Thomas Damato is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Knoxville, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2017 and previously was with BB&T and BB&T Investment Services from 2015 to 2017. Outside of his advisory work, he is a member of H&D Farms LLC, involved in farming activities including raising cattle and growing hay for local sale. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm separates planning services from ongoing portfolio management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group that includes affiliated funds.

Christopher Perry is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Knoxville, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and offering 16 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2011. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between point-in-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, operates as a fiduciary for its RIA services, and serves as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

William Savage Jr. is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 designations and bringing 23 years of industry experience. His career includes various roles within Truist and its predecessor entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory work, he is a passive member of a family farm LLC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, implementing advice through a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and manager arrangements.

Sarah Hunter is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Truist Investment Services since 2018, including three years at SunTrust prior to Truist’s formation. Hunter has also held positions at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and the Webb School of Knoxville. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

John Schindler is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning. His prior experience includes roles at Cetera, Sageview Advisory Group, Raymond James Financial Services, Woodbury Financial Services, and Todd Rechenbach, CLU. In addition to advisory work, he is an insurance agent specializing in life, disability, fixed annuities, and long-term care insurance. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment process with an emphasis on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure managing approximately $217 billion in client assets.

James Mason Jr. is a CFP® professional affiliated with Truist Advisory Services, based in Knoxville, TN, with 32 years of industry experience. He has been with SunTrust Advisory Services since 2016 and previously worked at SunTrust Investment Services, Inc. since 1999. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Mallory Jackson is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at Creative Planning. Prior to joining Creative Planning, Jackson worked at SageView Advisory Group and spent four years at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Creative Planning offers wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by private market exposure and tax-efficient techniques.

Daniel Wagner is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms including LPL Financial and Woodbury Financial Services. Wagner is based in Knoxville, Tennessee. 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 retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasize long-term portfolio returns and clients’ savings rates.

Benjamin Vander Wal is a financial advisor with Guardian Life, holding a Series 65 designation. He began his career in 2026, having previously completed full-time education from 2016 to 2026. His work history includes roles at Guardian Life Insurance Company, Park Avenue Securities, and Peachtree Planning. Park Avenue Securities LLC, operating as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary models and a hybrid digital advisory solution.

Todd Redd is a CFP® with 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors, where he has worked since 2022. His prior experience includes nearly a decade with Cetera Advisor Networks and Sageview Private Client Group. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm utilizes customized portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee and offers integrated tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Blake Mai is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Knoxville, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2018 and has affiliations with NYLife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company dating back to 2012. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, emphasizing customized recommendations and fiduciary responsibility, with the majority of assets under management held on a non-discretionary basis.

Benjamin Dickinson is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Knoxville, TN. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and has five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Leading Edge Financial Planning, LLC, Insight Global, and the University of Tennessee. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain IRA and retail brokerage account holders. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its advisory services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Joseph Schulok is a financial advisor at Mariner in Knoxville, TN, holding a Series 65 credential. He has no prior industry experience and joined Mariner in 2026 after roles at Frazier Financial Advisors and Tricord Wealth Advisors. Schulok also worked with the Forest Hills Swim Club and has been a full-time student at The Ohio State University. Mariner serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and tax services. The firm employs a discretionary, customized portfolio approach supported by in-house research and third-party managers, with specialized services such as tax integration and financial wellness platforms.

Matthew Sunderland is a financial advisor at Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Bankers Life Securities, Inc., Bankers Life & Casualty, Inc., and prior employment at Full Throttle Adrenaline Park and JB Hunt. Sunderland is also a 1099 insurance agent appointed to write Medicare Supplement, annuity, life insurance, health, and long-term care products. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. primarily serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals, offering discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to develop tailored asset allocations and manages portfolios across various securities with periodic performance reviews.

Erik Dickinson is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Hilti, Inc. for 12 years. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a basketball referee for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors. The firm offers various advisory programs and services, including custom portfolio solutions and retirement plan consulting, while providing operational, trading, compliance, and practice-management support to affiliated advisors.

Wayne Zussman is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC since 2018. He previously worked at Bridgewater Wealth & Financial Management, LLC for one year. Outside of his advisory role, he operates Zussman Photography, a business selling artwork. Focus Partners Wealth serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, corporate, retirement plan, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach using enhanced open architecture that combines fundamental and quantitative analysis, consultant-derived capital market assumptions, and third-party managers.

Anthony Browder is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Knoxville, TN, holding Series 65 and Series 63 designations and two years of industry experience. Before joining Eagle Strategies, he worked at Eastman Chemical for over a decade. Eagle Strategies offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to individual and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm provides a range of advisory solutions tailored to client objectives, including fee-based hourly advice and retirement plan consulting, with a focus on non-discretionary asset management.

Joanna Beachly is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at IronWorks Financial, Progressive Wealth Strategies, and Focused Financial, among others. She also participates as a speaker in educational workshops through Second Saturday, addressing budgeting and income considerations related to divorce. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager programs under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Douglas Webster is a financial advisor with Creative Planning, holding a Series 63 designation and 23 years of industry experience. His previous roles include positions at Cetera, Sageview Private Client Group, and Retirement Plan Consultants, spanning over two decades. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of the Cancer Support Community in East Tennessee and is a member of Nucleus Knoxville, a private club for young professionals. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by specialized services such as private market investments and fiduciary retirement plan management.

Tracy Richter is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently with Truist Advisory Services in Knoxville, TN. She has held positions at various Truist and BB&T entities since 2017 and previously worked at U.S. Bancorp Investments. Richter serves as a financial coach and board member for Wings for Widows, a nonprofit providing pro bono financial planning to newly widowed individuals. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and uses third-party platforms and AI-enabled equity research to support its investment approach.