Deaton Smith III

Harold Perkins is the sole advisor at Continuum Financial, LLC in Granite Falls, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Continuum Financial since its founding in 2002. Continuum Financial provides investment supervisory services and ERISA/401(k) consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporations. The firm employs a core-and-satellite investment approach combining in-house selection of stocks and bonds with select ETFs, alongside ERISA consulting and fiduciary diligence through structured committee processes.

Mark Coffey is the sole advisor at Hickory Financial Group, LLC in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 32 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Avenir Private Advisors LLC and Kovack Securities Inc. Outside of advisory work, he owns a duck hunting guide service and a marine construction company. Hickory Financial Group is an independent investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm primarily employs an equity-oriented strategy using sector- and factor-weighted ETFs and individual stocks, combining fundamental and technical analysis with ongoing portfolio monitoring and rebalancing.

Michael Loeb is a financial advisor at Argosy Investors with eight years of industry experience and a Series 65 credential. He has worked at several firms, including Magnolia Wash Holdings, von Drehle Corporation, Ally Financial, and Broyhill Asset Management. Outside of advisory work, he serves as M&A Director for Whistle Express, a privately held car wash company. Argosy Investors provides discretionary investment management through separately managed accounts, focusing on a value-oriented strategy with a bottom-up fundamental analysis approach. The firm typically manages a concentrated portfolio aimed at long-term growth and special-situation opportunities, serving qualifying individuals and entities.

Brittney Miller is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Thayer Financial, L.L.C. She has worked at multiple firms including Bragg Financial Advisors Inc and RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Miller holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Thayer Financial serves individuals, charitable organizations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm emphasizes goal-aligned portfolios with a long-term focus and offers educational seminars alongside integrated ancillary services such as tax preparation and estate-document assistance.

James Deporre is a financial advisor at Hammerhead Financial Strategies, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Hammerhead since 2021. He is also president of Shark Investing, Inc., which operates a subscription-based website offering daily stock market articles and related content. Hammerhead Financial Strategies is a discretionary registered investment adviser serving primarily high-net-worth individuals and family offices. The firm employs an active, opportunistic investment approach using proprietary trading methodologies focused on higher-volatility equities, ETFs, and tactical asset allocation.

Adam Smith is a financial advisor at Fortress Private Ledger, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch from 2018 to 2024. Fortress Private Ledger advises individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized Qualified Opportunity Zone advisory services. The firm employs a dynamic investment approach combining trend identification, technical and fundamental analysis, and utilizes a mix of ETFs, individual securities, and mutual funds.