Andy Lorne Shumpert

Gregory Ruoss is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and served nine years in the United States Marine Corps. Outside of finance, he co-owns an equestrian tack cleaning and preservation business. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm delivers services through an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Douglas Bruner III is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and previously worked at Ameriprise and Edward Jones. Bruner serves as an officer in the US Army Reserves and is involved in a family-owned newspaper and advertising business. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and corporations, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm delivers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management using a range of proprietary and third-party strategies, supported by ongoing monitoring and account reviews.

Gina Rogers is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with 2 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at First Citizens Bank since 2019, with prior experience at SunTrust Bank and Saluda County School District One. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, offering portfolio management, wrap programs, and financial planning through a client-centered approach that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

George Barnes is a financial advisor with \u0026PARTNERS in Leesville, South Carolina, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. Prior to joining \u0026PARTNERS in 2026, he worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC from 2020 to 2026 and Edward Jones from 2014 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, Barnes owns a CPA and tax preparation practice and operates an automated storage unit business. \u0026PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and private businesses. The firm offers investment management, financial and tax planning, and other advisory services through a combination of proprietary and third-party strategies, delivered via discretionary and non-discretionary platforms.

Elijah Harris is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Lexington, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial and its related entities since 2017. Prior to his financial career, he was involved with Sardis Baptist Church and Columbia International University. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, focusing on comprehensive, goal-based financial planning without discretionary trading authority. The firm integrates planning with managed-account programs through a consolidated billing option while maintaining separate services.

Christopher Smith Jr. is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones from 2014 to 2026 and currently serves as an advisor at LPL Financial. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment solutions, including model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.