Benjamin Russo is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. He has been with Truist since 2026. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Kimberly Weber is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously with UBS Financial Services and MassMutual Life Insurance. 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 with existing relationships through employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management, utilizing both model and customized portfolios.

Samantha Becker is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at BB&T in various roles from 2014 to 2021 before joining Truist in 2021. Becker serves as a board member of the Cultivating Success Fund at the Columbus Foundation, a donor-advised charitable fund. 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, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, implementing advice through a blend of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by integrated inter-affiliate resources.

Elizabeth Dawson is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2012. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm provides both one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, including customized strategies under client-approved investment policies.

William Thompson is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He has held roles at several firms including Merrill, E*Trade Securities, and Valor Wealth Partners. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios and offers a range of implementation options along with financial planning, retirement consulting, tax support, and estate-planning coordination.

Mathew Valentin is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with Series 66 and Series 63 designations and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Millennium Group for four years and spent six years at Papa Johns before joining TIAA-CREF. 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 to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management through model and customized portfolios, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Jazmin Williams is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Equitable Advisors and Axa Advisors. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering both point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions through an integrated model linked to Empower’s administrative platforms.

William Rhodes II is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing prior to joining Fifth Third. Outside of his advisory role, he is a rental property owner in Concord, NC. 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 combines its municipal-advisor registration with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, offering multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Cara Lindner is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. She has 19 years of industry experience, including roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and several other firms. She was also involved with the Charlotte YMCA from 2016 to 2020. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, offering both brokerage and advisory services along with financial planning and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party portfolios and supports various account-level services including lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Michael Harris is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has four years of industry experience, including roles at Wells Fargo Investment Institute and Wells Fargo Bank. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is an SEC-registered, bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides investment research, manager due diligence, and asset allocation guidance primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its advice is delivered through model portfolios and allocation guidance for affiliates to implement, supported by both qualitative and quantitative research.

Phillip Price is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has two years of industry experience, including roles at PNC Investments LLC and PNC Bank. Prior to his financial services career, he also worked at Charlotte National Golf Club and other firms. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio strategy that uses algorithmic risk assessment and discretionary management via mutual funds and ETFs.

Paul Anderson is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2010. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and various small entities, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning services with ongoing discretionary portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group that utilizes affiliated funds.

Leke Vala is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previous experience at Vanguard Group, Wells Fargo, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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 TIAA employer retirement relationships. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while employing a fiduciary standard within its RIA services.

Michael Fiumara is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at E*TRADE Capital Management LLC and Transamerica Life Insurance Company. Outside of finance, he was involved with Tony's Pizza from 2023 to 2025. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs and investment education services. The firm relies on Morningstar Investment Management for portfolio construction and serves a large client base with both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management.

Sean Bruce is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience. Sean has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2015 and has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2009. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. 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 programs and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, combining its municipal-advisor registration with a corporate affiliation to a large bank.

Carolyn Menjivar is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Merrill, Bank of America, UBS Financial Services, and Wells Fargo. Outside of financial advising, she works part time delivering food through the Door Dash app. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm separates point-in-time planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Daniel Valverde is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Wells Fargo RELS. Outside of finance, he owns and operates Green Valley Photography, specializing in event and family photography. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches and integrates third-party manager relationships and AI‑enabled research tools in its investment process.

Stephen Campbell is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Pruco Securities LLC, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Park Sterling Bank, and LPL. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account that uses algorithmic risk assessment and approved model strategies executed via mutual funds and ETFs.

George Warren is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 26 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments, LLC since 2017, with prior experience at Advisors Asset Management, Inc. from 2014 to 2016. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a discretionary online model account pilot available to employees with PNC Bank online-banking credentials. The firm uses approved model strategies executed by investment delegates with mutual funds and ETFs, focusing on algorithm-driven enrollment and risk assessment.

Brandon James is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF in 2026, he held roles at Bank of America, Merrill, and Vanguard Marketing Corporation. 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, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management through various managed account programs.