Deborah Mcmanama is a financial advisor at First Financial Group in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with six years of industry experience. She has been with First Financial Group since 2011. First Financial Group serves individual investors, trusts, estates, and business entities, providing portfolio management, consulting, and financial planning services tailored to both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients. The firm’s investment approach combines fundamental and cyclical analysis with customizable strategies, including discretionary management and the use of unaffiliated sub-advisors.

Matthew Miller is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Armor Investment Advisors, LLC in Raleigh, NC. He has been with Armor since 2013. Armor Investment Advisors serves individuals, families, and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and retirement plan sponsors. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning, discretionary investment management, and fiduciary consulting, utilizing a team-based process and a multi-asset-class investment approach informed by macroeconomic analysis and a structured market framework.

Alex Sutherland is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at LifePlan Group. His prior roles include positions at AE Wealth Management, LLC and Eqis Capital Management. Outside of advising, he is an owner and agent at LifePlan Tax & Insurance Group, Inc., where he places insurance products. LifePlan Group provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, emphasizing retirement planning and integrating tax, insurance, and estate considerations. The firm uses diversified investment models and offers ongoing advisory services aligned with client goals and risk tolerances.

David Nettesheim is a financial advisor at Lewis Financial Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 credential with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Lewis Financial Management since 2008. Lewis Financial Management provides personalized comprehensive financial planning and investment advice to individuals, couples, retirees, widows, and small business owners. The firm emphasizes fundamental, research-based analysis and a long-term buy-and-hold approach, offering non-discretionary advice with semi-annual portfolio reviews.

Allison Miller is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Armor Investment Advisors, LLC since 2019. Prior to this, she worked at WMS Partners, LLC from 2016 to 2019. Armor Investment Advisors provides financial planning, discretionary investment management, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, and corporate retirement plans. The firm employs a team-based fiduciary process incorporating risk assessments and a multi-asset, core-satellite investment approach informed by economic cycle analysis and multiple market factors.

Tommy Lewis is a financial advisor at First Financial Group in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Financial Group in 2022, he was affiliated with East Carolina University and Wakefield High School. First Financial Group serves individual investors, trusts, estates, and business entities, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning services. The firm employs a client-driven investment approach that includes fundamental and cyclical analysis, customized portfolio construction, and ongoing monitoring.

Marcus Fryar is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Fryar Financial in Durham, NC. His prior roles include positions at Cetera Investment Advisers LLC and HD Vest Advisory Services. Outside of advising, he owns Fryar Management Group LLC, which provides accounting, tax, and payroll services to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits. Fryar Financial offers financial planning and asset management to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as retirement plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes tailored financial planning and non-discretionary portfolio management, with a focus on ERISA plan services including investment policy creation, monitoring, fee oversight, and participant education.

Sukesh Pai is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at Trillium Square Advisors LLC since 2018. He has prior experience at Fasttrackr AI, Prabhu Inc, Self Employed, and QMS Capital Management LP. Outside of advisory work, he is a managing partner at Everest AI Ventures, an AI technology company. Trillium Square Advisors serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and institutional clients with financial planning, portfolio management, and corporate cash-management services. The firm employs a blend of active management and quantitative techniques, including algorithmic trading and multi-strategy portfolios, and offers ongoing supervision along with educational seminars as part of its client services.

Alexander Hearley is a financial advisor at Top Rank Wealth Management, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has held prior roles at firms including RedHawk Wealth Advisors, Inc and CETERA Advisor Networks LLC. In addition to his advisory work, he is an insurance agent selling life, health, disability, annuities, and long-term care products. Top Rank Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services tailored to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of technical, charting, and quantitative analysis with both long- and short-term strategies, and maintains separate account management practices with custodial statements sent directly to clients.

Samuel Miesmer is a financial advisor at Trillium Square Advisors LLC in Raleigh, NC, with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2025. His background also includes roles in the restaurant industry and a period of employment at The College for Financial Planning. Trillium Square Advisors serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, and institutional clients through financial planning, portfolio management, and corporate cash management services. The firm employs a blend of active management and quantitative techniques, including algorithmic trading and multi-strategy portfolios, and offers ongoing supervision alongside educational seminars.

August Pye is a financial advisor with Integrated WealthCare, LLC and holds a Series 65 designation. He has been with Integrated WealthCare since 2024 and has prior experience with Home Tax Solutions LLC and involvement with the YMCA of the Triangle at Camp Sea Gull. Outside of his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent. Integrated WealthCare is an SEC-registered wealth management firm that primarily serves physicians and medical professionals, as well as high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory, using documented risk assessments and client-specific Investment Policy Statements to implement globally diversified portfolios.

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.

Lisa Gabriel is a CFP® and ChFC® with 21 years of industry experience. She has been with Pinafore Wealth Counsel Inc. since 2014. Gabriel serves as a board member and occasional instructor at Duke University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, where she teaches classes on financial, retirement, and legacy planning. Pinafore Wealth Counsel provides investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and financial transition planning to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $174 million for about 100 clients, constructing tailored portfolios using a variety of securities and employing fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis, while also offering insurance products and Financial Transition Planning services.

Michael Fenchak is a financial advisor at Top Rank Wealth Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at RedHawk Wealth Advisors, Evergreen Wealth Advisors, Bank of NY Mellon, and Willis Towers Watson, among others. Top Rank Wealth Management is a state-registered advisory firm that offers discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm utilizes technical, charting, and quantitative analysis within customized investment programs and maintains close operational ties to affiliated insurance and legal-planning businesses.

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 experience in financial advising. He has worked at Cary Financial Planning, LLC since 2023 and previously spent seven years with Members Trust Company as well as eight years with Credit Union Investment Services, Secu Brokerage Services, and Secu Life Insurance Company. Cary Financial Planning, LLC serves individuals, families, business owners, and high-net-worth clients by providing investment advisory and financial planning services. The firm employs a long-term, evidence-based investment approach focused on broad diversification, cost control, and tax-aware decisions, using primarily mutual funds and ETFs alongside newer systematic or factor-based funds, supported by technology including AI-assisted tools.

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.