Steven Hoak is a financial advisor at ARIS Capital Strategies, LLC with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including Lifetime Financial Inc and SRHIncome. Hoak is also the President of Agent Value Proposition, LLC, where he acts as a licensed insurance agent offering commissionable products. ARIS Capital Strategies provides retirement income planning and non-discretionary investment guidance to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm integrates commission-funded fixed annuity solutions with passively managed, low-cost investment vehicles and operates on a zero-fee business model, deriving compensation primarily through insurance commissions.

Paul Spurlock is a financial advisor at ARIS Capital Strategies, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has held roles at several firms including J.W. Cole Advisors, INC. and Global Financial Private Capital, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he is the owner and president of Advisor Training System, LLC, where he provides sales training consulting for advisors. ARIS Capital Strategies offers retirement income planning and non-discretionary investment guidance to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines commission-funded fixed annuity solutions with passive, time-segmented allocations to low-cost ETFs and other diversified investments, operating under a zero-fee business model that relies primarily on commissions from insurance products.

Jacob Stewart is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving at Wealth More Enterprise, Inc. since 2024. He has previously worked at Brightside, Garrett Investment Advisors, Zeiders Enterprises, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of Wealth More, he is also financially active with Brightside in a non-investment-related role. Wealth More Enterprise is a team-based firm providing investment advisory and financial planning services through a mobile-first platform. The firm employs proprietary risk-scoring software and algorithmic management across four model portfolios, offering discretionary portfolio management alongside tiered advisory plans and standalone planning sessions.

Roy Thrower, Jr. is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at Virtue Capital Management, LLC since 2017 and previously spent five years at Brookstone Capital Management LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as president of Thrower Financial Concepts, Inc., a firm involved in insurance sales including fixed annuities and life insurance. Virtue Capital Management, LLC is a multi-team registered investment adviser that serves a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers customized portfolio management and financial planning using tactical, strategic, and dynamic investment approaches supported by a multi-team model and an investment committee.

Jessica Lester is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill and Wells Fargo. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach with globally diversified portfolios and offers a range of implementation options alongside financial planning and tax support services.

Joshua Tirado is a financial advisor with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with J.W. Cole Advisors and J.W. Cole Financial since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he manages Healthy Wealthy & Wise, a company providing marketing for educational webinar services focused on client life improvement. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, retirement plans, and other entities through a national network of more than 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party managers, and multiple managed account solutions.

Lynne Mulligan is a financial advisor with Money Concepts Capital Corp and holds a Series 66 designation. She has 5 years of industry experience and previously worked at Drenen Financial Services, Inc. for 18 years. Money Concepts Advisory Service provides investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, estates, and corporations. The firm manages approximately $4.07 billion in client assets through model-driven and asset-allocation approaches, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary programs supported by third-party managers and technology platforms.

Edgar Barbour is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Truist and its predecessor firms since 2011. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform and manager arrangements, to deliver its solutions.

Michael Mc Grady is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial and Ameriprise Financial in various capacities. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs and investment education services, relying on Morningstar Investment Management for portfolio construction and oversight. The firm operates at scale with a large client base and primarily manages non-discretionary assets.

Brian Jernigan is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a role he has held since 2024. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2021, progressing through various positions including Investment Consultant, Relationship Manager, and Financial Representative. Prior to joining Fidelity, Brian worked at State Employees' Credit Union from 2013 to 2021, advancing from Financial Services Representative to Senior Financial Services Officer II. With over a decade of experience in the financial industry, Brian is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER4 professional. He focuses on client collaboration and education to develop personalized financial plans tailored to individual goals. Outside of his professional career, Brian enjoys camping, outdoor adventures, parenthood, scuba diving, and traveling.

Christopher Key is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Smithfield, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2010 and previously at Edward Jones from 2007 to 2010. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, combining a broad range of advisory services with various non-advisory financial activities.

Tonya Maness is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with LPL Financial, based in Smithfield, NC, with 4 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL in 2021, she worked in healthcare and social services roles, including positions at Liberty Home Care and Hospice and the Chatham County Department of Social Services. She has also authored a published book outside of her investment activities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser offering a range of advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement participants, institutions, and banks. The firm provides access to financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting over 22,800 advisors and $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Tyler Colmore is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at East Carolina University. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a broad network of financial advisors and branch offices, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies and affiliated financial services.

Robbie Misplay is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 11 years of industry experience. He has held his current position since 2014 and holds a Series 66 designation. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with an emphasis on both non-discretionary and discretionary investment strategies. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and maintains a nationwide network of more than 23,700 advisors and 15,000 branch offices.

Melissa Scott is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience, currently with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2024. Her prior experience includes roles at First Bancorp and Infinex Investments, as well as First Citizens Investor Services. Outside of advisory work, she is a board member of the Dunn Committee of 100 and owns businesses in agriculture and insurance. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm supports a range of investment strategies through multiple platform arrangements and emphasizes both proprietary and third-party model solutions tailored by independent Financial Professionals.

Orvin Johnson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, based in Smithfield, NC. He joined the firm in 2026 and has prior experience at Edward Jones and the United States Postal Service. Johnson’s career includes various roles outside the financial industry over nearly two decades. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a range of third-party advisory programs and emphasizes matching clients to suitable investment models based on personal and plan information.

Brian Diller is a Benefits & Planning Consultant in Executive Services at Fidelity Investments. He has been with Fidelity since 2021, initially working as an Investment Solutions Representative before assuming his current role in 2025. Prior to Fidelity, he gained experience as a Financial Planning Intern at Northwestern Mutual in 2021. He holds insurance licenses in Arkansas and California. Brian pursued a degree in finance, motivated by his early interest in understanding finances influenced by his family's small business background. In his role, he assists clients in looking ahead to their financial goals and identifying actionable steps to achieve them. Brian grew up in central Colorado. Outside of work, he and his wife enjoy spending time outdoors.

Eugene Freedman is a financial advisor with LPL Financial who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 47 years of industry experience. He has worked with LPL Financial since 2008 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wachovia Securities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms.

Charles Bradshaw is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Dunn, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2000. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Stanley Coats II is a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 26 years of industry experience and has been associated with Raymond James in various capacities since 1999. Outside of his advisory role, he and his wife own and breed horses, occasionally earning income from shows and sales. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to individual and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes tailored, non-discretionary planning using analytical tools to support client goals and serves a broad client base including high-net-worth individuals and pension plans.

Mark Harrell is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has worked at Edward Jones since 2020. Prior to that, he held positions at AC Hall Company, Southern Bank and Trust, and Wells Fargo and Company. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a nationwide network of approximately 23,701 advisors and 15,121 branch offices.

Jeffrey Navarro is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2009. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Michael Mullins is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2019. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Stericycle and Shred-It. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm that serves over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Tracy Harrison is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Smithfield, NC, where she has worked for nine years. She is also the owner of T's Biz, LLC, a building management business in Clayton, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a comprehensive range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Russell Galvan is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, holding a Series 66 credential and seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at The HP Group, LLC for ten years and has been with Edward Jones since 2009, including his current tenure starting in 2024. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of advisory services, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of over 23,000 financial advisors.

Matthew Abold is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, supported by tools such as machine learning for operational purposes.

Elizabeth Manning is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with Series 66 credentials and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she worked at the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services for five years and the Down East Partnership for Children for four years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.