Kunal Patel is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, LPL Financial, and Fidelity Investments. Outside of advising, Patel has experience in insurance services and real estate rental. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using model portfolios and customizable strategies, supported by a central investment team and oversight committee.

Dwon Clifton is a financial advisor at Gradient Investments, LLC in Raleigh, NC, with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Gradient Investments since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as the Director of the basketball program at St. Raphael Catholic School. Gradient Investments provides discretionary investment management services to a broad client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a proprietary investment framework to offer a variety of model and customized portfolios, managing assets on a discretionary basis with a fee-only structure.

Donald Delaria, Jr. is a financial advisor with Gradient Investments, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions with Brookstone Capital Management, Formula Folios Investments, and EQIS Capital. He is also the owner and president of Capital Consulting Group NC, where he manages marketing and sales of insurance products. Gradient Investments, LLC provides discretionary investment management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and various organizations. The firm employs a proprietary investment framework and offers a range of model and custom portfolios, managing assets on a discretionary basis without acting as a custodian.

Nikolas Gernhard is a financial advisor at Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones for 10 years before joining Kestra in 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he co-owns a rental property with his wife and is involved with Destination Wealth Advisors, assisting clients with financial planning. Kestra Private Wealth Services provides investment advisory services through a network of independent advisors and multi-advisor teams, serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $13.45 billion in client assets and offers a range of investment products and specialized services within a platform that supports discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.

Michael Davis is a financial advisor at Wealth Watch Advisors, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at KCD Financial and Fortress Financial Partners. Before entering financial services, he was employed at Mercy Diagnostics for seven years. Wealth Watch Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and financial institutions. The firm uses an investment approach that combines quantitative, qualitative, and technical methods through approved third-party model managers and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Marc Oslar is a financial advisor at Impact Partnership Wealth, LLC with over 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has previously worked at Modern Woodmen of America, Freedom Equity Finance, Inc., and MLO Planning, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is president and manager of Marc Oslar Retirement Experience, LLC, a business focused on insurance and annuities. Impact Partnership Wealth, LLC provides investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $3 billion. The firm offers model portfolio solutions, discretionary asset management, and retirement plan services through a multi-adviser platform that incorporates both firm-managed and advisor-managed strategies.

Tory Klinedinst is a financial advisor with Great Valley Advisor Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and over 20 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Gaines Financial Group, Inc. (dba Balanced Investment Strategies), LPL Financial, Davis Wealth Management, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Great Valley Advisor Group is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting through a mix of in-house and third-party strategies.

Kashif Osman is an investment advisor at RFG Advisory, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work experience with the Islamic Association of Raleigh and the North Carolina Democratic Party. Outside of his advisory role, Osman serves as a director at Samakash Limited, advising on the purchase and sale of commercial properties. RFG Advisory provides investment advisory and planning services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients including investment companies and government entities. The firm’s approach includes discretionary portfolio management, utilizing model strategies and third-party platforms, and acting as sub-adviser to multiple ETFs while offering access to alternative investments and annuity platforms.

Eddie Dubose is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at UBS Securities LLC and Fidelity Investments. He also served in the Army National Guard for six years and has experience working in healthcare and customer service sectors. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and financial planning, focusing on IAR-led assessments and a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analyses to guide client investments.

Joseph Lucente is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Cary, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fifth Third Securities in 2021, he worked at Fifth Third Bank and SunTrust Bank, and he also has six years of experience with Chipotle Mexican Grill. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage channels. The firm offers a variety of managed account programs, including advisor-directed mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed accounts, and tax overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Henry Stotz is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles in automotive sales and financial services, and he volunteers with FINADDICTS LLC, a local fishing apparel brand. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering advisory and brokerage services with a client process focused on assessing financial needs and using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various investment vehicles.

Michael Mordecai is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with eight years of industry experience. His prior experience includes three years at Edward Jones and four years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs IAR-led financial assessments and a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Roberto Pflaumer is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Entrust from 2009 to 2024 and has been affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors and WealthWave since 2015 and 2017, respectively. Pflaumer is involved in the sales of insurance and non-insurance products for companies affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services, utilizing proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary options.

Alfred Sosa is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 29 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at National Life Group, MassMutual, Mutual of Omaha, and Transamerica Financial Advisors. He is also the managing director and agent of Financial Partners Group LLC. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm operates as both a broker-dealer and an SEC-registered investment adviser, offering multiple advisory platforms that combine long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and third-party asset management.

Rachel Liquori is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and four years of industry experience. She has worked in various roles within Truist and its predecessor entities since 2011 and has prior experience at City National Bank and First Citizens Investor Services. Outside of her advisory work, Rachel is a co-owner of a consulting business that assists military veterans with disability claims, though she is not involved in its operations. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, utilizing third-party managers and AI-enabled research tools, with notable inter-affiliate integration across Truist entities.

Stephen Holloman is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services who holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 28 years of industry experience. His career includes prior roles at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wachovia Bank, N.A. He also manages several residential rental properties in North Carolina. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and research tools.

Peter Richon is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Brookstone Capital Management since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he produces a radio show and operates Richon Insurance Agency. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other business entities. The firm offers a range of investment strategies including dynamic asset allocation models, Unified Managed Accounts, and options-enhanced strategies, and serves as a sub-advisor to other advisory programs.

William Gilbert is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Holly Springs, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2005 and also has experience with Sunamerica Capital Services, Inc. since 2013. Valic Financial Advisors serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models and providing various overlay options.

William Smith is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at MML Investors Services LLC, MassMutual Life Insurance Co., First Citizens Bank, and Northwestern Mutual. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse clientele including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers portfolio management, model portfolios, a Guided Investing platform, and financial planning, utilizing both fundamental and quantitative analyses to manage assets primarily through non-discretionary client arrangements.

John Passey is a financial advisor at Private Advisor Group, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at firms including LPL Financial LLC, Good Life Advisors, Sterling Fox Financial, Raymond James Financial Services, and Edward Jones. He also operates Good Life Advisors, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm offers managed account solutions through proprietary platforms and third-party managers, employing a fiduciary-based advisory model.