Ryan Mentnech is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. He has six years of industry experience, including prior roles at First Citizens, TD Bank, TD Private Client Wealth, and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of his advisory work, he coaches youth lacrosse in Charleston, South Carolina. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that utilizes both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

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. with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and serves as president of White Point Management, LLC, a consulting firm based in Charleston, SC. His career includes roles at Family Asset Management, LLC and White Point Management, LLC, where he has held a supervisory position. Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC provides wealth planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and related consulting services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, family offices, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of model and custom portfolio management, utilizing a range of investment vehicles and oversight from an Investment Policy Committee.

Jeffery Keczan is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 21 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Truist Investment Services, Bb&T Securities, and LPL Financial. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, and fiduciary support, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and third-party platform arrangements.

Andrew Stroer is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing and Edward Jones. Outside of financial advising, Stroer owns and operates a photography business, Reliable Photography LLC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration distinctive among large enterprise advisors.

Joseph Cuozzi is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC in Mt Pleasant, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial, Cleararc Capital, Inc., and Morgan Stanley DW Inc. Cuozzi also operates JC Financial Group, LLC, a business entity used for tax and investment purposes. Private Advisor Group serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and managed account solutions through proprietary and third-party platforms, utilizing a fiduciary-based advisory model.

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 Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. She previously held roles at Huntington National Bank and FineMark National Bank & Trust. She is licensed with Series 63 and Series 65 designations. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized advisory services through a network of investment adviser representatives and features a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure with a focus on both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

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 financial advisor at D.A. Davidson & Co. with 10 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He previously worked at Edward Jones for eight years before joining D.A. Davidson. D.A. Davidson & Co. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including retirement plans, individual investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of services such as ERISA retirement plan advisory, comprehensive financial planning, and a private wealth program for high-net-worth clients, all operating under fiduciary standards.

Edward Kotak Jr. is a financial advisor at Equity Services, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses. Prior to joining Equity Services, he worked at National Life Group and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, Kotak serves as CEO of Island Wealth Solutions Inc. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms, frequently utilizes third-party asset managers, and combines long-term investment strategies with options for shorter-term trading.

John Jeffords is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 50 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, with prior roles at Bb&T Securities, Scott & Stringfellow, and J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers services such as asset allocation, fiduciary support, and a third-party manager selection program, implementing advice through discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by AI-enabled research tools.

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.