Thomas Simonson is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning since 2021. Prior to joining Creative Planning, he worked for nine years at Lockton Investment Advisors, LLC, Lockton Financial Advisors, LLC, and Lockton Companies, LLC. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $217 billion in client assets. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process with an emphasis on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, alongside supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Khalif Croom is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and nine years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Vanguard Advisers and Melaleuca. Outside of advising, he is a licensed real estate agent in Charlotte, offering services to clients interested in buying or selling homes. TIAA‑CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing relationships through employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm offers model-based and customized portfolio management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group.

Breanna Lawson is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and having one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Lane Bryant and The Children's Place, with additional experience at Fifth Third Bank, N.A. since 2021. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types on its Passageway Managed Account Platform, using third-party portfolio managers and providing options such as SMA strategies, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

Gavin Reber is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2023. His prior work includes roles at Enviro-Master, East Carolina University, QuikTrip, Tuition Landscape LLC, and Lincoln Charter School. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals with pre-existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that distinguishes planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund within a vertically integrated group.

Donald Stouffer is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a business manufacturing and selling bass fishing baits and also buys and sells collectible cards on eBay. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, with a range of model and customized portfolio options.

Paige Weddle is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc., bringing four years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Charles Schwab Bank, SSB, Wag, Kohl's Department Stores, Inc., and The World Egg Bank. She is based in Charlotte, NC. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations primarily for clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and select Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s guidance focuses on asset allocation and investment selection using Schwab’s internal research tools, with trades executed only upon client authorization.

Marianne Gebhardt is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Cetera Advisor Networks. Outside of her advisory role, she manages marketing and operations for Gebhardt Farms LLC, a maple syrup retail and wholesale business. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement consulting using a combination of passive and active investment strategies guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Benjamin Kristoff is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 15 years of industry experience. His career includes multiple roles within Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank, as well as a position at Wells Fargo Clearing. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts, offering both advisory and brokerage services. The firm provides access to a range of investment programs through the Passageway Managed Account platform, supporting strategies from mutual funds and ETFs to separately managed accounts and direct indexing.

Scott Salisbury is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Mint Hill, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 35 years of industry experience. Since 2016, he has operated under the DBA SWS Financial Group, Inc., focusing on selling New York Life products and brokering non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individual investors and institutional sponsors, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Robert Cousar Jr. is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Secretary of the Board for the Charlotte Track Club, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting running and healthy living 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, and small retirement plans, often working with clients connected through employer retirement plans. The firm offers a fiduciary standard for its RIA services and manages portfolios ranging from model-based to customized solutions under client-approved investment policies.

James Waters is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Questar Capital Corporation, Wells Fargo Investment Institute Inc., Global Alternative Investment Services Inc., and Nyes Ledge Capital Management LLC. Waters is also the sole proprietor of HighStreet Partners and a partner in two entities based in North Carolina. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices, as well as institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, and operates as a registered broker-dealer offering securities transactions, variable insurance products, and investment banking services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform.

Alexander Miles is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Kingfisher Capital, LLC and Stonecrest Capital Markets Inc. Miles serves as a member of the Board of Visitors at Queens University of Charlotte, contributing to the academic and cultural life of the institution. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and strategic use of low-cost index vehicles.

William King is a CFP® professional with 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Kestra Advisory since 2016 and has a long tenure at Kestra Investment Services, LLC as well as Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. King serves as secretary of the Concord Downtown Development Corporation Foundation Board, a local community organization. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients, offering services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves large institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds.

Ty Grogan is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Bank of America, Merrill, and UBS Financial Services. Grogan served four years in the US Army and currently receives disability compensation from the Department of Defense. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing TIAA retirement plan relationships, as well as trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that separates planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund through Charityvest.

Joseph Lynch IV is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Personal Capital Advisors Corporation, TD Ameritrade, and Vanguard. He also serves as an adjunct instructor at Rowan Cabarrus Community College, teaching accounting courses, and at Central Piedmont Community College, where he teaches within the Certified Financial Planner program. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to employer retirement plans administered by TIAA.

Corey Mcfadden is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Raymond James, Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., Merrill, and LPL Financial. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only, employee pilot digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and third-party portfolio implementation.

John Shaw III is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he is a writer of children’s books published by Simon & Schuster. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with pre-existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, offering both model and customized portfolio options.

Michael Specht is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Equitable Advisors and extensive tenure with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2010. 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 TIAA retirement relationships. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, utilizing both model and customized portfolios under fiduciary standards.

Hayden Askea is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, based in Charlotte, NC. He has been with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services since 2026 and has prior experience at The Home Depot and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and utilizes a diversified investment approach combining passive and active managers with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Austin Nelms is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with seven years of industry experience, currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. His prior work includes positions at Bankers Life, Bank of America, Merrill, and First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to guide portfolio allocation across various asset classes and offers a range of investment programs and financial planning solutions.