Charles Burdette is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2016. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm separates planning services from ongoing discretionary management, applies a fiduciary standard to its RIA services, and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Richard Durkee Jr. is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Fusion Capital Management and Precision Capital Management, and serves as president of the Grand Strand Association of Life Underwriters. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, offering asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies and utilizes technology platforms to enhance asset aggregation and estate-planning services.

Brian Cummings is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding the CFP® and ChFC® designations and over 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms including Cetera, Regions Bank, and South State Bank before joining Commonwealth in 2019. Cummings also owns Charleston Wealth Planning, LLC, through which he conducts his advisory activities. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser that supports a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs, technology, and operational support, allowing advisors discretion in constructing client portfolios and offering proprietary model portfolios and customized investment solutions.

Andrew Barrett is a financial advisor at Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. in Charleston, SC, with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and serves as president of White Point Management, LLC, a consulting firm. His prior experience includes Family Asset Management, LLC. Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC provides wealth planning, investment management, and retirement-plan and business-consulting services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, trusts, and family offices. The firm utilizes a combination of in-house model portfolios, custom accounts, and third-party managers, supported by an Investment Policy Committee and extensive research resources.

Jeffery Keczan is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and over 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Truist and its predecessor firms since 2015, including roles at BB&T Investment Services and Truist Investment Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, using a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Andrew Stroer is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of finance, Stroer owns Reliable Photography LLC, where he works as a photographer. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering asset allocation analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that combines discretionary manager relationships with third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Meredith Schwab is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. She has worked in various capacities within First Command since 2023. Prior to that, she held positions at the Kiawah Island Club, Turf Center, WHB Financial Advisors, and Library Tavern. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm provides financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs that are managed through a centralized investment team using a structured, discretionary approach.

Joseph Cuozzi is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 22 years of industry experience. He has been associated with both LPL Financial and Private Advisor Group since 2015. Outside his advisory roles, he has established a non-investment-related business entity, JC Financial Group, LLC. Private Advisor Group serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm offers access to third-party asset managers and turnkey asset management platforms, delivering advisory solutions through a network of investment adviser representatives who tailor strategies to client objectives.

Kelly King is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charleston, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 21 years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens and its affiliated entities in 2023, Kelly worked at Synovus Bank and Synovus Securities from 2016 to 2023. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, providing advisory and brokerage services through IARs and third-party Portfolio Managers. The firm’s approach involves personalized financial assessments and diversified portfolio management using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across multiple asset classes.

Robert Crane is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in North Charleston, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Bank of America, Merrill, and Citizens Securities. Outside of finance, he is a partner in an LLC that owns a restaurant. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Laura Werner is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at FineMark National Bank & Trust and Huntington National Bank prior to her current role. Outside of advising, she has been involved as a member of LCJC Properties LLC. OSAIC Institutions serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans with a variety of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments. The firm operates primarily through a network of investment adviser representatives who provide both advisory and brokerage solutions using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

Erica Smith is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC. She has previously worked with Charleston Investment Advisors and The Wealth Management Alliance. Outside of financial advising, she owns and operates Smitten Handcrafted Designs, a jewelry business. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a manager-focused approach, utilizing proprietary due diligence and asset allocation models to implement client strategies.

Frank Pugliese is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services based in Mt Pleasant, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Company, and MetLife Securities Inc. He is also the owner of Trinity Wealth Partners, a non-investment-related business. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions through various adviser and promoter arrangements.

Samuel Marshall is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Edward Jones for several years before joining D.A. Davidson & Co. in 2024. D.A. Davidson & Co. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of services such as ERISA retirement plan advice, comprehensive financial planning, and a specialized private wealth program for high-net-worth clients.

John Jeffords is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 50 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021 and has also been affiliated with Bb&T Securities and Scott & Stringfellow for over a decade. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate resources.

John Merritt is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at TIAA-CREF, TD Ameritrade, and Scottrade. Merritt is based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm manages approximately $295.6 billion in client assets and employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure.

James Amick Jr. is a financial advisor with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.W. Cole Advisors since 2019 and previously held roles at Independent Financial Partners and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, Amick serves as chair elect of the Poplar Grove Townhome Owners Association board and is a trustee of the Jamie Lynn Amick Trust. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered firm that serves individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a national network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm provides portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party managers, and multiple managed account solutions utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches.

Walter Lewis is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license. He has five years of experience in financial advisory, currently working with Truist Advisory Services since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Bb&T Bank/Truist Bank and Bank of America. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with consulting services and utilizes third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools to support client investment decisions.

Mark Taylor is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in North Charleston, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 1999 and has also worked with Agia since 2022. Outside of advisory work, he is involved as a member managing small self-storage facility operations. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-based individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models to construct client portfolios.

Cooper Grady is a CFP® and ChFC® with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. He has held roles at LPL Financial LLC, Advisor Group, Marathon Financial Group, Robert Gorman, and Northwestern Mutual Investment Management. Outside of his primary advisory work, Cooper is the Director of Financial Planning at Pettinelli Financial Partners. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an enterprise wealth management firm with approximately $18.6 billion in assets under management and about 366 advisors serving over 24,000 clients. The firm offers a variety of investment strategies including advisor-managed and model-based portfolios, with an open-architecture approach that incorporates external platforms and SEI-affiliated solutions.