Marilyn Spencer is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Empower Advisory Group since 2024. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group, she was not employed in the financial advisory industry for 10 years. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm employs an integrated service model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Arturo Byrd is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having two years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at The Vanguard Group, Inc. and self-employment in addition to his current position at Empower Advisory Group. 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 delivers services through an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Travis Lecture is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. He worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services from 2014 to 2017 before joining TIAA-CREF. Outside of finance, Travis sells prints of his astrophotography through Artmill and an online Shopify store, and he assists with record-keeping for his wife's dance boutique, Grace and Pointe, LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, using model portfolios or customized strategies under a fiduciary standard.

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.

Aidan Mabunga is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Bank of America, Merrill, and Equitable Advisors. Mabunga is also associated with various organizations including the Charlotte Country Club and Project Destined. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals and entities, often serving clients with existing employer retirement plan relationships, and operates within a vertically integrated advisory model that includes customized portfolio management and donor-advised fund services.

Marisa Lindsey is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group based in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 designations and has 21 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at GWFS Equities, Ascensus, BB&T Retirement & Institutional Services, First Citizens Investor Services, Newport Group Securities, and Principal Financial Services. 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 clients. The firm’s integrated approach leverages proprietary planning methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates within the framework of Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

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.

Maria Luoni is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses with 29 years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Tru Independence Asset Management, LLC, among other firms. Luoni is also involved with YellowWood Wealth Solutions in an associate wealth solutions role. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, frequently serving clients with existing TIAA-administered retirement plan relationships. The firm combines point-in-time planning with ongoing discretionary management, utilizing both model and customized portfolios, and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund within a vertically integrated structure.

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.

Makeda Smith is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 21 years of industry experience. She has worked at TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2005. Outside of her advisory role, she is also a landlord. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers 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 provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management using model and customized portfolios, applying a fiduciary standard across its RIA services.

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.

Jaime Myers is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 17 years of industry experience. They hold a Series 66 credential and have previously worked at Nuveen Securities, LLC, MassMutual, and LPL Financial Corporation. Outside of their advisory role, Myers serves as President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 321, organizing fundraising and volunteer efforts to support veterans and active military and first responders, and as President of the Organized Chaos Dragon Boat Club in Charlotte, NC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm provides model and customized portfolios under a fiduciary standard and acts as an adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

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.

Marcus Royal is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at One Main Financial / Citigroup for nine years before joining TIAA in 2022. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing ties to TIAA employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm offers model-based and customized portfolio management within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

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.

Michelene Taylor is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 27 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with TIAA and TIAA CREF Individual & Institutional Services LLC since 2001. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Alex Humphreville is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2019 and was previously with Neuberger Berman for three years. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, offering both model and customized portfolios under a fiduciary standard.

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.