Deborah Mcmanama is a financial advisor at First Financial Group in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with six years of industry experience. She has been with First Financial Group since 2011. First Financial Group serves individual investors, trusts, estates, and business entities, providing portfolio management, consulting, and financial planning services tailored to both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients. The firm’s investment approach combines fundamental and cyclical analysis with customizable strategies, including discretionary management and the use of unaffiliated sub-advisors.

Matthew Miller is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Armor Investment Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC. He has been with Armor since 2013. Armor Investment Advisors serves individuals, families, and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and retirement plan sponsors. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and fiduciary consulting, utilizing a team-based process and a multi-asset-class investment approach informed by macroeconomic analysis and a structured market framework.

Alex Sutherland is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LifePlan Group. His prior roles include positions at AE Wealth Management, LLC and Eqis Capital Management. Outside of advising, he is an owner and agent at LifePlan Tax & Insurance Group, Inc., where he places insurance products. LifePlan Group provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, emphasizing retirement planning and integrating tax, insurance, and estate considerations. The firm uses diversified investment models and offers ongoing advisory services aligned with client goals and risk tolerances.

David Nettesheim is a financial advisor at Lewis Financial Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Lewis Financial Management since 2008. Lewis Financial Management provides personalized comprehensive financial planning and investment advice to individuals, couples, retirees, widows, and small business owners. The firm emphasizes fundamental, research-based analysis and a long-term buy-and-hold approach, offering non-discretionary advice with semi-annual portfolio reviews.

Allison Miller is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Armor Investment Advisors, LLC since 2019. Prior to this, she worked at WMS Partners, LLC from 2016 to 2019. Armor Investment Advisors provides financial planning, discretionary investment management, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, and corporate retirement plans. The firm employs a team-based fiduciary process incorporating risk assessments and a multi-asset, core-satellite investment approach informed by economic cycle analysis and multiple market factors.

Tommy Lewis is a financial advisor at First Financial Group in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Financial Group in 2022, he was affiliated with East Carolina University and Wakefield High School. First Financial Group serves individual investors, trusts, estates, and business entities, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning services. The firm employs a client-driven investment approach that includes fundamental and cyclical analysis, customized portfolio construction, and ongoing monitoring.

Sukesh Pai is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Trillium Square Advisors LLC since 2018. He has prior experience at Fasttrackr AI, Prabhu Inc, Self Employed, and QMS Capital Management LP. Outside of advisory work, he is a managing partner at Everest AI Ventures, an AI technology company. Trillium Square Advisors serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and institutional clients with financial planning, portfolio management, and corporate cash-management services. The firm employs a blend of active management and quantitative techniques, including algorithmic trading and multi-strategy portfolios, and offers ongoing supervision along with educational seminars as part of its client services.

Alexander Hearley is a financial advisor at Top Rank Wealth Management, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has held prior roles at firms including RedHawk Wealth Advisors, Inc and CETERA Advisor Networks LLC. In addition to his advisory work, he is an insurance agent selling life, health, disability, annuities, and long-term care products. Top Rank Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services tailored to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of technical, charting, and quantitative analysis with both long- and short-term strategies, and maintains separate account management practices with custodial statements sent directly to clients.

Samuel Miesmer is a financial advisor at Trillium Square Advisors LLC in Raleigh, NC, with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2025. His background also includes roles in the restaurant industry and a period of employment at The College for Financial Planning. Trillium Square Advisors serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and institutional clients through financial planning, portfolio management, and corporate cash management services. The firm employs a blend of active management and quantitative techniques, including algorithmic trading and multi-strategy portfolios, and offers ongoing supervision alongside educational seminars.

James Castleman Jr. is a financial advisor at AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously as a consultant and at CoVest Asset Management. Castleman is based in Raleigh, NC. AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor investment advice primarily on a discretionary basis, managing approximately $435.3 million in regulatory assets across about 172 client relationships.

Eric Schrum is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Schrum Private Wealth Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC. He has worked at Founders Wealth Management and Planning since 2017 and had a prior role at Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Schrum Private Wealth Management offers investment and wealth management services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a blend of Modern Portfolio Theory and behavioral finance to construct diversified, low-cost portfolios. The firm emphasizes long-term investing with periodic tactical adjustments and incorporates tax-aware strategies such as tax-loss harvesting.

Michael Fenchak is a financial advisor at Top Rank Wealth Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at RedHawk Wealth Advisors, Evergreen Wealth Advisors, Bank of NY Mellon, and Willis Towers Watson, among others. Top Rank Wealth Management is a state-registered advisory firm that offers discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm utilizes technical, charting, and quantitative analysis within customized investment programs and maintains close operational ties to affiliated insurance and legal-planning businesses.

Daniel Braddock is a financial advisor with Almega Wealth Management in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. He has worked at Almega Wealth Management since 2022 and also owns an insurance agency, Scott Braddock Financial. Almega Wealth Management advises individuals, families, small businesses, retirement plans, and charitable organizations using a primarily passive investment approach with index mutual funds and ETFs, while offering customized active strategies for complex situations. The firm operates multiple offices and includes affiliated tax services, educational content, and quarterly client reporting.

Benjamin Scarbrough is a financial advisor at Stone Legacy Capital LLC in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been working in the industry since 2024, with prior experience at Equitable Advisors, LLC and George Pickett & Associates. He spent ten years as a full-time student before beginning his advisory career. Stone Legacy Capital LLC is an independent firm providing discretionary investment management and tailored financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm operates as a solo practice, managing approximately $4.9 million in client assets, and offers financial planning in three tiers alongside investment management using various analytical methods.

Michael Palmer is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC since 2015. He is based in Raleigh, NC, and is one of three advisors at the firm. Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm follows a long-term investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing diversified, low-cost passive funds and utilizes statistical analysis and DFA research for risk-return profiling.

Gray Pendleton is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Pendleton Financial Wealth Management in Raleigh, NC. His career includes roles at Concourse Financial Group Securities and operating his own entities since 2010. Outside of advisory work, he runs an educational YouTube channel on financial planning, authors financial planning books, and produces original music distributed on streaming platforms. Pendleton Financial Wealth Management provides investment management and financial planning to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach using modern portfolio theory and fundamental analysis, and offers pension plan consulting alongside educational seminars and client newsletters.

Fred Lowry is a financial advisor with BrightPath Wealth Advisors LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He is also an adjunct professor at Wake Tech Community College and operates a sole proprietorship focused on insurance sales. Additionally, he consults for Trivecta, a spa and facial sales business. BrightPath Wealth Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as corporate entities, providing discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm develops customized investment policy statements, employs fundamental analysis, and offers public educational seminars.

Ryan Thomsen is a financial advisor with First Oak Wealth Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has 15 years of industry experience. Thomsen previously worked at Great Lakes & Atlantic Wealth Management and Oak City Consulting, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he has ownership in a rental property business. First Oak Wealth Management provides financial planning, investment management, and consulting services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable accounts, and trusts. The firm manages approximately $316 million in discretionary assets and employs a diversified investment approach supported by an outsourced chief investment officer and AI tools for operational support.

Linda Lewis is the sole advisor at Lewis Financial Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 29 years of industry experience. She has worked at The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. since 2013 and has been with Lewis Financial Management since 1984. Outside of her advisory work, she hosts a radio program, "Money Matters with the Lewis Family," on WPTF AM 680, where she answers listener questions on various financial topics. Lewis Financial Management provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advice to individuals, couples, retirees, widows, and small business owners. The firm employs a research-based, long-term buy-and-hold investment approach with semi-annual portfolio reviews and focuses on non-discretionary advice tailored through a personalized financial planning database.

Taylor Holloway is a financial advisor at Ridgeline Wealth Advisors, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Merrill, Jennifer Torrey, and Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC. Ridgeline Wealth Advisors provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and IRA rollover advice to individuals and plan sponsors. The firm manages $189 million in assets for approximately 200 clients, emphasizing a long-term, diversification-focused investment approach grounded in efficient market principles and factor considerations.