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.

Sean Bruce is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience. Sean has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2015 and has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2009. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs and features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, combining its municipal-advisor registration with a corporate affiliation to a large bank.

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 at Truist Advisory Services with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously 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 and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches and integrates third-party manager relationships and AI‑enabled research tools in its investment process.

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.

Daniel Barry Jr. is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at BrightHouse Securities, LLC and MetLife. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue Securities LLC, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of financial planning and consulting services, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and access to proprietary and third-party platforms.

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.

Stephen Campbell is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Pruco Securities LLC, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Park Sterling Bank, and LPL. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account that uses algorithmic risk assessment and approved model strategies executed via mutual funds and ETFs.

George Warren is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Advisors Asset Management, Allspring Funds Management, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Evergreen Investment Management. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio strategist pilot that uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and employs approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

George Nebel is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and having one year of experience at the firm. Prior to joining PNC, he worked for 17 years at Omya Inc. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an online discretionary model account currently offered as an invitation-only pilot for employees. The firm uses algorithmic tools to recommend investment models implemented via approved strategies managed by PNC or third parties.

Brandon James is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. He has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at Bank of America, Merrill, and Vanguard Marketing Corporation. 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 pre-existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time financial planning and ongoing portfolio management within a vertically integrated advisory model.

Christopher Knight is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at Bank of America and Merrill for four years. Outside of finance, he performs part-time handyman work involving small construction and maintenance projects. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm employs a fiduciary standard and provides both model portfolio and customized portfolio options through its advice and planning services.

Casey Pond is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens Investor Services since 2015 and previously worked at Fifth Third Securities. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner of Round Table Investments LLC. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services. The firm combines IAR-led financial assessments with fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across multiple asset classes.

Raphael Tshikala is a financial advisor at TIAA‑CREF with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC. Outside of finance, Raphael owns a music production and performance company and is co-owner of a trucking business. 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 offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management within a vertically integrated advisory model.

Daniel Spainhour is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Rockefeller Financial LLC since 2023 and was previously with Janney Montgomery Scott for 14 years. 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 operates both as an investment advisor and a registered broker-dealer, providing a range of portfolio management, financial planning, placement, and investment banking services through its integrated investment platform.

Jennifer Kotzian is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has 10 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including model portfolio management and customized portfolios, and acts as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Robert Murdock is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2007. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning, discretionary managed accounts, and broker-dealer services to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model separates point-in-time financial planning from ongoing discretionary management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund within a vertically integrated group.

Kristopher Carroll is a CFP® professional with 25 years of industry experience based in Charlotte, NC. He currently serves as a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and has held roles at LPL Financial, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, and Carroll Financial Associates. Outside of his advisory work, he is a board member of Bold Therapeutics and Enviro-Master International Franchise, LLC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise firm serving individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a large network of advisors. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management with quantitative and fundamental research, offering a variety of financial planning, asset management, and specialized consulting services.

Brett Sexton is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 18 years of experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2008. The firm provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporate entities, often serving clients with pre-existing retirement plan relationships through TIAA. TIAA-CREF’s advisory services include both point-in-time financial planning and ongoing portfolio management, utilizing model and customized investment strategies within a vertically integrated structure.