Jens Mueller is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2002. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers model-based and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund sponsored by Charityvest.

Thomas Sowers is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with six years of industry experience. He is currently with Kestra Advisory and has prior experience at Dimensional Fund Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he also works as an independent contractor dog walker. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual clients, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves large institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds.

Michael Bish is a CFP® professional with 21 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services, having joined in 2019, and previously worked at Merrill Lynch and Bank of America. His background includes roles at BB&T Securities spanning nine years. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and research tools.

Traci Diblasio is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. since 2018. Her prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and Wachovia Bank, N.A. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, wrap programs, automated investing platforms, and tax-aware services, with a client process focused on financial needs, risk tolerance, and a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

Nora Knox is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and possessing 11 years of industry experience. She worked at LPL Financial from 2011 to 2019 before joining TIAA-CREF and TIAA in 2019. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management, utilizing both model and customized portfolios under fiduciary standards.

Griffin Kasemeyer is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and T. Rowe Price. Kasemeyer provides administrative support to Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services in addition to his advisory role. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a large network of advisors. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized consulting, employing a strategic investment approach that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Garen Kalender is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Nuveen Asset Management and Nuveen Securities. Outside the financial industry, Kalender owns and operates a jewelry business, Drive Jewelers, and a trading card resale business, The Card Syndicate. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers a range of advisory services that include both model portfolio and customized management approaches.

Brenda Yard is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has worked with Truist and its predecessor entities since 1999, including Bb&T Investment Services and Bb&T Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Sumakar Medikayala is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with the Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at North Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management, acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund and operating within a vertically integrated structure that uses affiliated funds.

Ruth Dimmett is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 11 years of industry experience. Her career includes multiple roles at TIAA-CREF and Alight Financial Solutions. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, frequently serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary account management, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Joseph Burns is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2010. He has 11 years of industry experience, including a decade at SunTrust Advisory Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, 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, to manage client investments.

Brittney Ruth Johnson is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing employer retirement plan relationships. The firm combines point-in-time financial planning with ongoing portfolio management through model-based and customized strategies, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes advisory services for donor-advised funds.

Kevin Battle is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2011. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model and manages portfolios through both model-based and customized strategies.

Cory Meckler is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a vacation rental property managed by a rental company. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management, acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund and operating within a vertically integrated group that uses affiliated funds.

Stuart Hansen is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2004. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing employer retirement plan relationships. The firm offers a fiduciary standard in its RIA services and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated structure.

Kate Lawson is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Nuveen Asset Management and Nuveen Securities from 2020 to 2023. Lawson serves as a board member of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Charlotte Chapter, helping to promote alumni events and raise funds for scholarships. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Lura Walton is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC since 2016. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals connected with TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporations, and small retirement plans. The firm features a fiduciary advisory model that differentiates between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, offering both model and customized investment options.

Richard Fiest is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Marcus Richbourg is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he has worked at firms including UBS Financial Services and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of finance, he has worked in radio broadcasting with roles at Dick Broadcasting Company and Radio One. First Citizens Investor Services provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of portfolio management solutions and employs a client process that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to guide investment allocations.

Gregory Marks is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2012. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at Pride Mobility Products for 12 years. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed accounts, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund.