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.

Michael Honea is a CFP® professional with 11 years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Cary Financial Planning, LLC since 2023 and previously spent seven years with Members Trust Company as well as eight years with Credit Union Investment Services, Secu Brokerage Services, and Secu Life Insurance Company. Cary Financial Planning, LLC serves individuals, families, business owners, and high-net-worth clients by providing investment advisory and financial planning services. The firm employs a long-term, evidence-based investment approach focused on broad diversification, cost control, and tax-aware decisions, using primarily mutual funds and ETFs alongside newer systematic or factor-based funds, supported by technology including AI-assisted tools.

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.

Andrew Davenport is a financial advisor at Quest 10 Wealth Builders, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Equitable Advisors, and AXA Advisors. Davenport also works as an insurance broker for Guardian Life in Raleigh, North Carolina, specializing in individual life and disability insurance policies. Quest 10 Wealth Builders, Inc. serves individual and high-net-worth clients, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a range of analytical strategies, utilizes third-party money managers, and conducts regular account reviews while maintaining a presence across six offices with approximately $238 million in assets under management.

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.

Erin Tackett is a financial advisor at Tackett Wealth Management, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been with the firm since 2009. Tackett Wealth Management serves primarily retirees and small business owners, managing approximately $62 million in client assets across about 50 relationships. The firm provides investment supervisory services, wealth management, and financial planning using an investment approach grounded in academic research, emphasizing small-cap and value equity exposures, broad diversification, low-cost funds, and tax efficiency.

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.

William Hesmer Jr. is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with over 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with Oak Harbor Wealth Partners and Hesmer Wealth Management LLC, where he has worked since 2021 and 2026, respectively. Prior to joining Oak Harbor, he spent eight years at Raymond James & Associates. Outside of finance, Hesmer serves as a consultant to the disciplinary committee for the United Soccer League. Oak Harbor Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser specializing in portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA consulting, with a focus on institutional and retirement-plan services. The firm employs diversified model portfolios and third-party manager oversight as part of its investment approach.

Samantha Muncy is a financial advisor at Evergreen Wealth Advisors with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Edward Jones for 18 years before joining Evergreen Money Advisors in 2023. She also held roles at Public Holdings, Inc., including Head of Customer Experience. Evergreen Wealth Advisors provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individual and corporate clients. The firm uses a Modern Portfolio Theory framework combined with tax-optimization techniques and proprietary AI tools to support portfolio management, and it operates a public AI platform offering general education and personalized advice to users.

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.

Michael Whitman is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving at Millennium Planning Group, LLC. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities and Millennium Insurance, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Treasurer for the Pittsboro Elementary School PTA, where he develops financial procedures and manages PTA funds. Millennium Planning Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, technical, and modern portfolio theory analyses, managing accounts primarily on a discretionary basis and utilizing both in-house and third-party strategies.

Paul Yokabitus is a financial advisor at Cary Financial Planning, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has a background that includes ownership and practice as an attorney specializing in estate planning through Yokabitus Law, PLLC. He is also involved in legal marketing and tax planning through affiliated entities. Cary Financial Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, business owners, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a long-term, evidence-based investment approach focused on diversification, cost control, and tax-aware decisions, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and factor-based funds, supported by technology including AI-assisted tools.

Matthew Scuderi is a financial advisor at Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Foundations Investment Advisors and Equitable Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he is also active as an insurance producer, reviewing and proposing insurance and annuity solutions. Capital Financial Advisory Group serves individuals and families preparing for retirement, including high-net-worth households, small pension plans, and charitable entities. The firm provides customized financial planning and advisory services, referring clients to third-party asset managers for portfolio management while also distributing insurance and annuity products.

David Clark Jr. is a financial advisor at Oak Harbor Wealth Partners in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. He has entered the industry recently with experience at Stifel Financial Corp and Croatan Investments prior to joining Oak Harbor. Oak Harbor Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser specializing in portfolio management, financial and institutional consulting, and pension and retirement plan services. The firm focuses on institutional and retirement-plan clients, employing diversified model allocations and third-party manager oversight in its investment approach.