Hi! My name is Ian Bloom. I started my firm, Open World Financial Life Planning because I wanted to serve other nerds, not sell financial products. I focus on systematizing my clients’ financial lives to reduce their stress and worry, so that they can focus on their passions. As a nerd, I understand what it’s like to have hobbies and priorities outside of the norm. Whether your interests lie in gaming, programming, collecting, or something tamer, my goal is to make your financial life much more simple so that you have less stress and more time to focus on your interests. Life shouldn’t be about scrolling through google searches to solve a complex financial question. Your time should be spent doing the things you love and taking care of the people you care about. My philosophy on financial life planning was shaped through my experience getting my CFP® and RLP® designations, my bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and three years of amazing mentorship in the financial industry. Comprehensive financial life planning with my firm combines the skills I’ve developed through my experience and education, the perspective I have as a nerd and Millennial, and the drive I have to increase financial literacy within my community. I chose a fee-only structure for the firm in order to minimize conflicts of interest and make payment as transparent for my clients as possible. Having no product sales involved means I can focus on the perfect solution for my clients, not getting paid. Working with my firm starts with a complimentary first meeting in which we talk through your values, goals, and finances. If we decide to work together we will gather details on your finances, analyze and prioritize your goals, and eventually arrive at a plan through collaboration. I will help with the implementation of that plan, educating you on the what’s and why’s of each checklist item so that you feel comfortable with the changes. At the end of a year, we will review our progress and reassess the plan going forward. On the personal side of things, my passions lie in gaming. I love tabletop games, trading card games, and video games. I specifically love anything that is geared toward difficult strategic decisions. My passion for gaming is what got me so interested in financial strategies! Go ahead and book that first meeting to get started! It’s always FREE. If you're not sure yet, check out my books on Amazon to learn more about my financial philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH5P83

Brian Bewley is a financial advisor with Aligned Wealth Solutions, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 credential and 14 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Virtue Capital Management, Retirement Wealth Advisors, and Horter Investment Management, among others. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of NAITECH, a financial reporting and IT consulting firm, and acts as an independent insurance agent specializing in life and disability insurance. Aligned Wealth Solutions is a North Carolina-registered investment adviser that serves pooled investment vehicles, family offices, and other advisors, providing financial planning, treasury management, and solicitor referrals. The firm focuses on fundamental analysis and short-term cash management strategies, primarily investing discretionary treasury accounts in U.S. Treasury bills.

Carolyn Larsen Wieber is a financial advisor at CLW Financial Planning LLC in Raleigh, NC, with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the PFS™ designation and previously worked at Paraklete Financial and Steward Ingram & Cooper PLLC. In addition to financial advising, she owns a CPA practice that provides tax compliance and consulting services for small business owners and their families. CLW Financial Planning LLC is an independent, fee-only advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and small businesses. The firm integrates discretionary investment management with comprehensive financial planning and tax preparation, using a Modern Portfolio Theory approach focused on long-term, diversified allocations primarily through passive mutual funds and ETFs.

Pomeroy Smith is a financial advisor at Bison Wealth Management, LLC in Raleigh, NC, with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Pathway Wealth Management, LLC and various start-ups before founding Bison Wealth Management. Bison Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management and customized portfolio services to individuals, high net worth clients, and trusts. The firm uses both fundamental and technical analysis to create tailored asset allocations focused on capital appreciation and asset preservation.

Thomas Kelly is a CFP® professional with five years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He is the sole advisor at Kelly Investment Management, LLC, an independent firm based in Raleigh, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Curi Capital, TD Ameritrade, and Scottrade. Kelly Investment Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, families, and small business owners. The firm offers tailored portfolio management and written investment strategies, with a notable portion of assets managed on a non-discretionary basis, allowing many clients to retain final trade approval.

Jeffrey Hand is a CFA charterholder and principal of Heron Wealth LLC in Raleigh, NC, with one year of industry experience. Prior to founding Heron Wealth, he was involved in commercial real estate management as the managing partner of Hand Commercial Properties LLC and founded Maxwell Inc., a wedding and event venue where he serves as CFO. Heron Wealth LLC provides fee-only investment management, wealth management, and financial planning services to a diverse client base that includes institutional entities and individuals. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management alongside project-based and ongoing financial planning, employing a blend of active and passive strategies with an option for ESG screening.

Jose Maldonado is the principal of CIMA Financial in Raleigh, NC, with nine years of industry experience and a Series 66 license. He has held roles at First Command Financial Planning, MassMutual Life Insurance, and currently serves as president of enFe Business Advisors, a business coaching and consulting firm. Maldonado is also a founding partner of Golden Arrow Properties, a long-term rental and short-term rental business. CIMA Financial offers investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business owners. The firm uses asset allocation and modern portfolio theory with a blend of passive and active strategies, focusing on tailored portfolios managed primarily on a discretionary basis.

Mark Vitek is a CFP® professional with 23 years of experience in financial advising. He has been the principal of NC Money Management, Inc. since 1996 and also manages his own CPA firm, Mark Vitek, CPA, PA, which he founded in 1982. He divides his time between his CPA practice and his advisory business. NC Money Management, Inc. serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses with discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm integrates fundamental, technical, and charting analysis to tailor investment strategies and is notable for its affiliation with the principal’s CPA practice, providing tax-preparation support and consulting services uncommon among independent advisors.

Are you passionate about preserving our Earth, upholding corporate responsibility, and contributing to a just society? If so, you’re in the right place. Do you find yourself thinking: “Where does all my money go, and how can I support causes I care about?” “I want to invest, but I refuse to support fossil fuels or the weapons industry.” “What do we need to do now that we’ve had a baby?” “How do I navigate my company benefits or start a Roth IRA?” “Am I doing the right things?” I see financial planning as a medium to facilitate long-lasting change—not just a way to accumulate “more.” My practice, Just Advising, is an advice-only space designed for environmentally and socially conscious people who want clear guidance without the baggage of commissions, high fees, or someone else managing your money. When we work together, you’ll walk away with guidance while feeling understood and empowered. My first question is not, “how much do you have?”; Instead, it’s “what do you want?” To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, ask not what you can do for money—ask what your money can do for you. Outside of the office, you can usually find me rock climbing (attempting to) or making a great (depending on the day) cup of coffee.

Lucid Wealth Planning ("LWP") was founded to improve the lives of others by helping clients make better-informed financial decisions in both their daily lives and long-term plans. We believe our impact provides added security, confidence, and overall joy in the lives of our clients. Given our focus on clients that strive to improve the world around them, such as Health Care Professionals and Academic professors, we anticipate the ripple effect of betterment to be limitless. Education: B.S.B. degree in Finance Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), and Certified Student Loan Professional (CSLP®), and Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA®) Experience: The completion of over 800 comprehensive financial plans for individuals and families since joining the industry in 2006. This includes specialized areas such as student loan analysis, estate planning, tax planning, portfolio management, and cash flow strategizing (to name a few). As a financial planner, my main goal is to help you make well-informed decisions on all financial matters, not just what investments are right for you. I'll always listen to your concerns, devise the best strategy, and treat your financial goals with the same care and interest I devote to my own. I look forward to being your trusted advisor and expert resource as you build a secure, and confident financial life.

Patrick Walsh is a financial advisor with Walsh Capital LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 credential and nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Defender Capital and is a partner at Diligence Group, a private business consulting firm. He also maintains a personal blog to share ideas with family and friends. Walsh Capital provides discretionary asset management and consulting services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on a value-oriented, fundamental analysis approach with long-term holdings and tactical asset allocation tailored to client objectives. The firm offers portfolio construction, retirement-account rollover advice, and planning consultations, and is noted for its educational resources and work with charitable clients, including donor-advised fund management without advisory fees.

Brian Bunn is a CFA® and CPA with seven years of experience in financial services. He is the sole advisor at Brian B. Bunn CPA, PLLC, a firm he has led since 2018. Prior to founding his firm, he worked in tax and accounting consulting as well as financial systems and capital market solutions. He offers tax and accounting services alongside investment advisory, which the firm discloses may present conflicts of interest. Brian B. Bunn CPA, PLLC provides portfolio management and financial planning to entities such as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm integrates various analytical methods and emphasizes long-term trading and diversified asset allocation tailored to clients’ Investment Policy Statements.

Gregory Dunne is a financial advisor at Raleigh Investment Advisors, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation with eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raleigh Investment Advisors in 2017, he was self-employed and worked at General Electric from 2005 to 2016. Raleigh Investment Advisors is an independent firm managing approximately $25 million on a discretionary basis for a small number of individual clients. The firm uses a client-specific and quantitative approach to portfolio management, employing mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and other instruments, with custodial services provided through Charles Schwab.

Matthew Choplin is a financial advisor with Innovest Strategies LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 65 designation and 12 years of industry experience. Prior to founding Innovest Strategies in 2025, he worked for Private Wealth Management of North Carolina for 12 years. Outside of his advisory role, Choplin is a partner in a tax and management consulting firm and holds an active real estate license, working as a listing and selling agent on weekends. Innovest Strategies LLC provides comprehensive asset management, retirement plan consulting, and financial and tax planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and pension or profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a range of investment strategies including fundamental and technical analysis, managing portfolios with ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and conservative cash instruments, while also offering tax, accounting, and real estate services under separate agreements.

David Mcdougall is a Certified Financial Planner® with 14 years of industry experience. He is the principal advisor at Highwind Wealth Management in Raleigh, NC, and has previously worked at Cook Wealth Management Group LLC and Fidelity Investments. Outside of his advisory role, he consults on tax-related technology as Chief Wealth Officer for a fintech firm. Highwind Wealth Management is a fee-only independent firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management, wealth planning, and tax services. The firm uses asset-allocation strategies aligned with modern portfolio theory, combining passive and active approaches, and emphasizes tax efficiency and socially responsible investing upon request.

Patrick Lyons is the principal of Lyons Den Capital, an independent advisory firm based in Zebulon, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Lyons has operated Lyons Den Capital since 2010 and also has a background in insurance sales through his self-employed practice, Patrick Lyons Insurance Services. Lyons Den Capital provides discretionary investment management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm constructs diversified portfolios using fundamental and technical analysis, with a focus on exchange-traded funds and options-based hedging, and offers ongoing consultation tailored to clients’ investment guidelines.

Matthew Unger is the sole advisor at Unger Financial in Raleigh, NC, holding a Series 66 license with 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 16 years before founding Unger Financial in 2021. Unger is also an independent insurance agent, offering disability, life, and long-term care insurance products. Unger Financial provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $15.94 million across about 69 accounts. The firm offers tailored portfolio management using various strategies and integrates complex outside holdings into clients’ overall financial plans, with a focus on both discretionary and non-discretionary managed accounts.

Elliott Mc Cown is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is the principal advisor at HanaFara, where he has worked since 2025. His previous experience includes roles at Evergreen Wealth Advisors, Empower Advisory Group, Personal Capital Advisors Corporation, UBS Financial Services, and The Vanguard Group. HanaFara is a fee-only wealth management firm serving individuals and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive financial planning and investment advice. The firm employs a combination of modern portfolio theory, passive and active strategies, and utilizes third-party managers and model portfolios while maintaining ongoing oversight.

Marcus Terdik is a financial advisor with Piedmont Private Wealth, LLC in Raleigh, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services for eight years and has been with Piedmont Private Wealth since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, Marcus serves on the Board of Governors for North Ridge Country Club, advising on strategic planning initiatives. Piedmont Private Wealth, LLC is an independent SEC-registered advisory firm that serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and financial planning. The firm employs a long-term investment approach based on modern portfolio theory, utilizing diversified allocations across ETFs, mutual funds, municipal bonds, and equities.

Lenoris Yarborough, Jr is a financial advisor at Yarborough Asset Management Strategies in Raleigh, NC, with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Cisco Systems and Envestnet. Yarborough serves as a board member and president of the Raleigh/Durham Chapter of the National Black MBA Association and also holds board positions with North Carolina Arts in Action and an organization supporting marginalized students in earning high school diplomas. Yarborough Asset Management Strategies provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and public education services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm employs multiple methods of analysis and offers both long-term and short-term trading strategies, including portfolios with higher-risk and derivative exposures.