Alexander Hearley is a financial advisor with Top Rank Wealth Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at RedHawk Wealth Advisors, CETERA Advisor Networks, and Valic Financial Advisors. He is also an insurance agent licensed to sell life, health, disability, annuities, and long-term care insurance. Top Rank Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm builds investment programs based on client goals and risk tolerances, employing technical, charting, and quantitative analysis with a focus on discretionary trading authority.

Samuel Miesmer is a financial advisor at Trillium Square Advisors LLC with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Trillium Square Advisors, he worked at Fidelity Investments for three years. His background also includes roles in the restaurant industry and financial education. Trillium Square Advisors serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and institutional clients by providing financial planning, portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory, and corporate cash-management services. The firm combines active management with quantitative techniques and offers ongoing supervision alongside educational seminars and workshops.

James Castleman Jr. is a financial advisor at AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously as a consultant and at CoVest Asset Management. Castleman is based in Raleigh, NC. AdvisorsTrust Partners LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor investment advice primarily on a discretionary basis, managing approximately $435.3 million in regulatory assets across about 172 client relationships.

Russell Kroeger is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with Upstart Wealth Management, LLC and Paradigm Wealth, Inc. (Trayecto), where he is the Founder and CEO, focusing on designing and building technology products for financial advisors and consumers. His prior experience includes roles at Michael Powsner CPA, Paradigm Wealth Architects, LLC, and Yeske Buie Inc. Upstart Wealth Management provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs discretionary, asset-allocation strategies using model portfolios and a range of implementation vehicles, including derivatives and margin, which are uncommon among peer team firms.

James Brown is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 15 years of industry experience. He currently works at Minerva Planning Group, where he has been since 2024, following 13 years at Vaughan-Brown Wealth Management. Minerva Planning Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, and other investment advisors, offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm emphasizes a long-term asset allocation approach using low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs, particularly Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) funds, combined with fundamental analysis and selective use of individual securities.

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 Series 65 licensed financial advisor at Top Rank Wealth Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC, with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at RedHawk Wealth Advisors, Inc., Evergreen Wealth Advisors, Bank of NY Mellon, and Willis Towers Watson. Outside the financial sector, he has experience with Clean Juice. Top Rank Wealth Management specializes in discretionary asset management and financial planning for individuals and high-net-worth clients, using technical, charting, and quantitative analysis tailored to client goals and risk tolerances. The firm also integrates advisory services with affiliated insurance and legal planning entities.

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 industry experience. He currently works at Cary Financial Planning, LLC and previously held roles at Members Trust Company, Credit Union Investment Services, and related firms. Cary Financial Planning serves individuals, families, business owners, and high-net-worth clients with investment advisory and financial planning services. The firm employs a long-term, evidence-based investment approach focusing on diversification, cost control, tax awareness, and disciplined rebalancing, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and factor-based funds.

Benjamin Scarbrough is a financial advisor at Stone Legacy Capital LLC in Raleigh, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been working in the industry since 2024, with prior experience at Equitable Advisors, LLC and George Pickett & Associates. He spent ten years as a full-time student before beginning his advisory career. Stone Legacy Capital LLC is an independent firm providing discretionary investment management and tailored financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm operates as a solo practice, managing approximately $4.9 million in client assets, and offers financial planning in three tiers alongside investment management using various analytical methods.

Michael Palmer is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC since 2015 and previously spent one year at Woodward Financial Advisors, Inc. Palmer is based in Raleigh, NC. Ark Royal Wealth Management LLC provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm follows a long-term investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing primarily passive mutual funds from DFA and Vanguard, and provides tailored portfolio management with performance reporting and occasional financial education seminars.

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.

Anessa Custovic is a financial advisor at Cardinal Retirement Planning, Inc. in Durham, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with six years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes roles at Tower Street Associates and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of financial advising, she works as a part-time dog trainer. Cardinal Retirement Planning, Inc. offers financial planning, portfolio management, and econometric consulting primarily for pre-retirees, retirees, high-net-worth individuals, businesses, and non-profits. The firm employs a top-down macroeconomic approach combined with quantitative models and fundamental analysis, providing a range of services including discretionary and non-discretionary asset management as well as ERISA retirement-plan management.

Evan Mccormick is a financial advisor at Investors Mosaic with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Investors Mosaic since 2013. The firm provides fee-based wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals and families, primarily in the mass-affluent to high-net-worth spectrum. Investors Mosaic uses a blend of passive, low-cost asset-allocation strategies alongside an active Growth equity model for legacy clients, serving a small client base with approximately $148.4 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.

Linda Lewis is the sole advisor at Lewis Financial Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 29 years of industry experience. She has worked at The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. since 2013 and has been with Lewis Financial Management since 1984. Outside of her advisory work, she hosts a radio program, "Money Matters with the Lewis Family," on WPTF AM 680, where she answers listener questions on various financial topics. Lewis Financial Management provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advice to individuals, couples, retirees, widows, and small business owners. The firm employs a research-based, long-term buy-and-hold investment approach with semi-annual portfolio reviews and focuses on non-discretionary advice tailored through a personalized financial planning database.

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 previously worked at Edward Jones for 18 years and Public Holdings, Inc., where she served as Head of Customer Experience. Evergreen Wealth Advisors provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individual and corporate clients, utilizing a Modern Portfolio Theory framework combined with tax-optimization strategies. The firm also operates a public-facing AI platform, Evergreen.ai, which offers general education and personalized advice to Registered Users.