Michael Barboza is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with six years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Fifth Third Securities since 2019 and Merrill from 2015 to 2021, alongside a tenure at Bank of America starting in 2015. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors such as corporations and trusts. The firm offers advisory and brokerage services across multiple programs and third-party portfolio managers via the Passageway Managed Account Platform.

Gavin Reber is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2023. His prior work includes roles at Enviro-Master, East Carolina University, QuikTrip, Tuition Landscape LLC, and Lincoln Charter School. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals with pre-existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that distinguishes planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund within a vertically integrated group.

Donald Stouffer is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a business manufacturing and selling bass fishing baits and also buys and sells collectible cards on eBay. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, with a range of model and customized portfolio options.

Benjamin Kristoff is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 15 years of industry experience. His career includes multiple roles within Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank, as well as a position at Wells Fargo Clearing. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts, offering both advisory and brokerage services. The firm provides access to a range of investment programs through the Passageway Managed Account platform, supporting strategies from mutual funds and ETFs to separately managed accounts and direct indexing.

Robert Cousar Jr. is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Secretary of the Board for the Charlotte Track Club, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting running and healthy living in Charlotte, NC. 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 working with clients connected through employer retirement plans. The firm offers a fiduciary standard for its RIA services and manages portfolios ranging from model-based to customized solutions under client-approved investment policies.

Alexander Miles is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Kingfisher Capital, LLC and Stonecrest Capital Markets Inc. Miles serves as a member of the Board of Visitors at Queens University of Charlotte, contributing to the academic and cultural life of the institution. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and strategic use of low-cost index vehicles.

Ty Grogan is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Bank of America, Merrill, and UBS Financial Services. Grogan served four years in the US Army and currently receives disability compensation from the Department of Defense. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing TIAA retirement plan relationships, as well as trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that separates planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund through Charityvest.

Joseph Lynch IV is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Personal Capital Advisors Corporation, TD Ameritrade, and Vanguard. He also serves as an adjunct instructor at Rowan Cabarrus Community College, teaching accounting courses, and at Central Piedmont Community College, where he teaches within the Certified Financial Planner program. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to employer retirement plans administered by TIAA.

John Shaw III is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he is a writer of children’s books published by Simon & Schuster. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with pre-existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, offering both model and customized portfolio options.

Michael Specht is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Equitable Advisors and extensive tenure with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2010. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA retirement relationships. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, utilizing both model and customized portfolios under fiduciary standards.

Austin Nelms is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience, currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. His prior work includes positions at Bankers Life, Bank of America, Merrill, and First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to guide portfolio allocation across various asset classes and offers a range of investment programs and financial planning solutions.

Rebecca Kishbaugh is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Merrill, Ameriprise, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup Global Markets before joining Truist. Outside of advisory work, she is involved in managing a vacation rental property. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support investment decisions and offers services through platforms like Envestnet and Envestnet Retirement Solutions.

Peter Kohn is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked primarily with TIAA and affiliated entities since 1997, including most recently at P.J. Robb Variable Corp. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in residential property rental. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates point-in-time planning from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Katherine Holmes is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 11 years of experience at First Command Advisory Services. She is also a partner in NovoNail, LLC, a non-investment-related business. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser focused on serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, including active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed through a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers.

Jonathon Hamilton is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials and five years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs, leveraging Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary tools and models to provide asset allocation and retirement guidance at scale.

Kellie Carroll is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at Truist Advisory Services. Her career includes roles at BB&T Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and Wells Fargo Clearing. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and is based in Charlotte, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of advisory services through its affiliation with Truist Financial and partnerships with platforms like Envestnet.

Jack Mason is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Ameriprise, West Gate Bank, and TROC Global, among other organizations. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with employer retirement plan relationships, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management, offering both model portfolios and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard.

Aaron Bouronich is a financial advisor with Creative Planning in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66, Series 65, and Series 63 designations and 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Nuveen Asset Management, Nuveen Securities, Global Alternative Investment Services, Wells Fargo, and Equitable Advisors. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure.

Ehrnest Ballagh III is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 22 years of industry experience, including roles at LPL Financial, LLC since 2004 and Private Advisor Group since 2015. In addition to his advisory work, he has experience as a CPA, bookkeeper, and tax preparer. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to various managed account solutions. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model and utilizes multiple investment strategies while offering both proprietary and third-party manager options.

Derrick Dawkins is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at various Truist entities since 2023. Prior to his advisory role, he has had diverse work experience including roles at the University of Florida and in the hospitality and delivery industries. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of client information gathering, goal setting, asset allocation strategies, and manager recommendations via the Envestnet platform, supported by traditional research and AI-enabled tools, to deliver ongoing portfolio monitoring and client consultations.