Kimberly Carpenter is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2005. Outside of her advisory role, Kimberly works as an aerobic instructor at a YMCA in Albemarle, NC. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering advisory and brokerage services through a variety of portfolio management options and financial planning. The firm’s investment process involves comprehensive assessments of client needs and risk tolerance, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analyses to allocate assets across multiple investment types.

Marisa Lindsey is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has 21 years of industry experience. Her work history includes positions at GWFS Equities, Ascensus, BB&T Retirement & Institutional Services, and First Citizens. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as certain retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s administrative platforms, offering both point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Kedric Spearman is a CFP® professional with 23 years of experience in the financial services industry. He currently works at Empower Advisory Group and has prior experience with The Vanguard Group, Inc. since 2016. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s approach integrates its recordkeeping and administrative platforms to deliver point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Bryan Bach is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Zacks Investment Management Inc and Churchill Management Group. Focus Partners Wealth serves a diverse range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth families, corporate and institutional clients. The firm uses a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach with a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis, and it offers a broad array of services including investment management, financial counseling, and retirement plan fiduciary services.

Jonathan Shumate is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC since 2022 and previously held roles at Altavista Wealth Management and GenSpring Family Offices, LLC. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a manager-focused investment approach, utilizing third-party independent managers selected through a formal due-diligence process and supported by platforms such as Envestnet UMA.

Jeffrey Sawyers is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. since 2021. Prior to this role, he spent 20 years at Wells Fargo Bank. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides institutional research, manager due diligence, model portfolio construction, and asset-allocation guidance to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses as well as select external clients. The firm delivers research and model guidance through specialized divisions without exercising investment discretion or holding custody of client assets.

Timothy Creech is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 41 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, National Planning Corporation, Creek Financial LLC, and ING ReliaStar Life Insurance. He also operates Blackbridge Financial, an investment advisory business separate from LPL Financial. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm employs a network model of advisory representatives and leverages technology platforms alongside various portfolio management strategies.

William Miller is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at The Huntington Investment Company. He has previously worked at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, and Truist Bank/BBT. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a residential rental property managed through an external company. The Huntington Investment Company, operating as Huntington Financial Advisors, provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm offers multiple wrap-fee programs on the Envestnet MAS platform using an open-architecture model, combining third-party sub-managers and proprietary Private Bank models.

Jasmine Martin is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 11 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at VALIC Financial Advisors and Wells Fargo Advisors. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations, implementing advice through discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships and utilizing third-party platforms and manager arrangements to support client portfolios.

Marty Stamps is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Wells Fargo for 11 years and Gess Intl / Cyclum Renewables. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration with Truist Investment Services and Truist Bank.

William Byron is a financial advisor at Corient with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and previously worked at M HOLDINGS SECURITIES, Inc. and operated Byron Financial, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Byron Racing, LLC, an auto racing business. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, employing a goals-based, team investment approach that combines internal strategies with third-party managers and customized asset allocation. The firm offers specialized services through affiliates, including private fund management and trust services.

Ricky Dukes is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at The Legacy Financial Group, NYLIFE Securities LLC, New York Life Insurance Co, and Allstate Insurance Company. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers various advisory programs and emphasizes aligning recommendations with client objectives, managing a majority of assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Kevin South is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, and BB&T Investment Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers services such as asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that integrates discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate resources.

Trevor Whitson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Grove Point Advisors, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and LPL Financial. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation analysis, fiduciary support, participant advice, and a manager-selection program, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platform arrangements and AI-enabled research tools.

Scott Clark is a CFP® professional with 10 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C., where he has worked since 2024. His prior roles include positions at SunTrust Advisory Services, SunTrust Investment Securities, LPL Financial, and BB&T. Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC provides wealth planning, investment management, and retirement-plan and business-consulting services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, charities, corporations, trusts, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm employs a combination of in-house model portfolios, custom accounts, and third-party manager selection, supported by an Investment Policy Committee and extensive research resources.

Edward Danser is a CFP® professional affiliated with Truist Advisory Services, based in Charlotte, NC, with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at SunTrust Advisory Services since 2016 and SunTrust Investment Services, Inc. since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in an LLC formed for investing in a hotel opportunity alongside family members. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers fiduciary support, asset allocation analysis, and a manager-selection program implemented through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements, supported by AI-enabled research and integrated inter-affiliate services.

Thomas Dumas is a CFP® and ChFC® with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is affiliated with Primerica Advisors and has been associated with Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2001. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for his parents' estate. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers both transaction-based brokerage and fee-based advisory services, utilizing a range of proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

James Baker is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is a co-owner of Three Eagle Ventures, LLC. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank with integrated banking and advisory functions.

James Martin II is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and Wachovia Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, Martin is a co-owner of a rental property. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering advisory and brokerage services through IARs and third-party Portfolio Managers. The firm employs a client process focused on assessing financial needs and risk tolerance, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various investment types.

Matthew Duffey is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with four years of industry experience. He is currently with Schwab Wealth Advisory in Charlotte, NC, having previously held roles at Charles Schwab Bank and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Prior to his advisory career, he was involved in student organizations at the University of Notre Dame. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice within the Schwab Wealth Advisory program. The firm serves clients through annual financial reviews and tailored investment recommendations, utilizing Schwab’s research tools and standard asset allocation models while leaving final trading decisions to clients.