Christian Potts is an advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2025 and has prior experience at Fifth Third Bank, Allied Universal, and All American Roofing. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a wide range of individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers various managed account programs on the Passageway platform, employing multiple portfolio management strategies and serving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Robert Miles is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, based in Charlotte, NC, and has five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Truist Advisory Services in 2022, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services from 2007 to 2022. Outside of his advisory role, Miles is a faculty member for the American Bankers Association and provides individual communication and behavioral coaching through his private coaching business. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships supported by AI-enabled research and extensive inter-affiliate collaboration.

Emma Brandt is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at Guardian Life Insurance Company and Equitable Advisors, as well as roles in academia and event management. Primerica Advisors is part of Park Avenue Securities LLC, which serves a diverse retail client base with brokerage and advisory services, including financial planning and retirement consulting. The firm offers a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party platforms, managing approximately $15 billion in regulatory assets under management.

Derrick Longo is a financial advisor with Savant Wealth Management, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and bringing 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Exencial Wealth Advisors, Burns Wealth Management, Intercarolina Financial Services, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of advisory work, he owns several rental properties in Kannapolis, NC, which contribute to a portion of his income. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management and related services. The firm employs a blend of evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation and actively managed strategies, supported by affiliated accounting, legal, and trust services.

John Tierney is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens in 2025, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and The Vanguard Group, Inc. among other positions. Outside of finance, he has experience in the catering industry. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation with fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, offering clients discretionary and non-discretionary management options along with complimentary financial planning and tax-aware services.

Autumn Williams is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. She holds a Series 65 designation and has four years of industry experience. Williams has been with Wells Fargo Investment Institute since 2000. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides institutional research, manager due diligence, model portfolio construction, and asset-allocation guidance primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses, as well as select external clients. The firm delivers specialized research and model guidance without exercising investment discretion or holding client assets.

John Clement is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of two homeowners associations in the Charlotte area. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm separates stand-alone planning services from ongoing portfolio management and offers customized investment options managed under a fiduciary standard.

Zachary Brock is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Cypress Benefit Solutions, Parks Insurance Group, and Employee Benefit Advisors. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel outside the United States. The firm’s advisory services encompass direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Travis Griffin is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone since 2018 and also maintains a long-term association with Harmony Wealth Group. Outside of his advisory role, he manages NC Financial Solutions LLC, a business focused on retirement income planning and insurance products, and operates an online retail company as well as teaching finance-related courses. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser that provides fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions.

Troy Rozich is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at HarrisDirect LLC and E*TRADE Capital Management LLC. He is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 employer retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning services with ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Jason Sykes is a CFP® professional with 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at SunTrust Advisory Services, Inc. and SunTrust Bank since 2011 and joined Truist Advisory Services following the merger. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for the Campbell University Trust Education Foundation and the Temassee Foundation, and manages an investment vehicle focused on international agricultural projects. Additionally, he is involved with the McGlohon Endowment as a singer. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, participant advice, and a manager-selection program that integrates discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by third-party platforms and AI-enhanced research.

David Degroot is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations with 31 years of industry experience. He has worked with PNC Investments since 2014 and briefly with PNC Bank. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an employee-only digital portfolio solution that uses algorithmic risk assessments and implements investments via approved model strategies managed by PNC or third parties.

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.

Michael Barboza is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with five years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Merrill and Bank of America. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors through its Passageway Managed Account Program. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, operating as a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank with a unique combination of municipal-advisor registration and corporate affiliation.

Gavin Reber is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF and holds a Series 66 designation. He has two years of industry experience and previously worked at Enviro-Master, East Carolina University, QuikTrip, Tuition Landscape LLC, and Lincoln Charter School. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected with TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group that uses affiliated funds.

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.

Michael Smith is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently with Janney Montgomery Scott. His prior experience includes nine years at Wells Fargo Clearing and seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plans, and charitable organizations, providing brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and various advisory programs.

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 licenses and possessing 14 years of industry experience. His career has been primarily with Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2011, with a brief tenure at Wcm. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm combines its broker-dealer and municipal-advisor registrations with a corporate affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, providing clients access to multiple managed-account programs, direct indexing, tax-overlay services, and a broad range of fund strategist options.