Richard Custer is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 19 years of industry experience, including 20 years with Principal Life Insurance Company. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a bank/trust officer to support and manage Principal retirement plan account relationships across the firm’s insurance, broker-dealer, and bank/trust offerings. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm’s advisory services include financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager programs through both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Scott Zimmerman is a CFP® professional at Mariner with 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including JP Morgan Securities, UBS Financial Services, and SIP. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs customized discretionary portfolios overseen by an Investment Committee and provides integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness solutions.

Andrew Bowling is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Investment Institute in 2022, he worked at The Vanguard Group and Fidelity Investments. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is an SEC-registered, bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, and asset-allocation guidance primarily for Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. The firm’s research and model portfolios are delivered to affiliated businesses for implementation rather than being individually tailored or directly managed by the institute.

Ashley Fowler is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with eight years of industry experience. She has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2017 and previously worked at First Citizens Bank from 2015 to 2018. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. offers advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client process focused on financial needs assessment and risk tolerance, utilizing a range of investment strategies across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Richard Harvey is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Uvest Financial Services Group, Inc., and Questar Asset Management, Inc. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, participant advice, and a manager-selection program, utilizing a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Eric Harbert is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with Corient in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2022. His prior roles include positions at Ci Brightworth (formerly McGill Advisors) and CIPW Service Company, LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach combining in-house strategies with third-party managers, incorporating risk management tools and alternative investment options where appropriate.

Logan Haga is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at The Vanguard Group and J.P. Morgan Securities. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to select IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasize long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and savings rates.

Jeffrey Emperador is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. His career includes multiple roles within Truist entities and prior work as a self-employed advisor and at Empower Financial Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing both discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platform arrangements and AI-enabled research tools.

William Biles is a CFP® professional with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently associated with TLG Advisors, Inc. and has a background that includes roles at Bluestone Insurance/PLAN, Investacorp, Highland Capital, and SunTrust Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of Insurance Consulting & Design. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a wide range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on investment supervisory services, portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning, employing a manager selection process and Modern Portfolio Theory to build diversified portfolios.

Stephen Wilson is a CFA® charterholder with 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for 11 years before joining &Partners in 2025. He serves as the investment committee team leader for the United Methodist Foundation of Western NC. &Partners serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services through a combination of proprietary and third-party strategies.

Lincoln Maurer is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc., holding a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. He has worked at Wells Fargo Investment Institute since 2022 and previously held roles at Somic America, Inc., Liberty University, Wytheville Community College, Central Contracting, and Pensacola Christian College. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is an SEC-registered, bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, asset allocation guidance, and model portfolios primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its research and strategy development use both qualitative and quantitative analysis, supporting affiliate entities with impersonal, model-driven investment advice.

Katherine Grier is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Truist Investment Services and Truist Bank. 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 uses both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and manager arrangements, with a focus on inter-affiliate integration within the Truist enterprise.

Ryan Schrift is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 19 years of industry experience, including roles at Independent Advisor Alliance since 2016 and LPL Financial since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a City Councilman for Belmont, NC, and is a managing partner of The Schrift Boys Farm in South Carolina. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, pooled vehicles, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management supported by various analytical techniques and technology platforms.

Brennon Hawkins is a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, Wells Fargo Bank, Wells Fargo Securities, and The Vanguard Group. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and family office services to individuals, families, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and offers integrated accounting, legal, and trust services through affiliated entities.

Alexander Talley is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and eight years of industry experience. His career includes multiple roles within First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services, as well as experience at UNC Charlotte. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers advisory and brokerage services with a focus on comprehensive client assessments and portfolio management that utilizes fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis.

James Webster is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc., where he has worked since 2024. His prior experience includes roles at Adhesion Wealth Advisor Solutions and LPL Financial. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is a bank-affiliated advisory and research organization that provides due diligence, securities research, asset-allocation guidance, and model portfolios primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its investment advice is generally impersonal and non-discretionary, delivered through team-based research and proprietary forecasting tools.

Karen Shane is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She currently works at &PARTNERS and has previously held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, institutions, and corporations. The firm provides investment management and financial planning services using a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, with offerings that include discretionary and non-discretionary management through both in-house advisors and third-party managers.

Jacob Hackney is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and five years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, P.J. Robb Variable Corp., and Crump Life Insurance Services. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, using an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm offers point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

James Schenck is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services and its affiliated entities since 2021, and previously spent over two decades at BB&T Investment Services and BB&T Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform arrangements and AI-enabled research tools, with an integrated approach involving affiliated broker-dealer and banking services.

Ronald Carland is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC since 2022. He has also been associated with Altavista Wealth Management, Inc. since 2005 and is president of Carland & Andersen CPA, a CPA firm he has led since 1980. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and retirement plans. The firm employs a manager-driven investment approach using third-party independent managers and sponsors proprietary investment vehicles, including private funds and a registered interval fund.