Julia Roberts is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. She holds a Series 66 designation and has seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens, she worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Bank of America, Merrill, and Colton Groome Financial Advisors. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and businesses. The firm employs a mix of risk- and outcomes-based asset allocation, discretionary and non-discretionary management, and third-party managers, supported by integrated banking resources through its affiliation with a bank holding company.

Patrick Kilcoyne is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience. He is currently with TIAA-CREF, where he has worked since 2024. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley, and UBS Financial Services. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and separate broker-dealer services primarily to individuals with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm offers a range of advisory services including model portfolio management and customized portfolio solutions under a fiduciary standard.

Timothy Mann Jr. is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at BB&T Securities and Truist Investment Services. He volunteers as treasurer and finance committee member for the nonprofit Let Me Run. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, using a blend of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships supported by AI-enabled research and inter-affiliate integration.

Kevin Loftin is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at SunTrust Investment Services and SunTrust Bank since 2018 and previously at Pj Robb Variable Corp and Crump Life Insurance Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs, combining discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by AI-enhanced equity research and inter-affiliate integration.

Michael Trotter is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 10 years of industry experience. His prior work includes five years at TIAA-CREF before joining PNC Investments in 2019. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only, algorithm-driven digital offering for employees that uses approved model strategies executed via mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Deanna Strean is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including The Colony Group, Buckingham Strategic Wealth, Carolina Capital Consulting, and Contrary Investment Advisors. Prior to her current roles, she operated Strean Financial Services and was associated with H. Beck, Inc. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth advisory and investment management services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, retirement plans, institutions, and businesses. The firm’s investment approach combines active and passive strategies within a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive framework and offers a range of fiduciary, financial counseling, and family office services.

Kristy Meeler is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She is currently with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has also worked at LPL Financial since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she offers insurance to small groups and individuals through multiple carriers as needed. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a network model of independent advisory representatives and combines discretionary portfolio management with access to third-party managers and technology platforms for comprehensive client service.

Michael Dautel is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021, including prior roles at Truist Investment Services and BB&T Investment Services dating back to 2005. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting with oversight from its Equity Research team and Investment Advisory Group.

Joseph Tieber Jr. is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His prior firms include Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE Capital Management, and Alight Financial Advisors, along with a long tenure at TIAA-CREF. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning, discretionary managed accounts, and broker-dealer services to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporations, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered retirement relationships. The firm’s model differentiates planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

John Czura is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and four years of industry experience. Before joining Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services in 2025, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC from 2021 to 2025. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches with oversight from an Equity Research team and Investment Advisory Group.

Michael Willard is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 license and 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Foundations Investment Advisors LLC, Alloy Wealth Holdings, Alloy Wealth Management, and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory work, he is listed as owner and president of Forged Financial LLC. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms that combine long-term investment strategies with options for shorter-term trading and specialized instruments, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

William Semans is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked with Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, following six years at BB&T Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration across its services.

Cathie Clontz is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has worked at Truist Advisory Services and affiliated firms since 2018, including BB&T Securities and PNC Investments. 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 AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration with Truist Investment Services and Truist Bank.

Andrew Gradus II is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials with 23 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Adhesion Wealth and Nuveen Securities, as well as a long tenure at TIAA dating back to 2004. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing retirement plan relationships, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management through model and customized portfolios, operating within a vertically integrated group that includes affiliated funds.

Samantha Allen is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in the financial services industry. She currently works at VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., having joined in 2025. Her previous experience includes six years at The Vanguard Group, Inc. and roles at The Reddoor and Wingate University. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. offers investment advisory, brokerage, financial planning, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm utilizes a combination of model portfolios and manager-driven sleeves, delivering mostly non-discretionary investment guidance alongside discretionary offerings.

Gregory Morris is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and TIAA 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 TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group that uses affiliated funds.

Mickey Howell is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC. Prior to joining Rockefeller Financial, Howell worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC. 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 combines portfolio management, financial planning, brokerage services, and investment banking within a Private Advisor model supported by its Rockefeller Global Investment Management platform.

Jamie Smothers is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. since 2006. Based in Charlotte, NC, Jamie holds a Series 66 license and is involved as a member and manager of Peak Property Management LLC, which focuses on purchasing, repairing, and managing rental properties. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory, brokerage, and licensed insurance services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation through fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management solutions.

Kymona Thomas is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing, LPL Financial, and Vanguard Marketing Corporation. She is currently based in Huntersville, NC. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term goals, supplemented by direct indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and selective private market investments.

Harold Lockwood Jr. is a CFP® and ChFC® with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. and has previously worked at BB&T and Truist Advisory Services. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plans, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio management through wrap programs, an automated Guided Investing platform, tax-aware services, and financial planning, leveraging its affiliation with a bank holding company to integrate banking resources with investment solutions.