Scot Stark is the sole advisor at Stark Strategic Capital Management, Inc. in Hampstead, NC. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 65 license and has 28 years of experience with his current firm. Stark Strategic Capital Management provides financial planning, counseling, investment supervision, portfolio management, risk management, and tax-planning advice primarily to individual clients. The firm manages approximately $18.4 million for about 19 clients and follows a structured six-step planning process, constructing tailored portfolios mainly using mutual funds and ETFs on a non-discretionary basis.

Brian Apple is the principal of Brian Apple Retirement Planning LLC in Hampstead, NC. He holds a Series 65 credential and has over 18 years of experience running Restoration Boatworks. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in volunteer tax-preparation services and is developing a book on Social Security and tax integration. Brian Apple Retirement Planning LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and individual investment management for individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes tax and Social Security integration and utilizes both third-party and custom model portfolios within a structured investment approach that includes fundamental analysis and asset allocation.

Nicholas Perkins is a financial advisor with CPR Investments Inc. in Hampstead, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with CPR Investments since 2019 and also operates Perkins Retirement Planning LLC, which focuses on insurance products including life, annuity, health, long-term care, and Medicare sales. CPR Investments primarily serves individual investors and offers discretionary portfolio management through a multi-manager approach that includes third-party advisors and in-house tactical strategies aimed at reducing downside risk. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning, ERISA plan services, and sub-advisory arrangements, with a broader financial-product footprint including affiliated sales activities and advisory services for various financial products.

Erin Schullery is a financial advisor at Benefit Financial Services Group with a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Aon and held roles in undergraduate admissions and animal rescue operations. Benefit Financial Services Group advises individuals, trusts, family entities, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans through its wealth management and institutional services divisions, managing $1.53 billion in discretionary assets and consulting on approximately $18.0 billion in retirement plan assets. The firm uses a diversified, model-based investment approach incorporating various asset types and options strategies, and it operates within a network of affiliated service providers.

Patrick Horwitz is a financial advisor with Silver Oak Securities, Inc. in Hampstead, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Securities America Advisors, SSN Advisory, and SII Investments. Outside of advising, he serves as a board member of Stomp & Brew, a nonprofit that organizes beer and wine festivals benefiting children in need, and he is president of Summit Financial Group, LLC, which provides non-investment business consulting services. Silver Oak Securities, Inc. serves a broad client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and trusts through a network of over 100 financial professionals managing approximately $2.4 billion in discretionary assets. The firm offers a range of advisory programs with primarily discretionary investment management tailored to client objectives, incorporating individual securities, ETFs, mutual funds, and third-party strategist models.

Mindy Gallina is a Series 65 licensed advisor with William Joseph Capital Management, Inc., where she has worked since 2022. She has three years of industry experience and has held roles at Dileo & Charles Tax and Consulting Services, AMG Bookkeepers, and Young Living. Outside of her advisory role, she is a 50% owner of two entities involved in insurance sales and also provides educational and marketing services related to insurance through a separate firm. William Joseph Capital Management, Inc. is a multi-advisor firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines financial planning with portfolio management, using a mix of customized portfolio construction and third-party sub-advisors accessed through the AssetMark platform.

Joshua Mudse is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC. His prior experience includes roles at ATFS Advisers LLC, OneAscent Financial Services, FF Advisors, and Carnegie Investment Counsel. He is also Associate Vice President of Client Services at Synergy Private in Sneads Ferry, NC, where he manages family office services including tax coordination and professional advisor collaboration. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a diverse national clientele, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs a tailored investment approach using proprietary quantitative screens alongside third-party managers and offers access to private-market investments and affiliated pension consulting services.

Jonathan Dell is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2014. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates within a vertically integrated group, providing both model portfolio and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard.

Keven Johnson is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Merrill, Bank of America, and The Vanguard Group. Johnson is based in Hampstead, NC. Empower Advisory Group serves primarily employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage account holders, offering financial planning and investment management through an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates in its planning approach and manages a large participant base relative to its advisor headcount.

Karen Jerabek is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network. She previously worked at Edward Jones and owns Harbor Blue Financial, LLC, a private entity facilitating securities, advisory, and insurance business. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $212 billion in client assets through a broad platform of managed-account programs, third-party asset managers, and custody services.

Rachel Carter is a financial advisor with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 19 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Bank of America N.A. and Merrill for a decade before joining Sanctuary Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in photography through Rachel Carter Images LLC and participates in nonprofit activities including communications management for Ocean Fest, Inc., serving on the board of Coastal Carolina Riverwatch, and membership in professional retirement organizations. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, through a network of over 400 independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management options and retirement plan consulting, operating under a fiduciary standard when advisory agreements are in place.

Jacqueline Jacobsen is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding the CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 31 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and UBS Financial Services. Jacobsen is also involved as a volunteer board member on the Government Relations Committee of the Investment and Wealth Institute. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional plans. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through various platforms and uses a combination of strategic asset allocation and multi-manager approaches across passive and active investments.

Mara Wessell is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, holding the CFP® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 registrations. She has 24 years of industry experience, including 17 years with Cantella and Co., Inc. Mara is based in Hampstead, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over 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, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Jeffrey Spitz is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management with over 26 years of experience in helping clients navigate their financial goals. He focuses on creating personalized wealth management strategies that align with clients' priorities and changing market conditions. Jeffrey works closely with his clients to develop a comprehensive understanding of their financial situations and assists in managing their investments, banking needs, and lending solutions. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina State University and has earned professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Jeffrey is involved with professional organizations such as F3 and is active in his community through Forest Hill Church. Jeffrey is also a husband and father. His family enjoys traveling to various beaches, volunteering at church, and supporting the North Carolina State Wolfpack. His son Jacob has recently joined him as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, continuing the family's commitment to financial advising.

Daniel Ray is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and joined Edward Jones in 2024. Prior to his current role, Daniel held various positions in sales, marketing, and brokerage, including ownership of a marketing and media business and work as a yacht broker. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving both individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large network of advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Cassandra Nagel is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Fidelity in various capacities since 2006. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a blend of fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm also engages in fund advisory and uses systematic methodologies incorporating AI and long-term asset allocation benchmarks.

Brian Fernander Jr. is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch before joining J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, using a process that combines quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and an ESG eligibility framework.

Anne Proukou is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Edward Jones in Hampstead, NC, with eight years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2018 and previously worked at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company from 2003 to 2018. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory services including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors.

Joseph Manion is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. He has worked at Thrivent since 2022 and previously held roles at Costco, Kroger, Mediu, LLC, and OnX Enterprise Solutions. Outside of advisory work, Manion owns and operates Serve Coffee, a coffee importing and subscription business focused on direct trade relationships. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, offering comprehensive, goal-based financial plans without discretionary portfolio management. The firm’s planning services cover a wide range of topics and can be combined with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option.

Christopher Rosa is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones in 2024, he served with the Town of Lloyd Police Department and the Town of Poughkeepsie Police, retiring in 2023. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including various household and corporate types. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions through a nationwide network of financial advisors.

Jeffrey Morgan is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Hampstead, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He joined Edward Jones in 2017 after two years at Kinetic Equity, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-manager of Anderson Morgan, LLC, a commercial property business in Wilmington, NC. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Ellen Honeycutt is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked previously at VALIC Financial Advisors, Western Southern Life, and W&S Brokerage Services. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, offering asset-allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through its Institutional Consulting Services program. The firm combines quantitative modeling with centralized due diligence and applies an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Colin Brewington is a financial advisor with LPL Financial and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has one year of experience in the industry. Prior to joining LPL Financial, his background includes roles in legal and service industries, as well as employment at Widener University Delaware Law School and James Madison University. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party asset managers, and customized strategies across various investment approaches.