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.

William Sloan is a CFP® professional with 33 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has worked at Intercarolina Financial Services, Inc. for 25 years and has been with Sound Financial Management, Inc. since 1997. Sloan holds the Series 63 license and is based in Raleigh, NC. Sound Financial Management, Inc. provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $110.7 million in discretionary assets, employing both fundamental and technical analysis to tailor portfolio strategies, with regular reviews for suitability, rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting.

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.

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.

Meghan Childs is a financial advisor at Boundary Street Partners LP with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Morgan Stanley for seven years before joining Boundary Street Partners in 2017. Boundary Street Partners LP provides discretionary investment management and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high net worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and a private fund. The firm employs an active global value-investing approach based on fundamental research and offers a range of strategies including stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and derivatives, serving approximately $18 million in discretionary assets as of December 2025.

Wheeler Chapman III is a financial advisor at Kokua Capital Management with 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Kokua Capital Management since 2016 and concurrently at Chapman Financial Group since 2013. Chapman Financial Group, doing business as Kokua Capital Management, provides discretionary wealth management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as fixed-income sub-advisory services to other investment adviser firms. The firm employs an actively managed, long-term investment approach that incorporates both fundamental and technical analysis to tailor portfolios to clients’ objectives and risk tolerance.

Jeffery Campbell II is a financial advisor at Fryar Financial in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Fryar Financial, he worked at Fidelity Investments and Vietri Inc. in various roles. Outside of advising, he operates a freelance marketing consulting business as an independent contractor. Fryar Financial provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and retirement plan sponsors, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary asset management tailored to client goals and risk tolerance. The firm manages approximately $19.4 million across about 56 client relationships and coordinates investment strategies with affiliated tax and accounting services.

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 previously worked at CoreCap Advisors, LLC and Voyageur Financial. In addition to advising, he practices law and provides estate planning services as an attorney. Top Rank Wealth Management offers discretionary asset management and financial planning services tailored to individuals and high-net-worth clients, using technical, charting, and quantitative analysis. The firm integrates advisory services with affiliated insurance and legal planning activities.

Christopher Sherman is the principal of Sherman Financial, an independent advisory firm based in Chapel Hill, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 10 years of industry experience. Sherman is also the proprietor of Sherman Financial Consulting, providing financial consulting and management services to small businesses and nonprofits, and is a co-owner of Harmony Music Studios LLC, offering music lessons locally. Sherman Financial provides fee-only financial planning and investment advice to individuals, families, trusts, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and predominantly passive investment strategies, combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside tax-loss harvesting.

Arne Morris Sr. is a financial advisor at Townsend Asset Management Corp. in Raleigh, NC, with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Townsend since 2017 and previously worked for 16 years at McGladrey Wealth Management LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner and managing member of several investment firms focused on real estate holdings. Townsend Asset Management serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and non-profits, providing investment management, financial planning, consulting, and tax preparation services. The firm employs a disciplined approach using fundamental and technical analysis to manage portfolios, which are generally long-term oriented and include a range of investment strategies.

Robert Patton is a financial advisor at Sounding Line Wealth Management, LLC in Durham, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been working at his current firm since 2026. Before entering the advisory field, he worked at Pramana Labs, Inc. and Intel Corporation. Sounding Line Wealth Management is an independent registered investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management and individualized Investment Policy Statements to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a blended investment approach incorporating various analytical methods and offers services including long-term trading and options strategies with accounts custodied at Schwab Institutional.

Brooks Nichols is a CFP® professional at LifePlan Group with three years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Fidelity Investments and Strategic Advisers LLC before joining LifePlan Group. LifePlan Group provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, focusing on retirement planning and coordinating tax, insurance, and estate considerations. The firm uses diversified portfolio models and maintains ongoing advisory services tailored to client goals and risk tolerances.

Michele Nettesheim is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Phoenix Wealth Advisors Inc. in Chapel Hill, NC. She has been with Phoenix Wealth Advisors since 2018 and has prior experience at Raymond James Financial Services dating back to 2005. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in a rental real estate business. Phoenix Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporations. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and asset management, combining fundamental and technical analysis with both long- and short-term strategies, and administers a wrap-fee program that integrates third-party manager models with in-house overlays.

Kyle Roth is a financial advisor at Fortress Private Ledger, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and is based in Raleigh, NC. Outside of his advisory work, Roth has been involved in the dental industry for over two decades, working with Encompass Dental Practice Transitions and Carolina Dental Arts. Fortress Private Ledger serves individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and other entities, providing a range of services including financial planning, portfolio management, and Qualified Opportunity Zone advisory. The firm uses a model-driven investment process that incorporates trend identification, technical analysis, and a variety of other strategies, with portfolios monitored regularly and managed through in-house or sub-advised solutions.

Christopher Thomas is a financial advisor at Atlantic Private Wealth, LLC in Chapel Hill, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with nine years of industry experience. Prior to joining Atlantic Private Wealth in 2021, he worked at Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management and Cetera Advisor Networks. He has also been involved with the YMCA and William Peace University. Atlantic Private Wealth manages approximately $894 million in client assets, serving individuals, trusts, estates, nonprofits, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors. The firm employs a quantitative and technical investment approach within an asset-allocation framework and offers discretionary investment management alongside financial planning and retirement plan services.

Chase Wietfeld is a financial advisor at Atlantic Private Wealth, LLC with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at D.A. Davidson and Mutual of Omaha. Atlantic Private Wealth, LLC manages approximately $894 million in client assets for individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors. The firm employs a combination of quantitative and technical analysis within an asset-allocation framework, offering discretionary investment management alongside financial planning and corporate retirement plan services.