Marc Shepherd is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Union Financial, Optima Financial Services, Principal Securities Inc, Principal Life Insurance Company, MML Investors Services LLC, and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. Outside of advising, he serves as treasurer for his homeowners association and provides Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage insurance products to clients aged 65 and older. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and business entities. The firm’s advisory services feature direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Wendy Anderson is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with TIAA-CREF since 1993. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services to individuals, trusts, estates, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm also advises a donor-advised fund and operates within a vertically integrated structure employing affiliated funds.

Gayatri Ramesh is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at Fidelity Investments and as a freelance tennis coach. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals and entities, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management under a fiduciary standard within a vertically integrated structure.

Thomas Sims is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. He has held prior roles at Vanguard Advisers, Inc. and MAI Capital Management, LLC. Thomas is based in Charlotte, NC. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering financial reviews, retirement planning, and investment recommendations using Schwab’s asset allocation models and research tools. The firm operates as an internal advisory unit within Charles Schwab & Co., with a distinctive fee and management structure compared to many enterprise wealth managers.

Townsend Williams is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC since 2016. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’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 with connections to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Jamie Lapish is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with TIAA since 2005, including its Individual and Institutional Services division. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and managed account programs primarily to individuals with pre-existing employer retirement plan relationships, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group that uses affiliated funds.

Charles Milian is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 8 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. His prior experience includes roles at Vanguard Advisers, Inc., Vanguard Marketing Corporation, and involvement with Elevation Church and Leatherman Golf and Learning Center. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm serves many clients with existing TIAA-administered retirement plans and offers tailored management through customized and model portfolios.

Tony Montini is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has worked with Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2011. Montini is also licensed for insurance sales with multiple carriers. Park Avenue Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering both brokerage and advisory services alongside financial planning and retirement consulting. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party managers, supporting various account types and lending solutions.

Joshua Howard is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has prior work experience at Truist Investment Services, Neiman Marcus Group, Burberry, and Bank of America. Outside of finance, he worked briefly in the entertainment sector at High Seas Miniature Golf. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools, to deliver its AMC Advantage manager-selection program and fiduciary support.

Brendan Petty is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Transamerica Life Insurance Company, MassMutual, and Mutual of Omaha. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed and advisory programs focused on asset allocation and retirement guidance, utilizing Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary tools for portfolio construction and oversight.

Casey Brighton is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at LPL Financial and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of his community’s homeowners association board. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals and various entities, frequently serving clients with existing TIAA retirement plan relationships. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund within a vertically integrated structure.

William Hunicke is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Bank of America and Merrill. He is 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, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Dean Cushing is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with three years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF in 2023, he worked at Ruffalo Noel Levitz and has experience in various roles spanning education and sports organizations. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides 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’s advisory services separate one-time financial planning from ongoing portfolio management, offering both model-based and customized investment approaches.

Kenneth Holt Jr. is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has been with TIAA since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a middle and high school basketball and football referee with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA employer-sponsored retirement relationships. The firm offers both point-in-time financial planning and ongoing discretionary management, utilizing model portfolios and customized strategies under a fiduciary standard.

Anita Lynch is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 22 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at First Citizens Investor Services since 2017 and prior positions with Publix and Lowe's Home Improvement. Outside of her advisory role, she is a co-owner of a family business involved in property investment. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and insurance services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of strategic and tactical asset allocation, offering portfolio management through model portfolios, separately managed accounts, and an automated Guided Investing platform.

Janet Fisher is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Wachovia Bank. Fisher serves as a board member for the Charlotte Tennis Association, where she helps organize local youth and adult tennis tournaments. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Susan Imel is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Merrill and BB&T Securities prior to joining Truist. Outside of advising, she occasionally serves as a notary public in Mecklenburg County. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, and fiduciary support, implementing advice through discretionary manager relationships and consulting, supported by AI-enabled research tools and integrated inter-affiliate service arrangements.

Abby Lord is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC since 2019, with prior experience at Beach and Associates and Maine Savings Federal Credit Union. Abby is based in Charlotte, NC. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers a range of advisory services that separate one-time financial planning from ongoing discretionary management, applying a fiduciary standard to its RIA services.

Ross Kirkman is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in Tarheel Angus Beef Sales, a small business selling beef to restaurants and farmers markets in Silver City, NC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates a vertically integrated advisory model separating planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to donor-advised funds.

Brett Covert is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Corient. His work history includes roles at Ci Brightworth, Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo Advisors. He is located in Charlotte, NC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a broad client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach combining in-house strategies and third-party manager solutions, with continuous portfolio monitoring and risk management tools.