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.

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.

Brett Schmidt is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently advising at Rockefeller Financial LLC. He previously worked at Truist Advisory Services and BB&T, accumulating extensive experience in wealth management. He also serves as the Charlotte Chapter President for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, organizing community events and raising awareness for inherited retinal diseases. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, and operates as a registered broker-dealer with a comprehensive investment platform that includes equities, fixed income, and alternatives.

Vincenzo Atkinson is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked with SunTrust Advisory Services LLC and SunTrust Bank since 2016. He is based in Charlotte, NC, and currently serves as an advisor at Truist Advisory Services. 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-enabled tools and provides ongoing client reviews, partnering with Envestnet platforms to deliver customized asset allocation and manager selection.

Jordan Mc Elmurry is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA‑CREF and its affiliated entities since 2016. 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, often serving clients with existing employer retirement plan relationships. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that separates one-time planning from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Eric Robbins is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses with six years of industry experience. His career includes roles within various PNC Investments entities since 2018 and prior experience at Marriott Vacation Club. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio offering that uses algorithm-driven risk assessments and delegated portfolio management.

William Crocker is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Lockton Investment Advisors, Lockton Companies, and Lockton Financial Advisors from 2014 to 2021. Crocker is based in Indian Land, South Carolina. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process that combines low-cost indexing with supplemental strategies, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Matthew Orf is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2005. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals with connections to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Matthew Kalajian is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2006. He is based in Charlotte, NC, and holds a Series 63 license. Outside of his advisory role, Kalajian is involved in community organizations, serving on the boards of the Charlotte Economics Club and Camp Rockmont. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs through a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Frank Braswell III is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a soccer referee in the local community. 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 with TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Devin Neptune is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation. Devin has been with TIAA-CREF since 2023 and has prior experience in education at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and regional schools. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management using both model and customized investment strategies.