Katherine Stevick is a financial advisor at Align Financial Planning with 10 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Prior to founding Align Financial Planning, she worked at Massmutual Life Insurance Company and First Command Advisory Services. Outside of her advisory work, she owns and manages a bed-and-breakfast and event space in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Align Financial Planning serves individuals, households, employer plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses with investment management and financial planning services. The firm uses a mix of passive and active asset-allocation strategies, offers retirement plan consulting, and provides educational seminars and optional tax preparation through a third-party provider.

Peter Kisver is the sole advisor at Kiaros Advisors, LLC in Southern Pines, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Horter Investment Management, Fiduciary Advisors, LLC, and Efficient Advisors, LLC. Kisver also operates as a consultant and licensed insurance agent through his sole proprietorship. Kiaros Advisors serves individuals, business owners, and retirement plans by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and ERISA plan advisory services. The firm focuses on non-discretionary, mutual fund–based portfolio management with an emphasis on cash-flow and tax planning, investment selection, and 3(21) fiduciary support for qualified retirement plans.

Blanchard Granville is a CFP® with 40 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Granville Wealth Management, Inc. He previously worked at Mid-Atlantic Securities, Inc. for over two decades and has operated Granville Financial, Inc., an insurance business, since 1988. In addition to his advisory role, he provides tax preparation services and acts as a trustee or executor for several accounts. Granville Wealth Management offers investment advisory services primarily to individual clients, utilizing tailored strategies that include asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and both long- and short-term trading. The firm also provides related financial services such as trustee and executor roles through affiliated entities.

Anna Pottle is the founder and sole advisor of Pottle Financial Services, Inc., an independent firm based in Pinehurst, NC. She holds a Series 65 designation and has nine years of industry experience. Prior to establishing her firm, she worked at Healthstat, Inc. from 2015 to 2017. In addition to her advisory work, Ms. Pottle serves as president of Bair Financial LLC, a consulting business that provides financial modeling and business services to small and mid-size companies and non-profits. Pottle Financial Services, Inc. manages approximately $62 million in discretionary assets across a range of client types, including individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, pension plans, and small businesses. The firm employs a value-at-purchase, growth-oriented investment approach with diversified portfolios, incorporating both fundamental and technical analysis, and offers limited financial planning services upon request.

Thomas Hart is the sole advisor at Hart Investment Management Inc. in Southern Pines, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with 23 years of industry experience. He has led Hart Investment Management since 2007. Hart Investment Management provides portfolio management and investment supervisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and organizational accounts including trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm customizes investment plans based on client objectives and risk tolerance, employs a range of investment strategies and instruments including private placements and real estate, and manages client assets in-house without taking custody of accounts.

Gary Smith is the sole advisor at Wealth Creation Advisory in Carthage, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 36 years of industry experience. His career includes operating his own advisory practices before and after periods of retirement. Wealth Creation Advisory provides portfolio management and related advisory services to individual clients, employing a combination of charting, fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management across various investment vehicles, including mutual funds, equities, fixed income, annuities, and ETFs.

Danielle Dettenmayer is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Tactical Wealth Partners. Prior to joining Tactical Wealth Partners, she worked at Zeiders Enterprises, Inc. for six years. Tactical Wealth Partners primarily serves high-earning attorneys at large law firms, providing comprehensive financial planning and investment management. The firm employs a diversified, tax-aware investment approach focused on low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, managing assets through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.

Thomas Velevis is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving at Dreher Financial Partners in Southern Pines, NC. He has worked at H.S. Dreher Capital Management (formerly Longleaf Capital Management) since 2001. Dreher Financial Partners advises retirees and individuals planning for retirement, providing discretionary investment management and financial planning services focused on income and spending needs. The firm emphasizes fundamental security analysis, individual security selection, and detailed cash-flow analyses, serving individual and joint accounts, trusts, retirement accounts, employer retirement plans, and nonprofit endowments.

Michelle Robinson is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience. She is currently with The Pines Wealth Management, LLC and has prior experience working at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Bank of America, and Merrill. The Pines Wealth Management provides wealth management, investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $486 million in client assets and employs a fiduciary-driven, customized approach that blends fundamental and technical analysis, primarily focusing on long-term portfolio management.

Jordan Hicks is a financial advisor at Hicks Financial Partners, LLC in Southern Pines, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. He has worked at Hicks Financial Partners since 2022 and previously at Susto and The Artisanals. Hicks Financial Partners serves individual clients, including high-net-worth households, and small businesses by providing discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning, tax preparation, and estate-planning support. The firm primarily uses passively managed portfolios complemented by fundamental and technical analysis, and offers integrated services such as in-house tax preparation and coordinated estate-planning.

Howell Neville is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience. He is currently with The Pines Wealth Management, LLC and has previously worked at Merrill and Bank of America. The Pines Wealth Management provides wealth management, investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm manages about $485.9 million in client assets, primarily using a tailored fiduciary approach that combines fundamental and technical analysis with a focus on long-term portfolio management.

Lorin Wagler is a financial advisor at Reliant Investment Partners, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Reliant since 2021. Prior to his advisory career, he was a full-time student from 2012 to 2019 and again from 2019 to 2022. Reliant Investment Partners provides discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm manages over $230 million across more than 600 accounts, employing both passive and active investment strategies with regular portfolio reviews and coordination with outside professionals for estate and tax planning.

Michael White is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Dreher Financial Partners. He has been with H.S. Dreher Capital Management, LLC since 2015. Dreher Financial Partners advises retirees and individuals planning for retirement, providing discretionary investment management and financial planning services tailored to clients’ income and spending needs. The firm emphasizes fundamental security analysis, diversification, and macroeconomic assessment to develop risk profiles and asset-allocation plans, primarily utilizing individual stocks, bonds, and no-load mutual funds.

Robert Wagler is a financial advisor with Reliant Investment Partners, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Reliant since 2018 and has prior experience with Wealth & Financial Advocate Group, Emerald Investment Partners, LLC, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Reliant Investment Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $268 million for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, combining passive and active management with fundamental, technical, cyclical, and charting analysis to develop tailored portfolios and address various financial planning needs.

Timothy Hicks is a CFP® with 11 years of experience in financial advising. He is the principal advisor at Hicks Financial Partners, LLC in Southern Pines, NC, where he has worked since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Garrett Investment Advisors, Ameriprise Financial Services, and Securities America. Hicks Financial Partners serves individual clients, including high-net-worth households, and small businesses, offering discretionary portfolio management along with financial planning, tax preparation, and estate-planning support. The firm primarily uses passively managed portfolios supplemented by fundamental and technical analysis, and integrates investment management with tax and estate-planning services.

I founded Golden Pine Advisory with the vision of transforming the financial planning process to a smarter, simpler and more efficient system. I chose to shift the focus of my firm away from the product sales approach that is commonly found in the industry and instead placed a focus on providing a client-friendly process with custom tailored financial plans and fee-only advice at a more affordable cost. I was born an entrepreneur with a strong interest in technology and finance. Before college, I started and successfully ran my own computer build and repair business. I continued these interests after graduating Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in business from North Carolina State University. I began my career as a financial and accounting analyst at one of the largest mortgage banks in the Southeast. After this experience, I ultimately knew that I wanted to work directly with clients and establish life-long relationships, so I completed my training and began working for a large brokerage firm in 2008. I acquired the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ designation in 2008 and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification in 2013. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina, just outside of Pinehurst, where I later married my beautiful high school sweetheart in 2008. Together, we are blessed with an amazing daughter, as well as twin boys and our energetic Australian Shepherd. Family holds a special place in my heart, and I cherish every moment making memories with them. In my free time, you can find me indulging in my passions for traveling, fishing, boating, and everything related to NC State Athletics – Go Pack! Alongside my dedication to smarter, client-friendly financial planning at Golden Pine Advisory, I wholeheartedly pursue my passion for giving back to the community through volunteer leadership, committee services and nonprofit board involvement. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to empower individuals on their unique financial journeys.

John Hutchinson is a financial advisor at Reliant Investment Partners, LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2018. Outside of his advisory role, Hutchinson serves as the mayor of Rockingham, NC, and occasionally performs minor legal work such as drafting wills and powers of attorney. Reliant Investment Partners manages approximately $268 million on a discretionary basis for individual and high-net-worth clients, providing portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services. The firm combines passive and active management techniques and addresses a broad range of planning needs, including retirement, tax, estate, and business planning.

Michael Bucceri is a financial advisor at Course Management Investment Advisors, LLC, with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Fortress Private Ledger, LLC, LPL Financial, and Nationwide Investment Services Corporation. Bucceri has a partial ownership interest in Course Management Real Estate Partnership, LLC. Course Management Investment Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning services for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension/profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a multifaceted investment approach, including the use of derivatives and option-based strategies, and manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis.

Adam Wachob is a Series 65-credentialed advisor at PACE Financial Advisors with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining PACE Financial Advisors, he served 22 years in the US Army and held roles at Duke University. PACE Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities with discretionary wealth management, portfolio management, and financial planning. The firm employs diversified investment strategies and typically offers discretionary wealth management with ongoing monitoring and periodic reviews.

Thomas Laming is a financial advisor at Normandy Investment Advisors with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Normandy since 2022 following a retirement period from 2016 to 2022. Normandy Investment Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and other entities by providing personalized wealth management, financial planning, and discretionary portfolio management. The firm employs a blended active/passive investment approach within an asset-allocation framework based on Modern Portfolio Theory and uses a range of securities including equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and options strategies for income and hedging.