Michelle Kuzma Kempf is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Hightower Advisors and its affiliated broker-dealer since 2011. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering multi-manager solutions that include affiliated and third-party managers, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and access to pooled and private investment vehicles.

Christine Dixon is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 22 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF since 2005. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management, applying a fiduciary standard across its services.

Matthew Johnson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at BB&T Securities, LLC since 2019 and has been with SunTrust Advisory Services, SunTrust Investment Services, and SunTrust Bank since 2014. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies. The firm integrates inter-affiliate resources and employs AI-enabled tools through its Equity Research team to support manager selection and investment oversight.

Kristina Wicks is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2021. Prior to her current role, she was employed at Rochester Institute of Technology and Binghamton Country Club. 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 ties to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time financial planning and ongoing portfolio management, applying a fiduciary standard across its RIA services.

Brandon Younger is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at UBS Financial Services Inc. and Edward Jones. He is based in Charlotte, NC. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals with existing TIAA retirement plan relationships, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management, including customized portfolios managed under client-approved investment policies.

Scott Lautz is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with TIAA and its affiliates since 2011. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning services and ongoing discretionary portfolio management through model and customized portfolios.

Gina Lowery is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA since 2013, including her role at TIAA CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC. 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 retirement plan relationships. The firm offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, operating within a vertically integrated group that includes advisory services for a donor-advised fund.

Benjamin Laubach is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with a Series 65 designation and experience in both advisory and other business roles, including work with Tastful Occasions and Phantom Fireworks. He began his industry career in 2025 and is based in Charlotte, NC. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing investment advisory services along with financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm’s investment approach centers on Modern Portfolio Theory, using diversified portfolios and various investment vehicles supported by comprehensive client education and specialized service lines.

Austin Lewis is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC in Charlotte, NC. His prior roles include positions at AssetMark Brokerage, LLC and The Vanguard Group, Inc. Outside of advising, he is a managing partner and co-founder of SouthPark Family Tax, LLC, a seasonal income tax preparation firm. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides 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, employing a diversified investment process that blends passive and active strategies overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Michael George is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a Logistics Journeyman in the United States Air Force Air National Guard, supporting deployment operations. 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 offers both model-based and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Mark Hargrove is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes a decade at McCreary Modern and a year with Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through employer retirement plans. The firm provides point-in-time financial planning alongside ongoing portfolio management using model and customized portfolios under a fiduciary standard.

Brent Hann is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. in Cornelius, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, &PARTNERS, and AXA Distributors, LLC. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, consulting, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments and lending solutions, operating a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer model with both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Benjamin Beeson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Principal Life Insurance Company, Wells Fargo Clearing, and New York Life Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by AI-enabled research tools and extensive inter-affiliate integration.

David Vogt is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and having three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Rugged Science and Dickinson College, as well as involvement with Pro Skills Basketball. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised fund advisory.

Jerry Pettus is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 25 years of industry experience. He has worked with TIAA-CREF since 2001. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals—often those with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans—as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm separates point-in-time planning from ongoing discretionary management, employs a fiduciary standard for its advisory services, and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund through Charityvest.

Micah Parks is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with three years of industry experience currently with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at Vanguard Advisers and Vanguard Marketing Corporation and has held positions in various industries including DoorDash and automotive sales. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected with TIAA retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, including customized investment solutions managed by dedicated portfolio managers.

Evan Jonas is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. Prior to his advisory career, he served in the North Carolina Air National Guard from 2010 to 2017. Outside of his professional work, he volunteers with a non-profit dance troupe that supports dance-related activities through fundraising efforts. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients linked to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management, operating within a vertically integrated group that uses affiliated funds and applies a fiduciary standard to its RIA services.

Ernest Kiefer III is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2013. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and financial planning, utilizing IAR-led assessments and a mix of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate assets.

Samuel Askew is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at FedEx and held various roles including at the University of Connecticut and educational institutions. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals with ties to TIAA employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm offers a range of services including model portfolio management and customized portfolio solutions, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Patricia Godfrey is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and seven years of industry experience. She also serves as Senior Manager of Sales Operations at Veritas Technologies, LLC, a data information technology firm. Godfrey is a 50% owner of Blackbridge Financial, LLC, a DBA associated with her work at Independent Advisor Alliance. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing a network model of advisory representatives supported by sub-advisors and third-party platforms.