Bret Hoag is a financial advisor with Mariner in State College, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2018 and previously at Vantage Investment Advisors, LLC from 2010 to 2018. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and specialized tax and family office services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an investment committee and integrates in-house research with third-party managers across multiple asset classes and strategies.

Benjamin Hulburt is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Encompass More Asset Management LLC and Eclipse Resources Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in several entrepreneurial ventures, including managing a digital marketing company and an online education platform focused on financial services, and serves as an instructor for the Council of Financial Educators. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of services such as model portfolio solutions, discretionary asset management, financial planning, and plan consulting, utilizing a platform-centered approach that combines models from multiple sources with advisor-managed strategies.

Carolyn Sharp is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 13 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF since 2017 and previously worked at Valic Financial Advisors. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. 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 through employer retirement plans administered by TIAA. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management, acting as adviser to a donor-advised fund and operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Rebecca Haney is a financial advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors with 15 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Mariner since 2018, following three years at Vantage Investment Advisors. Mariner serves a diverse range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party managers to implement customized discretionary portfolios and provides integrated tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Jill Sutt is a financial advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors with 26 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Mariner since 2018, following an 18-year tenure at Vantage Investment Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as Treasurer for the Tyrone Track & Cross Country Boosters. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations by providing investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal team and third-party managers, and offers integrated tax and accounting services alongside financial wellness tools.

Jerrod Smith is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2014. 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, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm separates planning services from ongoing management and operates within a vertically integrated group that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised fund services.

Jenna Heimbaugh is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 18 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. She has been with Creative Planning since 2016. Outside of her advisory work, she owns two small businesses focused on craft wreath making and jewelry repair. 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, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term goals, supplemented by various active and passive investment strategies.

Lauren Spigelmyer is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at PNC in various capacities since 2014, including roles in PNC Investments and PNC Bank. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that uses algorithmic questionnaires to recommend investment strategies implemented via approved model portfolios.

Nicholas Accordino Jr. is a CFP® with 40 years of industry experience, currently serving at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. since 2017. He has also worked at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc. and Diversified Asset Planners Inc. for multiple decades. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed fixed insurance agent. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a national network of over 400 independent representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, access to third-party managers, and various managed account solutions.

Debra Martin is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in State College, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at First Commonwealth, Infinex Investments, Santander Securities, Santander Bank, and PNC Investments. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans.

Debra Seaward is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 15 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2025, she spent 15 years at Financial Abundance. Outside of advisory services, she is also licensed as an insurance agent and manages existing insurance contracts. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and a range of affiliated non-investment businesses such as an affiliated law firm, trust company, and retirement plan recordkeeping services.

Eric Tharp is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in State College, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2017 and at Santander Securities and Santander Bank from 2014 to 2018. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers 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 distinguishes one-time financial planning from ongoing portfolio management, employing model portfolios or customized strategies under a fiduciary standard within a vertically integrated structure.

Will Benner is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. He previously worked at Modera Wealth Management, LLC and Independence Advisors, LLC. Outside of finance, he has experience related to TCO Fly Fishing and held roles at Hope College. Focus Partners Wealth serves a diverse group of clients including individual, high-net-worth, family office, corporate, retirement plan, and institutional clients. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach utilizing fundamental and quantitative analysis, third-party managers, and a broad range of investment strategies while offering integrated wealth and family office services.

Joseph Gordon is a financial advisor at J. W. Cole Advisors, Inc. with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with J.W. Cole Advisors and J.W. Cole Financial since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he also works as a fixed insurance agent and operates a financial services marketing business. J.W. Cole Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts through a network of over 400 independent Investment Adviser Representatives, offering fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and access to multiple third-party investment platforms. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

James Karchner is a CFP® and PFS™ with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2020. Prior to that, he worked at Domani Wealth, LLC and PBWM Holdings, LLC. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and charitable organizations through investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to specialized investment vehicles. The firm combines in-house research with third-party managers and offers integrated tax services, family office capabilities, and employer financial-wellness tools.

Carmine Scutti is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2009. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, offering brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and various advisory programs through a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management.

George Torruella is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at AIG Capital Services, Inc. and American General Life Insurance. He is also appointed as an agent to sell non-securities insurance products for AGIA. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and discretionary unified managed accounts using Envestnet’s platform, operating with a large network of advisors and a centralized technology approach.

Stephanie Bell is a financial advisor at J. W. Cole Advisors, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at firms including Grove Point Investments, Shute Battaglia Wealth Advisors, and H. Beck, Inc. Bell is a leadership team member of Destiny's Calling Ministries, a non-denominational ministry. J. W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a national network of over 400 independent representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party managers, and various managed account solutions.

Robert Thomas is a CFP® and CFA® with 26 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2018 and previously spent 18 years at Vantage Investment Advisors. Thomas serves as board president of St. Joseph's Catholic Academy and is a member of advisory boards for Old Dominion Bank and Centre First Bank. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by in-house research and third-party managers, and provides integrated tax, family office, and financial wellness services.

James Peterson II is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, holding a Series 66 credential and having 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial and its investment management affiliate since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is president and owner of Peterson Consulting Group, LLC, which provides quality and regulatory consulting services unrelated to securities or investment advice. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm focuses on holistic, goal-based planning across a wide range of topics and provides options to combine planning with managed accounts under a consolidated billing system, while maintaining separate services.