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 credentials and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has been with First Citizens since 2013 and is also involved in real estate through Nellie T Properties, where he participates in investment and management activities. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities by providing advisory and brokerage services that include portfolio management, wrap programs, automated investing platforms, and financial planning, emphasizing a client process led by financial needs assessments and diversified investment strategies.

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.

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.

Lauren Grames is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and five years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at LPL Financial, Mutual of Omaha, and National Life Group. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of advisory representatives and combines discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party platforms and services.

Robert Armstrong is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Guardian Life Insurance Company, Park Avenue Securities, and other firms throughout his career. Outside of his advisory role, Armstrong serves as president of a local BNI chapter and participates in peer-to-peer car rental through Turo. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a diverse retail client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporations, offering brokerage and advisory services alongside financial planning and retirement consulting. The firm utilizes a range of proprietary and third-party investment strategies delivered through various platforms and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

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.

Tonya McMahon is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 24 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, and Wachovia Bank, N.A. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered 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, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering a range of brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs.

Eugene Musselwhite III is a financial advisor at Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked with Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation since 2017, as well as Transamerica Retirement Solutions since 2016. Prior to that, he was with Lincoln Financial Advisors and has operated a self-employed advisory practice since 2009. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs that include implemented portfolios and non-discretionary recommendations. The firm leverages Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary software and model portfolios to guide asset allocation, contribution rates, and retirement age decisions for a large client base.

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, Lehigh Valley Health Network, and the University of South Carolina. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers services such as asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by advanced research tools and inter-affiliate integration.

Kimberly Weber is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at UBS Financial Services, MassMutual, Nationwide Securities, InvestaCorp, and Highland Capital Brokerage. She is based in Charlotte, NC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers model-based and customized portfolio management and serves as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

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 six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at BB&T in various roles from 2014 to 2021 before joining Truist in 2021. Becker serves as a board member of the Cultivating Success Fund at the Columbus Foundation, a donor-advised charitable fund. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, implementing advice through a blend of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies supported by integrated inter-affiliate resources.

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.