Rama Elasmar is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, she worked at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and was involved in the hospitality industry managing Layaly Cafe & Hookah Lounge. 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 corporate entities, often serving clients with existing employer retirement plan relationships. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, providing customized investment solutions within a vertically integrated structure.

Jessica Flynn is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF and Tiaa in 2023, she held various roles including positions at New York University and Alison Brod Marketing and Communications. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, and other entities. The firm separates planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group that utilizes affiliated funds.

Mary Easterling is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with less than one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at CMC Financial - RFG Advisory, FV Financial Solutions, and Supertone, as well as experience in educational and entrepreneurial settings. 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 connected through employer retirement plans. The firm operates within a vertically integrated structure providing both model and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard.

David Curry is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes six years at Second Half Strategies and three years at HoneyBaked Ham. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a network model with over 300 advisors and employs various portfolio management strategies supported by technology platforms and third-party managers.

Kevin Hill is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and held positions at Papa John's Pizza and Ashville High School. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, offering both model and customized portfolio solutions.

Robert Armstrong is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience. He is currently with Guardian Life and associated with Park Avenue Securities, where he has worked since 2021. Armstrong has held prior roles at Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC, Advisory Services Network, LLC, Regulus Advisors, LLC, Greater Media, and Avantax Advisory Services. Outside of advising, he serves as president of a local BNI chapter and participates in peer-to-peer car rental activities. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management, model-based strategies, and digital advisory solutions tailored to client needs, with access to insurance products, alternative investments, and integrated lending options.

Matthew Long is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. His career includes positions at Truist, Kovar Wealth Management, A4 Wealth Advisors, and several other firms. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, frequently serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management, offers customized and model-based investment strategies, and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

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.

Benjamin Cheaney is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Ernst & Young and Morningstar. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Securities LLC, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides a combination of advisor-led discretionary management, model-based strategies, and a digital advisory solution, with access to insurance products and alternative investments.