Kristin Koptyra is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has six years of industry experience, including prior roles at Banc of California and time spent as a full-time parent. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs strategic and tactical asset-allocation approaches using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, offering clients discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management options.

Richard Morrow is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 33 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing before joining Janney in 2019. Outside of his advisory role, Morrow is actively involved in youth leadership development through BSA Scouting and holds multiple leadership positions at the Hound Ears Club in Boone, NC, including president and finance committee chair. Janney Montgomery Scott 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, offering brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services supported by in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Holly Dippert is a financial advisor with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and bringing 20 years of industry experience. She previously worked at LPL Financial from 2013 to 2021. Outside of advisory work, she serves as Corporate Secretary for Ultimate Transport, Inc., a bulk water hauling company. Sanctuary Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, trusts, estates, and retirement plans. The firm offers customized investment programs through various account types and uses a network of independent advisors and sub-advisors to implement diverse investment strategies.

Felipe Soto Ramos is a CFP® certificant with four years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently an advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. Prior to joining Schwab, he held roles at Truist Advisory Services and Credit Suisse, among others. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, utilizing standard asset allocation models and Schwab research tools to support investment recommendations. The firm operates as an internal advisory unit within the Schwab ecosystem and does not act as a discretionary portfolio manager.

Scott Anderson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at several related entities within the Truist organization since 2015, including Truist Investment Services, Inc. and BB&T Securities, LLC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, participant advice, and a manager-selection program that blends discretionary and non-discretionary consulting, supported by inter-affiliate integration and AI-enabled research tools.

Brent Sampey is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC in various capacities since 2015, including roles at PNC Bank and PNC Investments. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through several model-based programs, including a discretionary digital model account offered as an invitation-only pilot for employees. The firm’s approach uses algorithmic risk assessment and approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists, focusing on mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Ranjini Pathak is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining PNC Wealth Management, she worked at Fifth Third Securities and held roles at Fifth Third Bank and Woodforest National Bank. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based investment programs, including a discretionary digital portfolio solution available as an invitation-only pilot for employees with PNC Bank online credentials. Their approach uses algorithm-driven model recommendations with implementation via mutual funds and ETFs, featuring annual rebalancing and third-party portfolio management.

Frances Pumphrey is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and with 18 years of industry experience. She has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2016. Outside of finance, she is involved in a bluegrass gospel music group, where she performs as a singer and manages record-keeping. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation and offers portfolio management through model portfolios, separately managed accounts, and an automated Guided Investing platform.

Brian Sherwood is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Bank and its affiliated investment services firm since 2013. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and businesses. The firm combines IAR-led client assessments with a range of portfolio management strategies, including wrap programs, automated investing platforms, and tax-aware services, benefiting from its affiliation with a bank holding company that provides integrated banking resources.

Brayden Curtis is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 license. He has been in the industry since 2026, previously working at Consolidated Planning Holdings, Inc. and Park Avenue Securities. Outside of finance, he has experience with Meowtel and the Best Friends Animal Society. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients with brokerage services, financial planning, and investment advisory programs. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory solutions, including hybrid digital options, and integrates proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

Stephen Selby is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently with Truist Advisory Services and has held roles at several firms including Avantax and Cetera. Outside of his advisory work, he has a direct personal investment in whiskey barrels through Vinovest/Whiskeyvest. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and uses third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools to support its investment processes.

Brian Elms is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Freedom Street Partners and Raymond James Financial Services, and he spent 16 years at Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory work, he is a non-controlling owner of FSP Enterprise, LLC, a support company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets, serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through a variety of Steward Partners-branded solutions and third-party money managers, supported by custodial and platform partnerships.

Robyn Pegram is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with seven years of industry experience. She has worked at First Citizens Investor Services since 2019 and was previously employed by First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both strategic and tactical asset-allocation approaches and serves clients through discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements, offering portfolio management, automated Guided Investing, and financial planning.

Adrian Potts is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, The Vanguard Group, and Principal Securities. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain retail brokerage clients. The firm utilizes an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

David Lieberman is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Guardian Life Insurance Company, Park Avenue Securities, Equitable Advisors, and New York Life. Outside of his advisory work, he provides life and career coaching through Actualize You Life & Career Coaching. Ameritas Advisory Services offers fee-based investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a combination of in-house model portfolios and third-party managers, delivering both discretionary and non-discretionary solutions, and integrates with Ameritas affiliates to provide a broad range of financial services.

Sean Fenerty is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Sonic Automotive, and Sandmeyer Steel Company. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm combines a municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, providing multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Erin Carpenter is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Robert Baird & Co., Merrill, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of advisory work, she owns rental properties in Charlotte, NC. 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 with services including brokerage, financial planning, and advisory programs supported by in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Jason Coble is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, following previous roles at Bb&T Securities and Scott & Stringfellow. 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 platforms and AI-enabled research tools, to deliver its services.

Samuel Madden is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, Madden is involved in book publishing and food catering, serving as CEO of Yellow Bee Publishing, LLC and president of Yellow Bee, LLC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, leveraging third-party platforms and manager relationships, and utilizes AI-enabled tools to supplement traditional research.

Astute Evans is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. Prior to this, Evans worked at LPL Financial, Facet Wealth, and Vanguard. He provides investment advisory services through multiple independent firms associated with his current engagements. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary management with access to various analytical techniques and technology platforms.