James Tarkenton is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Townsend Asset Management Corp. since 2018 and previously spent nine years at Lateef Investment Management. Townsend Asset Management Corp. serves individuals, trusts, partnerships, corporations, non-profits, and retirement plans, offering investment management, financial planning, consulting, and tax preparation services. The firm employs a disciplined process combining fundamental and technical analysis to guide portfolio management and provides both standalone services and bundled wealth management engagements.

Katherine Alepa is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Ithaka Financial Planning, LLC. She has been with Ithaka since 2017 and holds a Series 65 license. Prior to her financial planning career, she worked at Food Lion from 2015 to 2016. Ithaka Financial Planning offers integrated financial planning and portfolio management for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and personal trusts and estates. The firm emphasizes customized portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory, incorporating index funds, ETFs, and occasionally individual securities, and provides ongoing monitoring, rebalancing, and fiduciary advisory services.

Troy Smith is a financial advisor with Wake Wealth Management Co. in Raleigh, NC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 37 years of industry experience, including roles at LPL Financial, Grove Point Investments, and as an independent insurance agent. Outside of advising, Smith is active as an artist and musician. Wake Wealth Management Co. provides financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, foundations, endowments, and other institutional clients. The firm emphasizes written financial plans and primarily delivers advice on a non-discretionary basis, employing a variety of investment strategies tailored to client-specific plans.

Bryson King is a financial advisor at Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential. He has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at Capital Financial and Insurance, LLC, Zunzibar, and Duckworth's. Capital Financial Advisory Group serves individuals, families, businesses, charities, and small pension clients with financial planning and advisory services. The firm refers clients to third-party managers and pooled investment products, focusing on customized financial plans and ongoing portfolio monitoring without taking custody or direct discretion over assets.

Jeremy Hamann is a financial advisor at Evergreen Wealth Advisors with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Blue Trust and CAPTRUST Financial Advisors, as well as work outside finance at Chick-fil-A and Black's Tire Service. He also has experience with The Wilds Christian Camp & Conference Center and Bob Jones University. Evergreen Wealth Advisors offers discretionary investment management and financial planning to individual and corporate clients, utilizing a Modern Portfolio Theory framework combined with tax-optimization techniques. The firm operates a public AI platform for educational purposes and manages client portfolios through proprietary software and AI tools.

Paul Richards is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC. His prior roles include positions at WealthShield Partners, Ameriprise Financial Services, Edward Jones, and METLIFE Investors Distribution Company. Hicks & Associates Wealth Management primarily serves individual and high net worth clients, including trusts, estates, IRAs, and 401(k) plans, providing discretionary portfolio management through separately managed accounts alongside non-discretionary financial planning and consulting services. The firm applies a Multi-Strategy Investment Management Process combining fundamental and technical analysis, emphasizing risk controls such as rules-based stops and regular position reviews.

Carman Hicks II is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC since 2022. He previously worked at WealthShield Partners, LLC and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Since 2013, he has also engaged in fiduciary activities acting as attorney-in-fact, trustee, conservator, guardian, executor, or personal representative. Hicks & Associates Wealth Management primarily serves individual and high net worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management and non-discretionary financial planning. The firm employs a Multi-Strategy Investment Management Process that integrates fundamental and technical analysis with various investment strategies overseen by an Investment Committee.

Matthew Archer is a financial advisor with AIM Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Triad Advisors, Inc. and Arkadios Capital. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as an independent agent with The Cason Group, which focuses on life insurance and long-term care products. AIM Advisors, LLC serves individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans by providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and alternative investments tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Emily Burgess is a financial advisor at AIM Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. She has experience working at Campbell University and Arkadios Capital, as well as being self-employed and employed in other roles prior to joining AIM Advisors. AIM Advisors serves individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans, providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm manages approximately $138 million across about 163 client relationships, employing an investment approach based on modern portfolio theory with a focus on global diversification.

Bret Tackett is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Tackett Wealth Management, LLC since 2009, where he is one of two advisors at the firm based in Cary, NC. Tackett Wealth Management provides investment supervisory services, wealth management, and financial planning primarily to select retirees and small business owners. The firm manages approximately $62 million in client assets and employs an investment approach grounded in academic research, emphasizing broad diversification, tax efficiency, and low-cost funds.

William Sigmon III is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Physicians Financial Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC. He has two years of industry experience, including prior work with The Wealth Group, Ltd, and a decade of service in the United States Navy. Physicians Financial Services, Inc. provides personalized wealth management, financial and tax planning, and retirement strategies for individuals, corporations, and nonprofit entities. The firm employs a contrarian, value-oriented investment approach focused on financially strong, cash-rich companies and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management tailored to client objectives.

David Hellinger is a financial advisor with Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC in Cary, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes a long tenure at LPL Financial. Independent Wealth Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients through its Strategic Wealth Management platform. The firm combines various analytical approaches and maintains a monthly-reviewed investment committee to tailor portfolios according to each client’s risk tolerance and time horizon.

Nicholas Ross is a CFP® professional at Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC with one year of industry experience. He has worked at Ark Royal Wealth Management and Truist, and previously spent time in education at North Carolina State University and a secondary school. Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using diversified, low-cost passive mutual funds and statistical analysis to manage risk and return.

Parker Holland is a financial advisor at Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. Holland has worked at Sofos Investments, Inc. and EQIS Capital Management, Inc. during his career. He is also a licensed independent insurance agent in North Carolina, incorporating insurance products into financial plans. Capital Financial Advisory Group serves individuals, families, businesses, charities, and small pension clients, focusing on financial planning and advisory services. The firm provides investment recommendations through third-party managers and offers ongoing monitoring without taking custody or direct investment discretion of client assets.

Terrance Green is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Blue Water Capital Management, LLC. He has been with Blue Water Capital Management since 2006. Blue Water Capital Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as charitable organizations, offering portfolio management and financial planning tailored to client goals and risk tolerance. The firm employs modern portfolio theory and primarily invests in ETFs and mutual funds, with access to a broad range of alternative investments, and operates with institutional support from Charles Schwab.

Aaron Maassel is a financial advisor at Top Rank Wealth Management, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at CoreCap Advisors, LLC and Voyageur Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he owns Voyageur Financial, which focuses on insurance and annuity sales, and he is also an attorney providing legal and estate planning services. Top Rank Wealth Management offers discretionary asset management and financial planning for individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing technical, charting, and quantitative analysis with both long- and short-term strategies. The firm maintains close ties to affiliated insurance and legal-planning services.

Arne Morris Sr. is a financial advisor at Townsend Asset Management Corp. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 24 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Townsend in 2017, he worked at McGladrey Wealth Management LLC for 16 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as an owner and managing member of multiple investment-related firms. Townsend Asset Management Corp. serves individuals, trusts, partnerships, corporations, non-profits, and retirement plans with services including investment management, financial planning, consulting, and tax preparation. The firm employs a disciplined approach combining fundamental and technical analysis, managing portfolios primarily on a discretionary, long-term basis with integrated tax and consulting services.

Kenneth Stephenson is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Quest 10 Wealth Builders, Inc. and has previously worked at Global Financial Private Capital and Q3 Asset Management Corp. In addition to his advisory role, he owns and operates Willow Springs Turf, LLC, a sod farming business. Quest 10 Wealth Builders, Inc. serves individual and high-net-worth clients, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, using a range of investment strategies and conducting regular account reviews.

Brian DeBruin is a financial advisor at BrightPath Wealth Advisors LLC in Raleigh, NC, with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Carroll Financial Associates and Eqis Capital Management. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an adjunct professor at Wake Tech Community College, teaching non-credit financial and investment courses. BrightPath Wealth Advisors LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individual, high-net-worth, and corporate clients. The firm utilizes fundamental analysis, develops tailored investment policy statements, and manages accounts with regular monitoring and reviews, including the use of third-party sub-advisors when appropriate.

Robert Revels is a CFP® and CFA® with six years of experience in financial advisory roles, currently serving at PieCapital since 2024. His prior experience includes positions at Balentine and BB&T. Outside of his advisory work, he is the author of a children's book titled *Bull & Bear Grow Together*, which teaches kids about money, and serves on the unpaid board of Strong Gray Line Corporation, a nonprofit associated with the West Point Class of 2004. PieCapital provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $69 million for 22 clients. The firm combines fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and quantitative methods, employing a range of investment strategies across various asset classes within a single-advisor structure.