Andy Lorne Shumpert

Gregory Ruoss is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he served in the United States Marine Corps for nine years and worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in a part-time equestrian tack care business, Tack Appeal, based in Aiken, SC. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as to select IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm offers integrated services linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio strategies and annual rebalancing within plan lineups established by sponsors.

Douglas Bruner III is a financial advisor at &Partners with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Ameriprise and Edward Jones. Bruner also serves as an officer in the US Army Reserve and is involved in a family-owned newspaper and advertising business. &Partners serves a diverse clientele including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers both advisory and brokerage services, utilizing the Envestnet platform to provide a mix of proprietary and third-party investment solutions.

Gina Rogers is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens Investor Services in 2024, she worked at First Citizens Bank and SunTrust Bank, and also has experience with the Saluda County School District One. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering advisory and brokerage services through investment adviser representatives and third-party portfolio managers. The firm employs a client-centered process that includes assessments of financial needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon, applying various analyses to allocate assets among equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

George Barnes is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Ameriprise and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a CPA and tax practice, Barnes & Associates CPA, LLC. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional investors, providing investment advisory and brokerage services alongside financial planning, ERISA consulting, retirement plan management, and investment banking. The firm employs a combination of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and operates as both a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer.

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® professional with 12 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with LPL Financial and previously worked at Edward Jones for 12 years. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.