Kristin Ezzell is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Raleigh, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has three years of industry experience. Kristin has been with Truist Investment Services and its predecessor since 2012. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager‑selection program, implementing advice through both discretionary and non‑discretionary strategies supported by third‑party platforms and AI-enhanced research.

James Appleby is a CFP® certified financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2018, including leadership roles at Truist Investment Services and Bb&T Securities. Appleby serves as a local board member for Beginnings, a nonprofit focused on education and assistance for children with hearing loss. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager arrangements and AI-enabled equity research tools.

Stuart Gay is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wealthshield Partners, LLC and MassMutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of advising, he owns businesses in construction, cleaning services, and farming operations. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and employs a diversified investment approach blending passive and active management with oversight from an internal Investment Committee.

Rajesh Chundi is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Change Healthcare Inc. and Optum Services Inc. Outside of advising, he serves as a database administrator for the Orange Water and Sewer Authority and operates Chundi Financial Services, LLC. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, utilizing model portfolios and third-party managers across multiple platforms such as Transamerica ONE and the TFA365 Advisory Program.

Christopher Hill is a CFP® professional with 28 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC and has worked at Bank of America since 2011 and Merrill since 1997. Outside of advisory work, he owns FHJ Properties, LLC, a real estate investment business. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pensions, trusts, and charitable organizations, through over 400 independent advisors. The firm offers portfolio management, customized financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, employing various analytical approaches and maintaining fiduciary standards under written agreements.

Henry Dunbar Jr. is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services since 2014. 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/business entities. The firm employs a client process centered on financial needs assessments and uses a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Sarah Hickey is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role she has held since 2023. She has accumulated over a decade of experience in financial services, working in various capacities including service management, investment solutions, and client relationship management. Her professional background includes positions at RBC Wealth Management, Fidelity Investments, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, and Barclays Wealth. Throughout her career, she has focused on understanding clients' unique needs and circumstances to develop financial plans that align with their goals and values. Outside of her professional work, Sarah has interests in art, food, parenthood, and yoga.

Guy Swain is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Raleigh, NC, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and possessing 40 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Commonwealth Equity Services, Inc. since 1995. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner of LifeTime Tax Management, a private entity focused on tax-related services. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of nearly 3,000 advisors and their clients. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs and services, including discretionary model portfolios and customized investment solutions, while providing operational, compliance, and technology support to affiliated advisors.

Jacob Niles is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Raleigh Capital Management and Fidelity Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent with Raleigh Wealth Solutions. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm uses an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates through point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Noah Fitzgerald is a financial advisor at TLG Advisors, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at MWA Financial Services Inc. and Modern Woodmen of America. Outside of his advisory role, Fitzgerald coaches junior varsity offensive line football, applying his collegiate football experience to player development. TLG Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors, offering investment supervisory services, portfolio management, financial and estate planning, and ERISA fiduciary services. Its approach combines fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, delivering advice through independent advisors and sub-advisors, including a direct-to-consumer platform called Starlight Portfolios.

Dustin Thornton is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with two years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Uber, Exchange Bank, Central National Bank, and Kansas State University Federal Credit Union. Outside of advisory services, Dustin and his spouse own rental properties. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm uses a client-focused process involving fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes and offers services such as portfolio management, financial planning, and tax-efficient strategies.

Kelly Sullivan is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 28 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Cuso Financial Services, LP and Coastal Federal Credit Union. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm’s approach includes fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to guide portfolio allocation, offering a range of services such as managed portfolios, a Guided Investing platform, and tax-aware financial planning.

Joshua Brien is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2013. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a committee member for BSA Trop 215, participating occasionally in camping trips with the group. 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 a diverse client base, including individuals, families, trusts, corporations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs with a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Christopher Kriak is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and PNC Investments. 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 uses a client-centered process combining fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Anna Fagan is a wealth advisor at CWM, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, infinex Investments, Inc., and Community Bank of Tri County. In addition to her advisory role, she is also an insurance agent selling life insurance, annuities, and long-term care products. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutional clients through a network of more than 600 advisors. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, employing model portfolios overseen by an in-house Investment Committee and utilizing various tools and third-party sub-advisors.

Hans Scheil Jr. is a CFP® and ChFC® with 20 years of experience in financial advisory. He is currently with Brookstone Capital Management LLC and serves as CEO and insurance agent at H.E. Scheil & Associates, Inc., where he spends a significant portion of his time. His prior experience includes roles at Insurance Advisor Associates, Inc., Cardinal Retirement Planning, Inc., and Gradient Investments, LLC. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients, and supports a large advisor network with back-office and sub-advisory services.

Kwame Richards is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, Richards worked at First Citizens Bank for 18 years. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client-focused process utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Kimberly Loftin is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with seven years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Thrivent Financial, First Citizens Bank, Principal Life Insurance Company, Edward Jones, and First Federal Bank. 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, operating through a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure and providing clients with discretionary and non-discretionary account management options.

Kennedy Taylor is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He currently works at Empower Advisory Group and previously was employed by Fidelity Investments and First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, delivering services through an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and savings rates in its financial planning, serving a large participant base with a higher client-to-advisor ratio than many peers.

James Simone is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 30 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2013. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm also advises donor-advised funds and combines point-in-time planning with ongoing portfolio management under a fiduciary standard.