Ryan Smith

Carson Stallings is a financial advisor at First Heartland Consultants, Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at First Heartland Capital Inc since 2017, with prior experience at Woodbury Financial Services Inc. Stallings is also involved in managing A & A Insurance LLC and is a shareholder in a YouTube content creation company called When Animals Attack, LLC. First Heartland Consultants serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan participants, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm provides financial planning, model-based management for self-directed 401(k) accounts, and both wrap and non-wrap asset management solutions through a network of independent investment adviser representatives.

Christopher Gray is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. Prior to joining CUIS in 2022, he worked at Wells Fargo in various roles from 2013 to 2022. He also serves as an agent with SECU Life Insurance Company and provides financial advisory services to members of State Employees' Credit Union. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual investors and trust clients in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management and retirement planning focused on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs. The firm’s salaried advisers provide recommendations while clients retain final decision authority.

Robin Caldwell is a Series 66 registered advisor with Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC, based in South Mills, NC. He has 19 years of industry experience and has worked with various Navy Federal entities since 2000. Navy Federal Investment Services primarily serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union, individual investors, and trusts, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan fiduciary services. The firm employs model portfolios managed by third-party managers and provides account monitoring, rebalancing, and overlay services through established custodians.

Michael Metcalf is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services and related entities, including SECU Brokerage Services and SECU Life Insurance Company. He has five years of industry experience with prior roles at Pruco Securities LLC, Equitable Advisors, and AXA Advisors. Outside of his financial advisory work, Metcalf serves as an assistant coach and referee for youth and adult ice hockey in Greenville, North Carolina. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm emphasizes low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs and operates as a salaried employee model within the State Employees’ Credit Union system.

Aaron Brown is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, and previously held positions at BB&T Securities and BB&T Investments from 2010 to 2021. Truist Advisory Services is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and subsidiary of Truist Financial, serving individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions that combine model portfolios, third-party managers, and advisor-led asset allocation, supported by research shared across Truist’s affiliated channels.

Michelle Hoff is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. She has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016 and was previously with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. The firm’s advisory approach is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services tailored to plan objectives and risk tolerances.