Phillips Bragg is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 29 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Bragg Financial Advisors Inc, where he has worked since 1996, and previously spent 20 years at Queens Road Securities, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer of Edgemont, Ltd., a fishing club located in North Carolina and Tennessee. Bragg Financial Advisors, Inc. is a family-owned, SEC-registered investment adviser managing over $4.6 billion for individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and investment-company clients. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation with written Investment Policy Statements, broad diversification, and a longer-term investment approach, managing client accounts through portfolio models directly or via independent managers.

Michael Van Ness is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Waverly Advisors, LLC and has concurrent experience at Rinehart Wealth Management dating back to 2010. Waverly Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing portfolios for individuals, retirement plans, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative and private-market allocations, serving a diverse client base including non-HNW and high-net-worth clients.

Luis Dieguez is a financial advisor at Blueprint Financial Advisors in Charlotte, NC, with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Hornor, Townsend, & Kent LLC and Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, Luis coaches his son’s 9U baseball team. Blueprint Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered, multi-advisor firm that serves individuals, trusts, pension and ERISA plans, and nonprofit entities. The firm manages approximately $1.4 billion in client assets using a globally diversified, strategic-and-tactical investment approach that emphasizes trend-following and momentum rules across multiple timeframes.

Vernon Moses is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Fidelity Investments, Truist Investment Services, BB&T, Bank of America, and Merrill. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary account that uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and invests via approved models managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Paul Short is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 39 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2009. 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, frequently serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides model-based and customized portfolio management within a fiduciary framework and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Sam Merrill is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at multiple entities within the Truist organization since 2021. Prior to joining Truist, Merrill spent seven years at The Reynolds and Reynolds Company. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer for North Carolina Little League District 3, managing funds for seven leagues and their all-star tournaments. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a broad client base including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and provides ongoing client reviews while leveraging its affiliation with Truist Financial and related entities.

Kelly Lauterjung is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at D.A. Davidson & Co. since 2020. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at Robert W. Baird for five years. Outside of her advisory role, she is a co-author and promotes sales of books unrelated to investment activities. D.A. Davidson & Co. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including retirement plans, individual investors, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm operates under fiduciary standards and offers services such as ERISA retirement plan advisory, comprehensive financial planning, and a Private Wealth program for clients with net worth exceeding $20 million.

William Wright is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Equitable Advisors, Mood Indigo Living, and involvement with Furman University and the nonprofit E2D – Eliminate the Digital Divide. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and operates as part of a vertically integrated group that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised fund advisory services.

Kyle Gensrick is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Creative Planning since 2022 and previously at Wipfli Financial Advisors and Hewins Financial Advisors. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and emphasizes a financial planning-led investment process with a range of portfolio management and retirement plan services supported by a large advisory team and centralized infrastructure.

Suzanne Dean is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 31 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Truist Advisory Services and affiliated firms since 2015, with prior experience at Wells Fargo Clearing. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and provides ongoing client reviews while leveraging a broad range of affiliated financial relationships.

Kendra Gray is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Hornor, Townsend and Kent, LLC. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a multi-manager approach with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, incorporating both affiliated and third-party managers alongside proprietary research and a range of investment vehicles.

Edward Smyth is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at Kingfisher Capital, LLC and Perennial Research LLC. Mercer Global Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach featuring globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts, tax management, and a range of implementation options such as ETFs, mutual funds, separate accounts, and direct indexing.

Brett Miller is a financial advisor at Corient with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 65 license. His prior roles include positions at McGill Advisors, Inc. and Ci Brightworth. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that incorporates in-house and third-party strategies, risk management tools, and may include alternative investments and private fund allocations.

Joseph Dumser is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and First Citizens Investor Services. Outside of his advisory work, he is a part owner of a Bojangles franchise. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of advisory services, including manager selection via the Envestnet platform and retirement plan fiduciary solutions.

James White is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he owns multiple residential rental properties. 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 connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides a fiduciary standard through its RIA services and manages portfolios ranging from model-based to customized solutions under approved investment policy statements.

Ryan Prokay is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF and Tiaa in 2023, he owned and operated Carmel Lawn and Landscaping LLC for 11 years. He also serves as a board member of the Mt Isle Harbor Homeowners Association. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, offering customized and model portfolio options under a fiduciary standard.

Joseph Rebello is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at various Truist-affiliated firms since 2000. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Rebello Home Building & Remodeling, a home construction and remodeling business 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, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional and AI-enabled research tools to support client objectives and offers a range of affiliated financial services through its connections with Truist Financial.

Randy Johnson is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 20 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at LPL Enterprise, Edward Jones, Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo Clearing. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients connected through employer retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised fund advisory services.

Joshua Selvey is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he held various roles including involvement with Calibers Indoor Gun Range LLC and Breezy Moving Company LLC. He has also worked in non-financial sectors such as Wilmington Water Tours and the University of North Carolina Wilmington. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected with TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm operates a vertically integrated advisory model that includes point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management services.

Brandon Johnson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience, currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank, and PNC Wealth Management. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities through investment adviser representatives and third-party portfolio managers. The firm’s investment process incorporates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate across various asset classes, serving a mix of discretionary and predominantly non-discretionary accounts.