Herman Brunson is a financial advisor with Balance Investments in Statesville, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Balance Investments since 2014, serving as the firm's sole advisor. Balance Investments is an independent registered investment adviser managing approximately $2.7 million in client assets. The firm provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses, utilizing a core-satellite investment approach with portfolios tailored to clients' goals and risk tolerance.

Shawn Fleming is a financial advisor with Professional Wealth Management Services LLC in Statesville, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and a Series 65 license. He has 18 years of industry experience and has been with Professional Wealth Management Services since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, Shawn is independently licensed in life, accident, and health insurance and provides limited insurance agent services as part of comprehensive financial planning. He is also engaged in general business and management consulting. Professional Wealth Management Services LLC serves individuals and trusts with fee-only financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm emphasizes suitability and tailored strategies, managing approximately $136 million for about 60 clients through a two-advisor team.

John Stevenson is a financial advisor with Professional Wealth Management Services LLC in Statesville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Professional Wealth Management Services since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, John is independently licensed in life, accident, and health insurance and also engages in general business and management consulting. Professional Wealth Management Services LLC provides fee-only financial planning and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals and trusts. The firm emphasizes tailored investment strategies based on detailed risk assessments and offers a wrap fee program that includes bundled asset allocation and trade execution services.

Donald Masters is a financial advisor at Masters Tax and Financial Planning LLC in Statesville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with five years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Centaurus Financial Inc. and HD Vest Investment Services, and he owns a Certified Public Accountant firm, Donald M Masters CPA PC. Masters Tax and Financial Planning LLC primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, families, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations, offering discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and tax-efficient investment strategies. The firm emphasizes long-term, tax-aware portfolios and provides related professional services through its principal’s separate CPA practice.

Timothy Bain is a financial advisor at Spark Asset Management Group with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Spark since 2010. Outside of his advisory work, Bain teaches music lessons and is involved in a music-related business as a corporate secretary and part owner. Spark Asset Management Group provides asset management, retirement planning, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm primarily manages assets through tactical, trend-following model portfolios that combine algorithmic trend indicators with technical and fundamental research, utilizing ETFs alongside strategic allocation and custom portfolios.

Mary Masters is a financial advisor at Masters Tax and Financial Planning LLC with 26 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Cetera Advisors. Mary is also a licensed insurance agent, offering insurance products on a limited basis. Masters Tax and Financial Planning LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. The firm focuses on long-term, tax-aware portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, incorporating fundamental, technical, and macroeconomic analysis.

Matthew Ellis is a financial advisor at Fidelis Capital with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Fidelis Capital Partners in 2022, he worked at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing Services from 2017 to 2022, and at Merrill Lynch from 2012 to 2017. Ellis serves as a board member of Centerstone Military Services, a nonprofit organization based in Nashville, Tennessee. Fidelis Capital Partners provides investment advisory and related services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, philanthropic organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a model-driven investment process that combines quantitative, fundamental, technical, and economic analysis to inform portfolio decisions and offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, and business consulting.

Nina Lloyd is President and CEO of Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. in Statesville, NC, with 14 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Opus Financial Advisors since 2012, including a prior role at FSC Securities Corporation. Outside of her advisory work, she is owner and president of Lloyd Grading and Utilities, Inc., a corporation involved in non-investment activities. Opus Financial Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including high net worth individuals and retirement plans, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven approach and offers a range of advisory services through both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

James Staples is a CFP® with 42 years of experience in financial advising. He is president of Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. and has worked with the firm since 1982. Prior to joining Osaic Wealth, Inc. in 2023, he spent 40 years at FSC Securities Corporation. Staples serves on the boards of local nonprofit organizations, including Children’s Homes of Iredell County and the Iredell Statesville Schools Bible Association. Opus Financial Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including high net worth individuals and pension plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven approach with a variety of managed portfolio options and combines advisory services with licensed activities such as real estate brokerage and accounting.

Janna Deegan is a financial advisor at Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. in Statesville, NC, with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Opus Financial Advisors since 2015, including roles at Osaic Wealth, Inc. and FSC Securities Corp. Deegan is also a licensed insurance agent and a North Carolina notary public. Opus Financial Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including high net worth individuals and pension plans, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven approach with advisor-managed portfolios and access to third-party money managers, combining advisory services with licensed activities such as real estate brokerage and accounting.

Nilsa Daniel is a financial advisor with Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. in Statesville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Osaic Wealth, Inc., FSC Securities Corporation, Morgan Stanley, and Fidelity Investments. She is also a licensed notary public and occasionally notarizes documents. Opus Financial Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including high net worth individuals and pension plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven approach with a range of managed portfolio options and provides services on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Lisa Fox is a financial advisor at Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. in Statesville, NC, with six years at the firm and a total of three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has prior experience with Osaic Wealth, Inc. and FSC Securities Corporation. Outside of advisory work, she serves as a notary public and is a board member of the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce. Opus Financial Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, including high net worth individuals and pension plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs an asset-allocation driven approach and provides services through various managed and model portfolios, combining advisory services with licensed activities such as insurance and real estate.

Theodore De Lisi is a financial advisor with Inspire Advisors, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has 36 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Carson Wealth, Cetera Advisor Networks, IFG Advisory, and LPL Financial. He is also the president of Sovereign Investment Group, a non-investment related entity used for tax purposes, and operates as an independent insurance agent licensed in property and casualty, life, and accident & health insurance. Inspire Advisors, LLC is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.03 billion for around 3,800 clients, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates Biblically Responsible Investing into its strategies using proprietary tools and employs a mix of quantitative, fundamental, and technical analyses across discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services.

Kayla Smith is a financial advisor at Credit Union Investment Services with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked in various roles within SECU-related entities since 2009. Outside of financial services, she also works in customer service for Crate and Barrel. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual and trust clients in North Carolina with a non-discretionary investment approach, focusing on low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed-income products alongside retirement and financial planning. The firm’s advisers are salaried employees of the parent credit union and provide recommendations while clients retain final decision authority.

Jennifer Walker is a financial advisor with Credit Union Investment Services in Statesville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 10 years of industry experience. She has worked with Members Trust Company since 2019 and has been affiliated with Credit Union Investment Services, SeCU Life Insurance Company, SeCU Brokerage Services, and State Employees' Credit Union since 2015 or earlier. Walker serves as a Financial Advisory Services Specialist at State Employees' Credit Union and acts as a life insurance agent for SeCU Life Insurance Company. Credit Union Investment Services serves individual investors and some trust clients in North Carolina, providing non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, and a wrap-fee program. The firm focuses on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs, fixed-income products, and a goals-based, long-term planning approach, with advisor recommendations implemented at the client’s discretion.

Eric Sides is a financial advisor with StoneX Advisors Inc. in Statesville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with StoneX Advisors since 2016 and StoneX Securities since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Elledge Bain Sides, LLC, overseeing operations part-time, and is a board member of Synergy Holding Group, Inc. StoneX Advisors Inc. serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations by providing portfolio management, financial planning, ERISA plan consulting, and related services through a combination of independent advisors and an in-house Private Client Group. The firm utilizes multiple account structures and model-based solutions, implementing strategies via advisor-managed portfolios, proprietary models, third-party money managers, and various platforms.

Vanessa Harris is a financial advisor with Focus Financial and holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses. She has experience working at Focus Financial since 2024 and previously worked at Mass Mutual and Goosehead Insurance Agency. Outside of her advisory role, she is also an Enrolled Agent involved in tax and financial plan review and analysis. Focus Financial Network, Inc. is an enterprise investment adviser managing approximately $6.3 billion through a network of 118 advisors. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering a range of managed accounts, retirement plan consulting, and financial planning services.

Penny Paugh is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience, currently with Inspire Advisors, LLC. Her prior experience includes roles at CWM, LLC dba CARSON WEALTH, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, IFG Advisory, LLC, and LPL Financial LLC. She serves as a board member of the Statesville Chamber of Commerce. Inspire Advisors, LLC is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.03 billion for about 3,800 clients, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates Biblically Responsible Investing through proprietary tools and employs a range of portfolio strategies, combining quantitative, fundamental, and modern portfolio theory analyses.

Russell Ahlers is a financial advisor at Credit Union Investment Services with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Crump Life Insurance Services. His current roles also include positions with State Employees' Credit Union and SECU Life Insurance Company. Credit Union Investment Services serves primarily individual investors in North Carolina, offering non-discretionary portfolio management, retirement and financial planning with a focus on low-cost, index-based mutual funds and ETFs. The firm emphasizes a goals-based, long-term planning approach and employs salaried advisors rather than commission-based representatives.

Donabel Triplett is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and with nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. Outside of advising, she manages a rental property in Mooresville, NC. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary wrap-fee investment management program. The firm leverages third-party and proprietary models and operates within the Principal Financial Group family, integrating affiliated products and services.