Melissa Vian is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2014. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals connected to employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, and it acts as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund sponsored by Charityvest.

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 at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at The Vanguard Group and Fidelity Investments. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and unaffiliated financial institutions. The firm delivers non-discretionary, impersonal model portfolios developed through specialist divisions and does not provide individualized financial planning or manage client accounts directly.

Sara Homsi is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 10 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at Equitable Advisors, Merrill, US Trust, and AXA Advisors. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, and it acts as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

James Campbell is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has prior experience at Wells Fargo Clearing, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, and Apple. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through employer retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning services with ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund sponsored by Charityvest.

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 at Truist Advisory Services with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial for 14 years, Uvest Financial Services Group, Inc. for five years, and Questar Asset Management, Inc. for one year. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools, partnering with Envestnet platforms to deliver ongoing portfolio monitoring and client consultations.

Tina Jackson is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 10 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with TIAA since 2016. 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 relationships through TIAA‑administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers model and customized portfolio management and acts as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Gaetano Defazio is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he produces online video content focused on consumer products. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through employer retirement plans. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including model portfolio management and customized portfolios, and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

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.

Haley Clanton is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF in 2022, she worked at Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank from 2019 to 2022. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing employer retirement plan relationships, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporations, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management through a range of managed account options.

Jeffrey Emperador is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 14 years of industry experience. His career includes multiple roles within Truist-affiliated entities and prior experience at Empower Financial Services and BB&T Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support its advisory services and offers partnerships with Envestnet platforms and retirement solutions.

Jennifer Herzog is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 13 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she works part-time as a Lyft driver. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing employer retirement plan relationships. The firm separates point-in-time planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund within a vertically integrated model.

Brandon Reeves is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 license with three years of industry experience. He previously worked at Equitable Advisors LLC and has a varied background including roles in education and retail. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and corporate entities, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, applying a fiduciary standard to its advisory services.

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 18 years of industry experience. He is currently a financial advisor at &PARTNERS in Charlotte, NC, where he has worked since 2025. Prior to joining &PARTNERS, he held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Queens Oak Advisors, Capital Guardian Wealth Management, and Stanford Group Company. Wilson serves as an investment committee team leader for the United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis through both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches.

Lincoln Maurer is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license with three years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. since 2022 and previously worked at Somic America, Inc. from 2019 to 2022. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and unaffiliated financial institutions. The firm acts as a research and model-provider, delivering non-customized portfolio recommendations without managing client accounts or providing individualized financial planning.

Katherine Grier is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions with Truist Investment Services and Truist Bank, as well as ten years with Levy at Truist Field. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory services supported by integrated financial relationships and utilizes both traditional research and AI-enabled tools for ongoing client support.

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 CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management. His prior experience includes roles at Exencial Wealth Advisors, Wells Fargo, and The Vanguard Group. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and related services to individuals, families, pension plans, charitable organizations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and sub-advised mandates, supported by a broad range of affiliated legal, accounting, and trust services.