Michael Wong is a financial advisor with Abacus Wealth Partners in Durham, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and began his advisory career in 2026 after eight years at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and two years at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Abacus Wealth Partners provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, and institutional entities. The firm employs an asset-class investing approach grounded in academic research, utilizing primarily no-load mutual funds, ETFs, and passive institutional funds, while incorporating ESG screening and private pooled investments for qualified clients.

Jason Barbera is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience. He has worked at Heritage Wealth Advisors since 2024 and previously held roles at Towards Equilibrium, LLC and SOJE Capital LLC. Heritage Wealth Advisors serves high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, business entities, non-profits, and retirement plans with portfolio management, financial planning, tax preparation, and retirement-plan advisory. The firm constructs personalized asset-allocation models and manages both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios using a variety of investment vehicles while also acting as investment manager and general partner to multiple private investment funds.

George Schopper is a financial advisor at Momentum Independent Network Inc. with 53 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Momentum Independent Network since 2010. Momentum Independent Network serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, charitable, corporate, institutional, and banking/thrift clients. The firm offers investment advisory programs, managed accounts, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing a platform model with third-party managers and integration with Hilltop affiliates for municipal bond strategies and cash management features.

Matthew Dellaero is a Certified Financial Planner® at Facet with 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group for seven years and has entrepreneurial experience from Matt & Wills Toys. Facet Wealth provides subscription-based financial planning and discretionary investment management primarily to individual clients across a range of wealth levels, using technology-driven processes and model-based asset allocations that emphasize exchange-traded funds.

Brian Kurtzer is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management in Durham, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Verity Asset Management since 2011 and previously at Verity Financial Group starting in 2004. Verity Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management, model portfolio services, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning to individual, corporate, institutional clients, and other registered investment advisers. The firm employs a model-driven investment process emphasizing tactical asset allocation across multiple asset classes and offers both internally managed and third-party manager models.

Todd Young is a financial advisor at Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. in Chapel Hill, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at KDI Capital Partners LLC and Echelon Point Advisors, LLC before joining Franklin Street Advisors. Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to individuals, pooled investment vehicles, pensions, trusts, non-profits, and governmental entities. The firm employs an open-architecture approach combining in-house and external managers, guided by a quarterly Investment Policy Committee and a disciplined manager-research process.

Andrew James is a financial advisor at Franklin Street Advisors Inc. in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses with six years of industry experience. He has been with Franklin Street Partners, Inc. since 2002. Franklin Street Advisors provides discretionary, customized investment management to high-net-worth individuals and various institutional clients. The firm employs a team-based, research-driven approach to strategic and tactical asset allocation across multiple investment models and offers access to both internal and third-party portfolio managers.

Katherine Sumner is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with five years of industry experience. She has worked at Abacus Wealth Partners since 2021 and previously served in private family wealth roles and at Spotted Dog. Outside of finance, she has been involved with Girls Rock NC, Inc. Abacus Wealth Partners provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management services to individuals, families, and institutions. The firm employs an asset-class investing strategy grounded in academic research, including the use of no-load mutual funds, ETFs, and passive institutional funds, and integrates ESG screening and private pooled investments for qualified clients.

Wilson Li is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Abacus Wealth Partners with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Abacus Wealth Partners in 2024, he worked at Woodward Financial Advisors from 2021 to 2024. Abacus Wealth Partners provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs an asset-class investing approach grounded in academic research, utilizing primarily no-load mutual funds, ETFs, and passive institutional funds, along with ESG screening and private pooled vehicles in client portfolios.

Gavin Speck is a financial advisor at SEIA with a Series 66 credential and has recently begun his career in the industry. His work history includes positions at SES LLC and SEIA LLC since 2024, following his time as a student. SEIA serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional and charitable entities through a multi-team advisory platform with approximately 140 advisors. The firm’s investment approach blends strategic macro asset allocation with tactical adjustments, supported by both discretionary and non-discretionary management, and offers a range of financial planning and consulting services.

Charles Mahaffey is a financial advisor at Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. in Chapel Hill, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Franklin Street Advisors since 2010. Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to a range of clients including individuals, pooled investment vehicles, pensions, trusts, non-profits, and governmental entities. The firm employs an open-architecture approach that combines in-house management with external managers, guided by a quarterly Investment Policy Committee and a disciplined manager-research process.

Todd Zempel is a financial advisor at Summit Financial, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for Gordon Asset Management, LLC for 12 years. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-managing member of Z & M Real Estate Holdings, LLC, a passive real estate investment entity. Summit Financial, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $26.35 billion in assets for about 17,800 clients. The firm offers investment advisory and portfolio management programs, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services through a combination of discretionary and consultative approaches.

Kathleen Villegas is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience. She currently works at Root Financial Partners and previously held roles at Ellevest and Old Peak Finance LLC. Prior to her financial advisory career, she worked at Duke University. Root Financial Partners provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes broadly diversified, passive portfolios tailored to client goals and offers specialized strategies when appropriate, along with educational programming and separate paid online academies.

Jo Beth Mullens is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has worked in tax services as a tax analyst for H&R Block. Verity Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individual, corporate, institutional clients, and other advisers. The firm employs a model-driven investment process focused on tactical asset allocation across diverse asset classes and offers discretionary portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning services.

Terrence Donoghue is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Alliance, LLC in Durham, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and over 47 years of industry experience. He has been with Founders Financial Alliance and affiliated with LPL Financial since 2016, previously working at Invest Financial Corporation and National Equities Management Co. Founders Financial Alliance provides discretionary, fee-based investment management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and corporate retirement plans. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach tailored to client goals and risk tolerances, combining asset allocation, rebalancing, and multiple strategies along with third-party manager solutions.

Lawrence Mcmanus Jr. is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving at Modern Wealth Management, LLC since 2024. His prior roles include positions at Advisory Services Network, LLC and Team Wealth Planning and Management, Inc. He serves as treasurer and finance chair on the board of directors for Carol Woods Retirement Community and holds board roles with County Hall Insurance Company. Modern Wealth Management provides investment advisory and integrated planning services to individuals, trusts, pension and retirement plans, charitable organizations, broker-dealers, and corporations. The firm employs a centralized portfolio management model supported by an Investment Committee and offers a range of services including discretionary investment management, modular financial planning, tax and estate planning, and ERISA plan services.

Gordon Wegwart is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management with 43 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Verity Asset Management, Inc. and related entities since 1996. Wegwart serves as an officer and director of Verity Financial Group, an insurance agency, and is a board member of PlanScope360, LLC, which focuses on retirement plan governance and administration. Verity Asset Management is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm with 53 advisors overseeing approximately $1.15 billion. The firm serves individuals, retirement plan sponsors and participants, institutional clients, and other advisers, employing a largely model-based investment process that includes internally managed specialty strategies and third-party manager models.

Michael De Camillis is a financial advisor at Verity Asset Management with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with multiple firms, including The Leaders Group DBA Simplicity Investments and Tidewater Financial Group of NC. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in sales and marketing roles related to health and insurance products through several business activities. Verity Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with discretionary portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory, and financial planning. The firm uses a model-driven investment process focused on tactical asset allocation across diverse asset classes and offers both internally managed and third-party manager models.

Joseph Gordon is a CFP® with 46 years of industry experience. He is currently with Summit Financial, LLC and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, and previously led Gordon Asset Management, LLC for over two decades. He also owns and serves as president of Strategic Financial Management, Inc., which offers fixed life, disability, long-term care insurance, and employee benefits. Summit Financial, LLC is an SEC-registered, multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $26.35 billion in assets for about 17,800 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and portfolio management programs alongside comprehensive financial planning and retirement plan advisory services.

Paul Bode is a financial advisor at Franklin Street Advisors Inc. with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has worked previously at Safe Harbor Family Capital, LLC and Johnson Development Associates. Franklin Street Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary, customized investment management to high-net-worth individuals and various institutional clients. The firm uses a team-based manager research process and offers separately managed accounts, combining in-house equity and fixed income management with access to third-party managers.