David Hudson is a CFP® and ChFC® with 20 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc., where he has worked since 2023. Prior to that, he spent 10 years at TIAA and TIAA-CREF. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors and retirement plans, offering investment advisory, brokerage, and insurance services. The firm’s advisory programs include a digital platform and managed accounts, alongside commission-based brokerage and other non-discretionary business.

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.

Michael Melvin is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at Vanguard Advisers, Inc. and Vanguard Marketing Corporation. He is based in Charlotte, NC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, including customized and model-based solutions.

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.

Elizabeth Skettino is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience. She is currently with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc., where she has worked both earlier in her career and since 2026, and has prior experience at Cullinan Associates, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities. Wells Fargo Investment Institute (WFII) is a bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, asset-allocation guidance, and model portfolios primarily to Wells Fargo’s wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its research and strategy development are team-based and support a range of affiliates through impersonal, non-discretionary advice and model constructs.

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.

Anthony Gummo is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2015. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through several model-based programs, including the Portfolio Solutions Strategist Digital Offering, an invitation-only employee pilot that uses algorithmically selected risk bands and discretionary model accounts managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

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.

John Welch Sr. is a CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 63 credentialed advisor with 44 years of industry experience. He is currently with Equity Services, Inc. and National Life Group, having also worked at SagePoint Financial from 2014 to 2020. Welch participates in community activities as a volunteer finance committee member for Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a broad clientele including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms that combine long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading, utilizing third-party asset managers and model portfolios.

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.

Matthew Jarrett is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab and related entities since 2009 and has been with Schwab Wealth Advisory since 2026. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Charlotte, NC. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program. The firm offers annual financial reviews, retirement planning, and investment recommendations using Schwab’s asset allocation models and research tools, with clients making final trading decisions.

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.