Jonathan Dell is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2014. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates within a vertically integrated group, providing both model portfolio and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard.

Keven Johnson is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Merrill, Bank of America, and The Vanguard Group. Johnson is based in Hampstead, NC. Empower Advisory Group serves primarily employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage account holders, offering financial planning and investment management through an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates in its planning approach and manages a large participant base relative to its advisor headcount.

Bonnie Celia is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. She has worked previously with Western Southern Life and WS Brokerage Service and is involved with Port City Mushroom, LLC. Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to individual investors, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm uses a model portfolio approach implemented through third-party managers and digital platforms, managing approximately $1.7 billion in assets under management.

Karen Jerabek is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network. She previously worked at Edward Jones and owns Harbor Blue Financial, LLC, a private entity facilitating securities, advisory, and insurance business. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $212 billion in client assets through a broad platform of managed-account programs, third-party asset managers, and custody services.

Grant Sylvester is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor at Farther with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Farther, he worked at Zermatt Wealth Partners for three years and spent time in various roles including at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington and Hickory Grove Christian School. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates Ashore Services LLC, a surface cleaning and pressure washing business. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a web and mobile platform combined with in-person meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach with algorithmic rebalancing and uses a range of investment vehicles including ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Richard Sementa is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at D.A. Davidson & Co. He previously worked at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, and BB&T Securities. D.A. Davidson & Co. offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including retirement plans, individual investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm provides ERISA retirement plan advisory services, comprehensive financial planning, and a private wealth program for high-net-worth clients, while operating under the Advisers Act fiduciary standard and offering municipal advisory and underwriting services.

Christina Rodriguez is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) with 19 years of industry experience. She has been with First Command Advisory Services since 2015 and has also worked with affiliated First Command entities since 2007. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed through a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers who oversee model portfolios and third-party managers.

Rebekah Fuller is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, currently with Mariner, where she has worked since 2023. She has prior experience at Goldfinch Wealth Management and Dehollander & Janse Financial Group. Before her financial advisory career, she spent nine years as a full-time parent. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, and additional services such as tax coordination and Core Family Office offerings. The firm employs a discretionary, customized portfolio approach supported by a combination of in-house research and third-party managers, with integrated tax and administrative services uncommon for a firm of its size.

Samuel Byrd is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Wilmington, NC. He holds the Series 65 designation and has four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Pathfinder Wealth Consulting and Live Oak Bank. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and hundreds of thousands of individual and institutional clients, managing roughly $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad adviser-support platform including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody/clearing services.

Stephen Gaskins is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has prior experience at LPL Financial LLC and Stratos Wealth Partners, LTD. Outside of his advisory roles, he is involved with Stekarcha Ventures, LLC and Shady Grove Farms, LLC. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and integrates various analytical techniques and technology platforms to support client goals.

William Patterson is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at UBS Financial Services Inc for 14 years before joining Rockefeller. Outside of his advisory role, he co-owns a condominium rental and a boat slip in North Carolina. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and planning services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform that includes discretionary and non-discretionary solutions across asset classes, along with broker-dealer services and alternative investment placements.

Kristin Mccarthy is a financial advisor with Rockefeller Financial LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. She has 27 years of industry experience, including over a decade with Morgan Stanley in various capacities. Outside of her advisory role, she is a worship leader at First Presbyterian Church in Lumberton, North Carolina. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform.

Larry Keith Jr. is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services based in Wilmington, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Wells Fargo Advisors, Edward Jones, and several Truist-related entities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering asset allocation, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.

Eric Starkey is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill before joining Sanctuary Advisors in 2024. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm supports over 400 independent advisers who deliver customized investment strategies and use a variety of analytical approaches, managing accounts on both a discretionary and non-discretionary basis.

Brice Gibson is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Wilmington, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at CapFinancial Partners LLC, Fountain Financial Associates, Cetera Advisor Networks, and Edward Jones. He also engages in fixed insurance sales on a limited basis. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of about 2,900 advisors and managing approximately $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm offers a comprehensive adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody services.

Jason Wheeler is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Pathfinder Wealth Consulting. Outside of advising, he is involved in fixed insurance sales, dedicating a portion of his business time to this activity. 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 clients. The firm offers a broad adviser-support platform including discretionary and nondiscretionary managed account programs, access to third-party asset managers, retirement consulting, and custody services.

Katherine Medina is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. Medina serves as Vice President on the board of the Cape Fear Literacy Council and is a member of the CFP Board’s Council on Examinations, contributing as a subject expert for CFP exam development. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm supports a broad range of investment approaches through a network of over 400 independent advisers and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Julie Lancaster is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 30 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has been with Truist and its predecessor entities since 2015. Lancaster serves on the board of directors for the Hill School of Wilmington, a private nonprofit school for children with dyslexia and learning disabilities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations, with a focus on asset allocation, fiduciary support, and manager selection through its AMC Advantage program. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches and integrates inter-affiliate resources, including broker-dealer and banking services, to support its clients.

Ian Faulkner is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at DevHub, The Mom Project, and Young Life. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting, and operates as a registered broker-dealer providing a range of investment and placement services through a consolidated investment platform.

Matthew Weissman is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC. His prior roles include positions at MML Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance. He is also the chapter president for the American Financial Education Alliance, a nonprofit that provides financial education workshops to communities. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and a range of investment strategies to deliver standardized platform services across its large client network.