Brett Schmidt is a CFP® with 14 years of experience in the financial services industry. He currently works at Truist Advisory Services and has held roles within related Truist entities and BB&T since 2012. Schmidt serves as the Charlotte Chapter President for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, where he organizes events and leads community efforts to raise awareness and funds for inherited retinal diseases. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, implementing advice through discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships supported by third-party platforms and enhanced by AI-enabled research tools.

Gary Spencer is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has three years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Baldwin Risk Partners and S&P Financial Group, among other positions. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary manager arrangements and uses AI-enabled tools to support its research and manager selection processes.

Vincenzo Atkinson is a CFA® charterholder based in Charlotte, NC, with nine years of industry experience. He has been with SunTrust Advisory Services LLC and SunTrust Bank since 2016. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Steven Giguere is a financial advisor with &Partners based in Davidson, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and WELLS FARGO Advisors, LLC from 2014 to 2024. &Partners serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, and institutions, providing investment management and financial planning through a blend of proprietary and third-party strategies with ongoing monitoring and account reviews.

Jordan Mc Elmurry is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA‑CREF and its affiliated entities 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, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing employer retirement plan relationships. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that separates one-time planning from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Eric Robbins is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses with six years of industry experience. His career includes roles within various PNC Investments entities since 2018 and prior experience at Marriott Vacation Club. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio offering that uses algorithm-driven risk assessments and delegated portfolio management.

Matthew Orf is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2005. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals with connections to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Matthew Kalajian is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2006. He is based in Charlotte, NC, and holds a Series 63 license. Outside of his advisory role, Kalajian is involved in community organizations, serving on the boards of the Charlotte Economics Club and Camp Rockmont. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered 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, and advisory programs through a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Frank Braswell III is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA since 2011. Outside of his advisory work, Braswell serves as a soccer referee. 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 offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management through model or customized portfolios.

Eduardo Gelpi is a financial advisor with T. Rowe Price Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Edelman Financial Engines, LPL Financial LLC, Ameriprise Financial Services, and Wells Fargo Advisors. T. Rowe Price Advisory Services offers a retirement-focused advisory program combining nondiscretionary financial planning and discretionary investment management, primarily using proprietary mutual funds and ETFs for individual investors and households with retirement goals.

Lara Ferguson is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. since 2022. She previously worked at LPL Financial, LLC and DaVinci Financial Designs from 2020 to 2022. Outside of finance, she was involved with Southern Comforts Consignments and served at Sandy Springs United Methodist Church. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, offering investment advisory programs alongside brokerage and insurance services. The firm provides a digital advisory program utilizing ETF-based portfolios and a proprietary risk assessment, as well as a Managed Account program.

Abel Rizzo is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group, he worked at various hospitality firms including Wurst Haus and Union Kitchen. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm delivers services through an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Kelly West is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She has worked with First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, West owns an online resale shop and participates in direct/network marketing ventures. First Citizens Investor Services serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations, providing advisory and brokerage services through IARs and third-party Portfolio Managers. The firm employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis in portfolio management and offers services such as financial planning, tax-aware strategies, and automated investing platforms.

Andrea Smith is a financial advisor at HB Wealth with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank NA and JPMorgan Securities LLC. HB Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser that provides wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, retirement plans, corporate entities, foundations, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm combines quantitative and qualitative due diligence across a range of public and private investment strategies and offers outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) and institutional advisory services.

Lucie Mcgowan is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2010, based in Charlotte, NC. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients with existing connections to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time financial planning and ongoing discretionary management, utilizing both model and customized portfolios.

Jessica Council Verner is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation. She has worked in various roles within the Truist organization since 2017 and has experience outside the financial industry as a co-owner of Proof Bar and Lounge from 2016 to 2019. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering services such as asset allocation analysis and fiduciary support. The firm uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Michael Hariaczyi is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Bank of America, Merrill, and Vanguard Advisers. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a self-defense instructor at Apex Martial Arts in Huntersville, NC. 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 connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides both model-based and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard and acts as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Nicholas Levy is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2012. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm operates within a vertically integrated structure and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Casey Fleisch is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 26 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2006. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates point-in-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group that includes affiliated funds.

Eric Stanwick is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at firms including LPL Financial, Wells Fargo, MassMutual, and MetLife. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a digital discretionary model account available by invitation to employees with PNC Bank online credentials. The program uses algorithm-driven model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists and executes investments primarily in mutual funds and ETFs.