Benjamin Russo is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Truist, his background includes roles at Arizona State University and Lehigh Valley Health Network. Truist Advisory Services provides 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 tools and offers a range of fiduciary and advisory services through platforms like Envestnet.

Kimberly Weber is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously with UBS Financial Services and MassMutual Life Insurance. 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 relationships through employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management, utilizing both model and customized portfolios.

Lisa Hensarling is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Cetera Advisor Networks and LPL Financial. In addition to her advisory role, she is a commissioned Notary Public in North Carolina. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement plan consulting, employing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Samantha Becker is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with Truist Advisory Services and related entities since 2019, including BB&T prior to its merger. Becker serves as a board member for the Cultivating Success Fund at The Columbus Foundation, a donor-advised charitable giving vehicle. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm integrates traditional research with AI tools and provides ongoing reviews and client consultations through its affiliation with Truist Financial and its related entities.

Elizabeth Dawson is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2012. 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 retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm provides both one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, including customized strategies under client-approved investment policies.

William Thompson is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He has held roles at several firms including Merrill, E*Trade Securities, and Valor Wealth Partners. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios and offers a range of implementation options along with financial planning, retirement consulting, tax support, and estate-planning coordination.

Mathew Valentin is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding the Series 66 and Series 63 designations and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF in 2023, he worked at The Millennium Group for four years and spent six years at Papa Johns. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing relationships through TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management using model and customized portfolios under a fiduciary standard.

Scott Mc Curry is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with over 15 years of experience, including 14 years at Wells Fargo. He joined Empower Advisory Group in 2026 and is based in Charlotte, NC. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage account holders. The firm delivers services through an integrated platform that emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Jazmin Williams is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Equitable Advisors and Axa Advisors. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering both point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions through an integrated model linked to Empower’s administrative platforms.

James Freeman is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 43 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Rockefeller Financial in 2024, he held positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, as well as at Citigroup Global Markets. Rockefeller Financial serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm operates both as a registered broker-dealer and an investment advisor, offering a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and investment banking services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform.

William Rhodes II is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. in Huntersville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. His career includes positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Fifth Third Bank. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities with investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types through its Passageway Managed Account platform, combining third-party portfolio management with advisor-guided investment solutions.

Cara Lindner is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. She is currently with Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of Guardian Life, and has previously worked at firms including Worth Financial Advisory Group, Cambridge Investment Research, and Raymond James Financial Services. Outside of her advisory roles, Lindner was involved with the Charlotte YMCA for four years. Park Avenue Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and offers a range of consulting and planning services tailored to client needs.

Michael Harris is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 credential and has four years of industry experience, including five years at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. prior to joining Wells Fargo Investment Institute in 2021. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides research, global investment strategy, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and unaffiliated financial institutions. The firm offers non-discretionary, non-customized portfolio models developed through specialized divisions focused on manager research, securities research, investment strategy, and asset allocation.

Paul Anderson is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2010. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and various small entities, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning services with ongoing discretionary portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group that utilizes affiliated funds.

Leke Vala is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previous experience at Vanguard Group, Wells Fargo, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA employer retirement relationships. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while employing a fiduciary standard within its RIA services.

Michael Fiumara is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at E*TRADE Capital Management LLC and Transamerica Life Insurance Company. Outside of finance, he was involved with Tony's Pizza from 2023 to 2025. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs and investment education services. The firm relies on Morningstar Investment Management for portfolio construction and serves a large client base with both discretionary and non-discretionary asset management.

Carolyn Menjivar is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Merrill, Bank of America, UBS Financial Services, and Wells Fargo. Outside of financial advising, she works part time delivering food through the Door Dash app. 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 to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm separates point-in-time planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Daniel Valverde is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Truist in 2025, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Wells Fargo RELS. Outside of finance, he owns and operates Green Valley Photography, specializing in event and family photography. 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 combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and collaborates with Envestnet platforms to offer tailored asset allocation strategies and manager recommendations.

Grace Pelino is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Rockefeller Financial LLC. She has worked at Rockefeller Financial and Rockefeller Capital Management since 2022 and spent one year at Morgan Stanley. 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, operating uniquely as a registered broker-dealer with capabilities in securities transactions, variable insurance products, and investment banking.

Stacy Bortle is a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with 14 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LPL Financial, and First Citizens Asset Management. Outside of her advisory role, she maintains independent distributorships for nutrition products and participates in online resale activities. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, offering investment advisory programs as well as brokerage and insurance services. The firm’s advisory offerings include a digital advisory program and a Managed Account program, with integrated bank, broker-dealer, and advisory operations under Citizens Bank ownership.