Austin Brown is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Bolin Creek Wealth Advisors LLC, where he has worked since 2023. Prior to this, he spent ten years at Woodward Financial Advisors, Inc. Bolin Creek Wealth Advisors is a fee-only firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and estates through comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach, focusing on diversified, low-cost funds and personalized allocation strategies developed through client risk assessment.

Joshua Stilley is a financial advisor at TrustStone Wealth Partners, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Gordon Asset Management, LLC for six years and has experience at Coastal Carolina University. Stilley is the owner of JVS Financial L.L.C., a holding company, and is a licensed insurance agent. TrustStone Wealth Partners provides portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm emphasizes tailored investment portfolios primarily using ETFs and incorporates multiple analysis methods and both long- and short-term strategies.

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.

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.

Anessa Custovic is a financial advisor at Cardinal Retirement Planning, Inc. in Durham, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with six years of industry experience. She has held various roles within Cardinal Retirement Planning since 2020 and was self-employed as a dog trainer starting in 2018. Prior to her advisory career, she worked at Tower Street Associates and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Cardinal Retirement Planning primarily serves pre-retirees and retirees, high-net-worth individuals, businesses, and non-profits, offering a range of financial planning, portfolio management, and consulting services. The firm employs a top-down investment approach integrating quantitative models with fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and features unique capabilities such as in-house econometric research and the use of borrowing within separately managed accounts.

Evan Mccormick is a financial advisor at Investors Mosaic with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Investors Mosaic since 2013. The firm provides fee-based wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals and families, primarily in the mass-affluent to high-net-worth spectrum. Investors Mosaic uses a blend of passive, low-cost asset-allocation strategies alongside an active Growth equity model for legacy clients, serving a small client base with approximately $148.4 million in assets under management.

Joseph Marques is a financial advisor at Bolin Creek Wealth Advisors LLC in Chapel Hill, NC, holding the CFP® and Series 66 designations with 14 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Woodward Financial Advisors, Inc. for eight years before joining his current firm in 2023. Bolin Creek Wealth Advisors is a fee-only firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and estates with comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and consulting services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing diversified, low-cost mutual funds and ETFs with periodic rebalancing and personalized allocation targets.

Michael Ruffing is a financial advisor with Integrated WealthCare, LLC in Durham, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 28 years of industry experience, including nine years at Capital Wealth Management, Inc. and Triad Advisors, Inc. He hosts a financial podcast and serves on the industry advisory council for the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. Integrated WealthCare is an SEC-registered wealth management firm that primarily serves physicians and medical professionals, as well as high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, utilizing documented risk assessments and globally diversified model portfolios with a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Cristy Head is a financial advisor with Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. She has been associated with Independent Wealth Advisors since 2024 and has prior experience with LPL Financial. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with Said and Done LLC, a business she has maintained since 2007. Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients through its Strategic Wealth Management platform. The firm uses a combination of analytical methods and a dedicated Investment Committee to develop and monitor model portfolios, offering both discretionary management and comprehensive financial planning.

Caleb Griffith is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving at Townsend Asset Management Corp. in Raleigh, NC. He has been with Townsend since 2006, contributing to a firm that manages a range of clients including individuals, trusts, corporations, and non-profits. Townsend Asset Management Corp. provides investment management, financial planning, consulting, and tax preparation services, offering a bundled wealth management approach that integrates these under a single engagement. The firm employs a disciplined, goal-oriented process utilizing both fundamental and technical analysis to manage primarily long-term portfolios, with additional strategies including short-term positions and limited options.

Malachy Joyce is a financial advisor at Based Capital Wealth LLC in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with two years of industry experience. She is also the CEO of iBC Holdings LLC, a data analytics company operating as Stocklabs, which provides financial and technical data on companies. Additionally, Joyce creates monetized financial commentary on X (formerly Twitter), earning a small portion of her income from this activity. Based Capital Wealth LLC provides portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary account management. The firm focuses on equities, fixed-income securities, and ETFs, employing a range of analytical methods and strategies including charting, fundamental analysis, and options trading.

Jacob Doser is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Rosewood Wealth Management in Durham, NC. He has held roles at JN Financial LLC, JB Capital, LLC, Key Investment Services LLC, KeyBank, and Citizens Bank. Outside of his advisory practice, he is an insurance agent engaged in the sale of life insurance and fixed annuities through an affiliated insurance company. Rosewood Wealth Management serves individual clients and families with a focus on retirement planning and income needs. The firm combines financial planning, third-party portfolio management, insurance sales, and tax preparation services to address clients' comprehensive financial goals.

Brenton Smith is a financial advisor with Gibert Wealth Management in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Kestra Investment Services, Umergence LLC, Amazon Services, BB&T Securities, and Merrill. Gibert Wealth Management provides discretionary wealth management and retirement plan advisory services for retirement plan sponsors, business entities, and fiduciary clients such as trusts, estates, and non-profits. The firm manages approximately $316 million in discretionary assets and employs a diversified investment approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative analysis along with modern portfolio theory.

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.

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.

Adam Boor is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Pursuit Wealth Strategies, LLC and has held prior positions at Raymond James Financial Services and RBC Capital Markets. His background also includes earlier roles in banking and finance. Pursuit Wealth Strategies serves individuals, high net worth clients, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations by providing investment advisory, portfolio management, and financial planning services. The firm emphasizes customized portfolios and formal investment policy statements, with regular portfolio monitoring and a structured approach to managing underperforming assets.

Samson Benen is a financial advisor at SJBenen Advisory, LLC in Durham, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with SJBenen Advisory since 2016. SJBenen Advisory serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, small businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, and nonprofit organizations with portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA plan advisory services. The firm employs a tiered management approach incorporating passive, long-only active, and long-short active strategies, using fundamental, technical, cyclical, and quantitative analysis, and offers a regular client newsletter called “The Benen Report.”

Amy Jo Mc Elfresh is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in financial advising. She has been with Amphora Wealth Management, LLC since 2018 and previously worked at Guardian Pointe Private Wealth Management. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in management activities with Gratitude, Inc. and serves as president of AJM Consulting, Inc., a consulting and insurance-related business. Amphora Wealth Management serves individuals, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing investment management, financial planning, and specialized consulting services such as divorce and estate-plan analysis. The firm employs an evidence- and risk-based investment approach, using diversified portfolios guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and conducts ongoing account monitoring and reviews.

Samuel Mcchesney is a financial advisor with Incline Investment Advisors, LLC in Durham, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Incline Investment Advisors, he worked at Hyatt Lake Tahoe and Sierra Nevada University. Incline Investment Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and integrated financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, employing a blend of systematic quantitative models, technical trend signals, and value-oriented stock selection to construct risk-managed portfolios. The firm is notable for its affiliation with a Commodity Trading Advisor/Commodity Pool Operator, offering a range of commodity and futures strategies alongside equity and fixed-income programs.