supports both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts alongside access to alternative investments and lending solutions.

Douglas Foreman is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at First Citizens Bank, U.S. Bancorp, MUFG, and Bank of America. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a client-centered process involving risk and financial needs assessments, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate investments across various asset classes.