Kedric Spearman is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. His prior work history includes positions at The Vanguard Group and TIAA-CREF. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, offering integrated services aligned with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing through its financial planning service and managed account solutions.

Bryan Bach is a financial advisor with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Zacks Investment Management Inc. for nine years and Churchill Management Group for twelve years. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, families, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional retirement plans by providing investment management, financial planning, tax and compliance support, family office and business management, and employee benefit retirement plan services. The firm employs a long-term investment approach that incorporates both active and passive strategies, third-party managers, private funds, and tactical overlays, customizing portfolios to clients’ specific risk, liquidity, and tax needs.

Jonathan Shumate is a CFP® certificant with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC since 2022. His prior roles include positions at Altavista Wealth Management, Genspring Charleston, LLC, and GFO Advisory Services, LLC. Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC provides wealth advisory, consulting, standalone financial planning, retirement-plan services, and outsourced chief investment officer services to individuals, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm employs both active and passive investment strategies across public and private asset classes and combines asset-allocation modeling with third-party Independent Managers selected through ongoing due diligence.

Jeffrey Sawyers is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Bank for 20 years before joining the Investment Institute in 2021. 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 operates as a research and model-provider without managing client accounts or offering individualized financial planning.

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.

Jasmine Martin is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2022, following prior roles at VALIC Financial Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools to support its advisory offerings and leverages its affiliation with Truist Financial to deliver a range of integrated financial services.

Marty Stamps is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Wells Fargo and its affiliates for 16 years prior to joining Truist. He also held a position at GESS INTL / CYCLUM RENEWABLES in 2022. 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 combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and leverages multiple affiliated financial relationships to provide comprehensive advisory solutions.

Lance Dunlap is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His previous roles include eight years at TIAA-CREF and a year at Wells Fargo Advisors. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services offers financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets using a diversified investment approach that combines passive and active strategies, supervised by an internal Investment Committee.

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 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. His work history includes ten years at Allstate Insurance Company and ongoing roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC and The Legacy Financial Group, LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple advisory program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, managing a majority of its 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. He has worked with Truist Investment Services and Truist Advisory Services since 2018, following a long tenure at BB&T Investment Services and BB&T Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support its investment strategies and offers comprehensive client service through ongoing reviews and consultations.

Angela Thomas is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Gastonia, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and nine years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of her advisory work, she owns two ventures focused on creating organizational apps and wellness resources for women and families. Truist Advisory Services delivers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation and manager selection, offering ongoing client reviews and reporting.

Trevor Whitson is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 26 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Truist Investment Services, Grove Point Advisors, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and LPL Financial. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. 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 tools and provides ongoing client reviews while leveraging its affiliation with Truist Financial and a range of related financial entities.

Edward Danser is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience and is currently an advisor at Truist Advisory Services. His prior experience includes roles at Merrill and SunTrust Investment Services. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner in an LLC formed for investment purposes in a hotel opportunity with Beacon IMG, involving family members. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of traditional research and AI tools and offers ongoing client reviews and customized asset allocation strategies.

Thomas Dumas is a CFP® and ChFC® with 25 years of experience, currently affiliated with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities in Charlotte, NC. He has been with both firms since 2001. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a trustee for his parents' estate. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of financial planning and consulting services, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and access to both proprietary and third-party investment platforms.

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 at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with 28 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wachovia Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-owner involved in rental property maintenance. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client-focused process using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Matthew Duffey is a CFP® certificant with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. He was also involved with the Notre Dame Student Activities Organization during his university years. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s advice is based on Charles Schwab & Co.’s asset-allocation models and internal research, with trades executed only upon client authorization.

Rachel Ashman is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 21 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at SunTrust Bank and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of traditional and AI-enabled research tools and offers ongoing reviews and reporting, working closely with clients to develop asset allocation strategies and select investment managers.

Jessica Jones is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 66 designation and has four years of industry experience. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a Unit Field Trainer for Bankers Life & Casualty, Inc., where she recruits and trains insurance agents and sells various insurance products including Medicare-related health insurance, life insurance, long-term care plans, and annuities. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a blend of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to create tailored asset allocations and ongoing portfolio management aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.