Katherine Alepa is a CFP® with 10 years of experience in financial planning. She is currently with Ithaka Financial Planning, LLC, where she has worked since 2017. Her prior experience includes six years at Financial Planning Group, Inc. Ithaka Financial Planning, LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, personal trusts, and estates with integrated financial planning and ongoing portfolio management. The firm uses Modern Portfolio Theory to design diversified portfolios, primarily favoring open-end index funds and ETFs, and offers occasional pro-bono educational seminars and workshops.

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.

Bryson King is a financial advisor at Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential. He has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at Capital Financial and Insurance, LLC, Zunzibar, and Duckworth's. Capital Financial Advisory Group serves individuals, families, businesses, charities, and small pension clients with financial planning and advisory services. The firm refers clients to third-party managers and pooled investment products, focusing on customized financial plans and ongoing portfolio monitoring without taking custody or direct discretion over assets.

Jeremy Hamann is a financial advisor at Evergreen Wealth Advisors with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Blue Trust and CAPTRUST Financial Advisors, as well as work outside finance at Chick-fil-A and Black's Tire Service. He also has experience with The Wilds Christian Camp & Conference Center and Bob Jones University. Evergreen Wealth Advisors offers discretionary investment management and financial planning to individual and corporate clients, utilizing a Modern Portfolio Theory framework combined with tax-optimization techniques. The firm operates a public AI platform for educational purposes and manages client portfolios through proprietary software and AI tools.

Paul Richards is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC, where he has worked since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at WealthShield Partners, Ameriprise Financial Services, and Edward Jones. Hicks & Associates Wealth Management serves individual and high net worth clients, including trusts, estates, IRAs, and 401(k) plans, providing discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm employs a multi-strategy investment process that integrates fundamental and technical analysis, emphasizing technical methods and incorporating various strategies overseen by an Investment Committee.

Carman Hicks II is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Hicks & Associates Wealth Management, LLC since 2022. He previously worked at WealthShield Partners, LLC and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Since 2013, he has also engaged in fiduciary activities acting as attorney-in-fact, trustee, conservator, guardian, executor, or personal representative. Hicks & Associates Wealth Management primarily serves individual and high net worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management and non-discretionary financial planning. The firm employs a Multi-Strategy Investment Management Process that integrates fundamental and technical analysis with various investment strategies overseen by an Investment Committee.

Matthew Archer is a financial advisor with AIM Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Triad Advisors, Inc. and Arkadios Capital. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as an independent agent with The Cason Group, which focuses on life insurance and long-term care products. AIM Advisors, LLC serves individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans by providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and alternative investments tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Emily Burgess is a financial advisor at AIM Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. She has experience working at Campbell University and Arkadios Capital, as well as being self-employed and employed in other roles prior to joining AIM Advisors. AIM Advisors serves individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans, providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm manages approximately $138 million across about 163 client relationships, employing an investment approach based on modern portfolio theory with a focus on global diversification.

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.

Bret Tackett is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Tackett Wealth Management, LLC since 2009, where he is one of two advisors at the firm based in Cary, NC. Tackett Wealth Management provides investment supervisory services, wealth management, and financial planning primarily to select retirees and small business owners. The firm manages approximately $62 million in client assets and employs an investment approach grounded in academic research, emphasizing broad diversification, tax efficiency, and low-cost funds.

David Hellinger is a financial advisor with Independent Wealth Advisors, LLC in Cary, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes a long tenure at LPL Financial. Independent Wealth Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients through its Strategic Wealth Management platform. The firm combines various analytical approaches and maintains a monthly-reviewed investment committee to tailor portfolios according to each client’s risk tolerance and time horizon.

Nicholas Ross is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC in Raleigh, NC. His prior experience includes a one-year tenure at Truist and several years in educational roles prior to entering the financial advisory field. Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes long-term strategies based on Modern Portfolio Theory and uses primarily passively managed funds, with tailored portfolio management and financial education seminars as part of its service offerings.

Parker Holland is a financial advisor at Capital Financial Advisory Group, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. His prior work history includes roles at Sofos Investments, Inc., EQIS Capital Management, Inc., and World Equity Group, Inc. Holland is also a licensed independent insurance agent in North Carolina, incorporating insurance products as part of his financial planning. Capital Financial Advisory Group serves individuals, families, businesses, charities, and small pension clients by providing financial planning and advisory services. The firm uses a customized planning process and refers clients to select third-party managers without taking custody or direct investment discretion of assets.

Terrance Green is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Blue Water Capital Management, LLC. He has been with Blue Water Capital Management since 2006. Blue Water Capital Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as charitable organizations, offering portfolio management and financial planning tailored to client goals and risk tolerance. The firm employs modern portfolio theory and primarily invests in ETFs and mutual funds, with access to a broad range of alternative investments, and operates with institutional support from Charles Schwab.

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.

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.

Kenneth Stephenson is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Quest 10 Wealth Builders, Inc. and has previously worked at Global Financial Private Capital and Q3 Asset Management Corp. In addition to his advisory role, he owns and operates Willow Springs Turf, LLC, a sod farming business. Quest 10 Wealth Builders, Inc. serves individual and high-net-worth clients, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, using a range of investment strategies and conducting regular account reviews.

Robert Revels is a CFP® and CFA® with six years of experience in financial advisory roles, currently serving at PieCapital since 2024. His prior experience includes positions at Balentine and BB&T. Outside of his advisory work, he is the author of a children's book titled *Bull & Bear Grow Together*, which teaches kids about money, and serves on the unpaid board of Strong Gray Line Corporation, a nonprofit associated with the West Point Class of 2004. PieCapital provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $69 million for 22 clients. The firm combines fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and quantitative methods, employing a range of investment strategies across various asset classes within a single-advisor structure.