Bryan Johnson is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Empower Advisory Group, T. Rowe Price, Charles Schwab, and Strategic Advisers, Inc. He is based in Wilmington, NC. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio strategy that uses algorithmic risk assessment and third-party management to implement investments primarily in mutual funds and ETFs.

Diane Mannino is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Wilmington, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Truist Investment Services, Bbtsec, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and Metlife Securities Inc. since 2015. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and uses AI-enabled research tools alongside inter-affiliate integration to support its AMC Advantage manager-selection program.

John Zachary is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and Pathfinder Wealth Consulting, where he has held various roles since 2009. Zachary also engages in fixed insurance sales under the name Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $212 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad adviser-support platform with discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody and clearing services.

Adam Deskins is a CFP®, ChFC®, and holds a Series 66 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Wilmington, NC. He has 18 years of industry experience, with prior roles at Empower Advisory Group and Personal Capital Advisors Corporation. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm uses a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, employing a mix of low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds, along with educational content and specialized client services.

Clayton Rexroad is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked at Commonwealth Financial Network since 2021 and has prior experience with Elliott Davis LLC and Bob Jones University. Rexroad is also involved in fixed insurance sales as a secondary business activity. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing roughly $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm offers a broad adviser-support platform that includes managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody services.

Philip Dettore is a CFP® professional affiliated with United Planners Financial Services of America, holding over 41 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at SCF Investment Advisors, SCF Securities, and Kestra Advisory Services. He also serves as Managing Director of Financial Planning Advisors, Inc., a marketing-related business based in Leland, NC. United Planners Financial Services is a national wealth-management firm with more than 359 advisors and approximately $12.77 billion in assets under management. The firm provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, utilizing a combination of custodians, third-party money managers, and platform programs to implement strategies.

Travis Wilder is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Wilmington, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Bank and its affiliate First Citizens Investor Services since 2007 and 2015, respectively. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm utilizes a client-centered process involving risk and needs assessments, applying various analyses to allocate across multiple asset classes and offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning solutions.

David Molnar is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Hightower Securities, LLC and Hightower Advisors since 2012. Hightower Advisors offers investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers across various investment strategies.

Cole Fleming is a financial advisor at Farther with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Farther in 2024, he worked at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and North Brunswick High School. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a combination of a web and mobile platform along with in-person meetings. The firm’s investment approach uses Modern Portfolio Theory implemented through proprietary model portfolios and algorithmic rebalancing, primarily utilizing ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income.

Samantha Shucavage is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at AE Wealth Management since 2018. Prior to that, she was associated with Carolina Retirement Planners and Empire Distributors. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with Carolina Estate Planners as an associate advisor focusing on insurance and annuity sales. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base that includes individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a platform-centered approach combining model portfolio solutions, discretionary asset management, financial planning, and specialized plan services.

Gary Gardner Jr. is a financial advisor with Osaic Institutions, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 23 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Infinex Investments, Inc., Harvest Capital Advisors, LLC, Banc of America Investment Services, Inc., and Quick & Reilly, Inc. He is a member of Port City Young Professionals, a regional networking group. Osaic Institutions, Inc. serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, and access to alternative investments, operating with a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure and a lending marketplace.

Frank Voli is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Wilmington, NC, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 36 years of industry experience and has worked at firms including RBC Capital Markets Corporation and V & V Financial. Voli is also the owner of V & V Financial, LLC, a private entity involved in securities, advisory, and insurance business. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors nationwide. The firm offers a comprehensive adviser-support platform including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody services.

Stevan Rexroad is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding the CFP® and ChFC® designations and possessing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for a non-family, non-client individual. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of nearly 2,900 advisors and their individual and institutional clients. The firm provides a range of managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and back-office services including trading and reporting.

Christopher Thomas is a CFP® with 13 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Farther and Aurora Securities, Inc., having previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. and Transamerica Financial Advisors. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services mainly to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a combination of digital platforms and in-person meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach using proprietary model portfolios, algorithmic rebalancing, and AI tools, focusing on ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income.

David Pierce is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Infinex Investments, First Bancorp, BB&T Investment Services, and Edward Jones. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments, operating a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure with both discretionary and non-discretionary assets under management.

Pantelis Miliotis is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network. His career includes roles at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting and The Vanguard Group. He is based in Wilmington, NC, and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing around $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm provides a comprehensive adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody services.

Jerry Smith is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with Truist Investment Services since 2006. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management, utilizing third-party platforms and manager arrangements, and integrates inter-affiliate resources to support its AMC Advantage program.

Alec Hutchinson is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning his industry career in 2025. Prior to joining AE Wealth Management, he was associated with Carolina Retirement Planners and has been involved in scuba diving instruction and related activities through Professional Diver Services since 2015. Outside of finance, he owns and operates a scuba diving business that includes instruction, gear sales, and fossil shark teeth salvage. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and offers various ERISA services, managing approximately $49.8 billion for over 127,000 clients across more than 440 advisors.

Miriam Lopez is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) with 33 years of industry experience. She has worked with Kestra Advisory since 2016 and has been associated with Kestra Investment Services, LLC since 2010. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a Zoom classroom host for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets under management, serving clients such as sovereign wealth funds and large institutional investors.

Keith Dorney is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Wilmington, NC, holding Series 65, Series 63, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fisher Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Happy Valley Partners. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm operates through an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.