Taylor Bryant is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has previously worked with Charlotte Wealth Management and LPL Financial. Bryant also provides administrative support to independent investment advisor firms in the Charlotte area. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a network of advisory representatives using a range of portfolio management strategies and technology platforms.

Thomas Cline is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing. He serves as a board member for the United Way of Roanoke Valley. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm’s approach involves IAR-led assessments and combines fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Dylan Coe is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Mass Mutual. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model separates one-time financial planning from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund sponsored by Charityvest.

Tiffany Ku is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining TLG Advisors, she worked at The Leaders Group Inc. and CTBC Bank USA. Ku also serves as a Client Services Manager and Writing Agent for a life insurance brokerage business. TLG Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on investment supervisory services and portfolio management through a manager selection process informed by fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, and offers a direct-to-consumer digital program called Starlight Portfolios.

Michael Porter is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. since 2017. He has a long-standing career with Bankers Life and its affiliates dating back to 2004, where he also supervises a team of insurance agents. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser that primarily serves mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations and portfolio management aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

John Hall is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, and Carroll Financial Associates Inc. He operates out of Charlotte, NC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and multiple program offerings.

Michael Bellavia is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Truist Advisory Services, Bb&T Securities, and Bb&T Investment Services. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through multiple program types and third-party portfolio managers on the Passageway Managed Account platform.

Hannah Smith is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at various Truist entities since 2021, as well as prior roles at Beneficial Investments and Robinson & Stith Insurance. 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 integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of fiduciary and advisory services through its affiliation with Truist Financial and partnerships with Envestnet.

Michael Thompson is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at Park Avenue Securities since 2012 and with Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2001. Outside of his advisory roles, he operates Thompson Planning Group Insurance, focusing on the sale of traditional insurance products. Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, serves individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, providing clients access to proprietary programs, third-party advisory solutions, and integrated financial services including insurance and alternative investments.

Joshua Griffin is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with Truist and its predecessor firms since 2016. Griffin is based in Charlotte, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides 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 integrates traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of advisory services through its affiliation with Truist Financial and its network of banking and broker-dealer entities.

William Bayles is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including Fidelity Investments and UBS Financial Services. Bayles has also been involved with TEAM Charlotte Swimming. 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 employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, using a combination of model and customized portfolios.

Emanuel Thomason is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at National Life Group, Edward Jones, Thrivent Financial, and LPL Financial. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms and combines long-term investment strategies with options for shorter-term trading, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary assets through a network of investment adviser representatives.

Jaylen Gentry is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF in 2023, he worked at New York Life Insurance Company and Correlation One, and spent seven years at Carmax. 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 TIAA-administered retirement relationships. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, using both model and customized portfolios.

Shawn Thompson is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial and Retirement Clearinghouse. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services 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’s approach integrates proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates, with service delivery closely tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Jacob Schmidt is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory in Charlotte, NC. His prior experience includes roles at The Vanguard Group and Facet, as well as self-employment. Outside of finance, Schmidt performs as a singer. Schwab Wealth Advisory 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 services emphasize client authorization for trades and rely on Charles Schwab’s asset-allocation models and internal research tools.

Natalie Nesbit is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 21 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at UBS Financial Services and The Motley Fool, LLC. Nesbit is based in Charlotte, NC. 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. The firm serves clients often connected through TIAA‑administered retirement plans and offers both model-based and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard.

Matthew Stork is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and having four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First Citizens Bank, Wells Fargo, and Principal Securities. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with employer retirement plan relationships, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time financial planning from ongoing portfolio management and serves as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Christopher Prevette is a CFA® charterholder with five years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, having previously worked at Principal Financial Group and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of the Charlotte Carolinas Rugby Club, a nonprofit focused on youth and community outreach, where he holds the position of treasurer. 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 combines a network model of independent advisory representatives with access to brokerage services and third-party platforms for estate planning and portfolio management.

Robert Keith is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF continuously since 2014. 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 trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model differentiates between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, offering both model-based and customized portfolios.

Natasha Allen is a financial advisor with Carson Wealth in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes roles at Edward Jones and LPL Financial, among others. Outside of advising, she owns Natasha N. Allen, LLC, a coaching business focused on helping women with emotional eating and weight loss, and serves as a skills development coach at the Life Purpose Institute. Carson Wealth is an SEC-registered investment adviser operating an enterprise platform with over 650 advisors managing approximately $50.6 billion. The firm serves corporate, institutional, and high-net-worth clients with discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing a model portfolio approach overseen by an Investment Committee.