Leila Evans is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience. She has worked at MAI Capital Management since 2021 and previously spent 12 years with Solamere Advisors and Capital Guardian, LLC. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides investment management, wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutions. The firm offers customized portfolio management across multiple strategies and serves in both product-sponsor and advisory roles, managing significant assets and related private funds.

Brandon Wright is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF who holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 21 years of industry experience. He has been with 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 distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, operating under a fiduciary standard for its RIA services and managing portfolios through model-based or customized approaches.

Justin Stojetz is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he worked at the University of South Carolina and was involved with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing relationships through TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as to various trusts, estates, and institutional clients. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, utilizing a fiduciary standard in its advisory services.

Edward Kiss is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2011. 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. The firm serves clients often connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans and offers a range of model and customized portfolio management services within a fiduciary framework.

Benjamin White is a CFP® certificant with one year of experience as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services. He has worked within various divisions of Truist, including Truist Investment Service and Truist Bank, since 2013. 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 manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools, to deliver its investment solutions.

Richard Burke is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. since 2016. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is a bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, asset-allocation guidance, and model portfolios primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its research and strategy teams use both qualitative and quantitative analysis and proprietary forecasting tools to deliver impersonal, non-discretionary advice to affiliated entities.

Kandi Rudolph is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 15 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2010. Outside of her advisory role, she is an owner of ELYSSE ROSE LLC, a business involved in hobbies and homemade crafts, and serves as a board member of the Stratford Richardson YMCA. Additionally, she volunteers as the Chapter Financial Secretary for Jack and Jill of America. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, frequently serving clients with existing TIAA-administered retirement relationships. The firm offers both point-in-time financial planning and ongoing discretionary portfolio management, applying a fiduciary standard to its RIA services.

Aaron Emory is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing and First Citizens Bank. First Citizens Investor Services provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a broad client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and business entities. The firm uses a combination of risk- and outcomes-based asset allocation, discretionary and non-discretionary management, and third-party managers, supported by technology including a Guided Investing platform and tax-aware services.

Anthony Hui is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 designation and has experience in both academic and financial sectors, including roles at the Institute for Private Capital, the UNC Department of Economics, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is an SEC-registered, bank-affiliate advisory and research organization that provides manager due diligence, securities research, asset-allocation guidance, and model portfolios primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its research and strategy development are team-based and use both qualitative and quantitative analysis to support bank fiduciary and trust divisions as well as other investment-adviser clients.

Aimee Blinder is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 25 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Charles Schwab in various roles from 2019 to 2024 and at National Planning Corporation/Holdings for 20 years. She has also contributed freelance writing to industry publications and personal essays without compensation. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager arrangements supported by AI-enabled research tools and integrated inter-affiliate operating structures.

Madeline Huffman is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, FinTrust Capital Advisors, and Wells Fargo Bank. She provides administrative support to Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services in addition to her advisory duties. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services offers 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 across a large advisor network, employing diversified, risk-class based investment strategies that combine passive and active management with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Benjamin Perego is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2004. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm serves clients often connected through TIAA‑administered employer retirement plans and manages portfolios using a range of model and customized approaches within a vertically integrated structure.

Brenton Simonson is a Certified Financial Planner® with 17 years of industry experience. He currently works at Creative Planning and previously held roles at LPL Financial and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment approach focused on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Willis Heslep is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. He has operated his own tax and retirement planning business since 2021 and has managed Heslep Wealth Advisors, an insurance and investment advisory firm, since 2014. His background includes roles at several advisory and investment firms dating back to 1997. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies, including strategic asset allocation models and options-enhanced strategies, and offers portfolio management through a turnkey platform and wrap-fee programs.

Rashund Green is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 and Series 63 designations and 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. The firm serves clients often connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans and offers both model-based and customized portfolio management within a vertically integrated structure.

Jacob Hedrick is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens since 2013 and is also involved with Nellie T Properties, a business focused on purchasing, holding, and flipping rental properties. First Citizens Investor Services offers investment advisory, brokerage, and insurance services to individual and institutional clients, employing a mix of strategic and tactical asset-allocation approaches through portfolio management, automated investing, and financial planning.

Chad Pannell is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with LPL Financial and Independent Advisor Alliance since 2016. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm utilizes a network model of independent advisory representatives and combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with technology platforms for account aggregation and estate planning.

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.

Karl Mount III is a Series 66-credentialed advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., bringing four years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Bankers Life Securities and BankersLife and Casualty Company, where he also serves as a unit field trainer recruiting and training insurance agents. Prior to his financial services career, he was involved with Backstreets Bar & Grill and held positions at Lenoir Rhyne University. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm’s investment approach focuses on customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to guide portfolio decisions.