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 at TIAA-CREF with Series 66 and Series 63 designations and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Millennium Group for four years and spent six years at Papa Johns before joining TIAA-CREF. 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 connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management through model and customized portfolios, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Joshua Bartholomew is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory in Matthews, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fortune Financial Services, Quasar Distributors, LLC, and two decades with Horizon Investments. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual investors. The firm offers a range of services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education, and supports complex investment solutions while managing approximately $79.8 billion in assets.

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 43 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Citigroup Global Markets. 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 discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting, operating also as a registered broker-dealer with capabilities in securities transactions, variable insurance products, placement, and investment banking services.

Cara Lindner is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. She has 19 years of industry experience, including roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and several other firms. She was also involved with the Charlotte YMCA from 2016 to 2020. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, offering both brokerage and advisory services along with financial planning and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party portfolios and supports various account-level services including lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Benjamin Cheaney is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience and previously worked at Ernst & Young and Morningstar. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting through a variety of proprietary and third-party investment programs.

Michael Harris is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc., based in Charlotte, NC. He has three years of industry experience and has worked at Wells Fargo Investment Institute since 2021, following five years at Wells Fargo Bank and a brief tenure at BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides institutional research, manager due diligence, model portfolio construction, and asset allocation guidance primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses, as well as select external clients. The firm’s work is organized into specialized divisions that produce research and model portfolios for affiliated and some non-affiliated advisers.

Phillip Price is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has two years of industry experience, including roles at PNC Investments LLC and PNC Bank. Prior to his financial services career, he also worked at Charlotte National Golf Club and other firms. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio strategy that uses algorithmic risk assessment and discretionary management via mutual funds and ETFs.

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.

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 with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Merrill, UBS Financial Services, and Wells Fargo. Outside of advising, she works part-time delivering food through the DoorDash app. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals and institutional clients, often those with existing relationships through employer retirement plans. The firm offers a range of advisory services including model portfolio management and customized portfolio solutions under fiduciary standards.

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.

Stuart Gardner Jr. is a CFP® with 43 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. He has held roles at Charlotte Wealth Management, LLC and LPL Financial. Gardner also serves as an agent of record for 1st Atlantic Brokerage, engaging in non-variable insurance activities. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm utilizes a network model combining independent advisory representatives with access to third-party managers, technology platforms, and brokerage services through LPL Financial.

Daniel Barry Jr. is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BrightHouse Securities, MetLife, Guardian Life Insurance, and Park Avenue Securities. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering both brokerage and fee-based advisory services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through proprietary model portfolios, third-party managers, and digital advice solutions, managing approximately $15 billion in regulatory assets under management.

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.

Elizabeth Younts is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She has worked at Sterling Financial Group, Lincoln Investment, USI Insurance Services, and Wells Fargo Insurance Services. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a trustee for a family member’s trust. Commonwealth Financial Network supports a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors, providing a range of advisory programs, technology, and operational support while allowing advisors discretion in portfolio construction through various investment and insurance products.

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.