Kyle Smith is a financial advisor with LPL Financial who holds the CFP® designation and has 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, Bb&T Securities, and Scott & Stringfellow. He is based in Raleigh, NC. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Janice Sanderson is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 37 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at UBS since 2012, following a decade at Merrill. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor client plans.

Thomas Lanigan II is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and based in Raleigh, NC. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations. The firm offers a wide range of investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, operating at large scale with over $671 billion in assets under management and more than 14,000 financial advisors.

Aiden Spencer is a financial advisor at Fidelity with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has work experience spanning education, logistics, and recreation prior to joining Fidelity. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, offers investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a combination of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction to manage discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Marcus Trotter is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 10 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. He has worked within various Fidelity entities since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is a member of CMMJ Restoration, LLC, where he consults on operations and workflow for residential and commercial restoration projects. Strategic Advisers LLC, a Fidelity Investments company, provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a systematic investment process that includes fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction.

Jennifer Walker is a financial advisor at Merrill with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Merrill since 1993, also working at Bank of America, N.A. since 2010. Merrill serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients, offering managed account programs, discretionary portfolio management, and brokerage services through a variety of investment strategies and strong integration with Bank of America affiliates.

William Groner is a CFP® and ChFC® with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He currently works at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and has held prior roles at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation and Osaic FS, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in other business activities including ownership of Key Financial Concepts. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base ranging from individuals to institutional investors, providing financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management across multiple platforms and custodians, and supports affiliated model strategies under the Founders Gate Capital brand.

Thomas Macrone is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors in Raleigh, NC, with 28 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Equitable Advisors since 2003, including time under its predecessor AXA Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he operates a health insurance brokerage business focused on under-65 health insurance. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual, institutional, and corporate clients, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset-management programs. The firm utilizes a range of investment models and third-party advisory platforms to tailor solutions aligned with client needs.

Mitchell Valenza is a financial advisor with OSAIC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining OSAIC in 2024, he worked at American Portfolios Financial Services and First Command Brokerage Services. Valenza also serves as a Captain and Civil Affairs Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. OSAIC Wealth provides a multi-advisor platform serving retail and institutional clients, offering a range of brokerage and advisory services including comprehensive financial planning and managed portfolio solutions. The firm's investment approach utilizes model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supporting discretionary and advisor-managed strategies across various client types.

Andrew Preddy is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following two years at Credit Union Investment Services. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm that provides investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research and analytics from Wells Fargo Investment Institute alongside third-party data.

Niyati Harsh Gandhi is a financial advisor at Fidelity with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, Gandhi held positions at Kochhar & Co. and Surana & Surana International Attorneys. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including IRS-qualified Charitable Gift Funds and registered investment companies. The firm combines proprietary research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic portfolio construction, offering model portfolios across mutual funds, ETFs, and ETPs while maintaining oversight of affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisers.

Mia Houston is a Financial Consultant with experience at Fidelity Investments, where she held several roles including Workplace Planning and Advice Leader from 2023 to 2025, Planning Consultant from 2021 to 2023, Relationship Manager in 2021, and Financial Representative from 2020 to 2021. Her career at Fidelity has provided her with comprehensive experience in financial planning and client relationship management. Mia brings a perspective shaped by living both in and outside the United States, along with an entrepreneurial family background. She focuses on creating financial plans tailored to her clients' individual lifestyles and goals, aiming to support them throughout their retirement journey. Outside of her professional work, Mia enjoys activities such as Pilates, reading, snowboarding, surfing, swimming, and traveling.

Philip Gorge is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with 35 years of experience at Merrill. He focuses on helping clients pursue a comfortable retirement and developing wealth strategies aligned with clients’ goals and risk preferences. His approach involves creating personalized financial strategies based on a comprehensive understanding of each client’s financial situation and objectives. Throughout his career, Philip has worked with multiple families to achieve their personal financial goals, managing portfolios through various economic cycles. His expertise includes divorce transition planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategy, and retirement income. He holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Philip earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Florida and has been actively involved in professional and community organizations. He is a past president of the local chapter of the University of Florida Alumni Association and has served on boards for The Methodist Home for Children, Cary Economic Development Task Force, Cary Community Foundation, and AAU basketball. His personal interests include fishing, reading, running, and writing.

Robert Gipp is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 designations and over 24 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at City National Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory work, he coaches youth ice hockey for the Carolina Junior Hurricanes Hockey Association. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory programs featuring discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, tailored investment strategies, and access to a range of in-house and third-party investment managers.

Chadwick Capps is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill for over 17 years, providing clients with personalized financial guidance tailored to their unique goals. His expertise includes college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, sports and entertainment, tax minimization, and retirement income strategies. Chadwick holds a Bachelor's Degree from Lafayette College and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Prior to his financial career, he played college football, an experience that contributed to his approach of discipline and teamwork in his practice. He resides on a ranch in Olin, North Carolina, where he balances his professional work with a life connected to farming and nature. Outside of work, he enjoys fishing, golfing, horseback riding, skiing, volleyball, and spending time with his family.

Khanh Dac is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and also has a longer tenure at Wells Fargo Bank NA starting in 2010. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a broad range of investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and integrates research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party sources to support its investment strategies.

Zachery Merrill is a financial advisor at OSAIC with a Series 66 credential. He has one year of industry experience and has held positions at Blazing Trail Wealth Advisors, LLC, Osaic Wealth, and Oakline Solutions LLC. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors, offering brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform. The firm’s investment process emphasizes model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supporting a range of managed strategies and third-party manager programs.

Ariele Shelby is a financial advisor with Merrill in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 12 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she works part-time as an independent contractor for DoorDash. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Timothy Flanagan Jr. is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Raleigh, NC, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 37 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Mass Mutual and its subsidiaries since 1989 and owns Mutual Group Benefits LLC, a group life and health insurance business. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers structured, collaborative financial planning using firm-approved tools and supports various event-driven planning programs.

Matthew Griffith is a financial advisor at Mass Mutual Investors Services with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with MML Investors Services and Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he is an owner/member of Encompass Financial Partners, LLC, a business focused on managing operational expenses. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, using collaborative, software-supported approaches to develop written recommendations tailored to clients' goals.