Joshua Bartholomew is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at firms including Horizon Investments, Quasar Distributors, and Fortune Financial Services. Bartholomew is based in Matthews, NC. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors as well as institutional and individual clients. The firm offers a range of services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms and third-party solutions.

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 Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 43 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Rockefeller Financial in 2024, he held positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, as well as at Citigroup Global Markets. Rockefeller Financial 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 a registered broker-dealer and an investment advisor, offering a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and investment banking services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform.

Cara Lindner is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. She is currently with Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of Guardian Life, and has previously worked at firms including Worth Financial Advisory Group, Cambridge Investment Research, and Raymond James Financial Services. Outside of her advisory roles, Lindner was involved with the Charlotte YMCA for four years. Park Avenue Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and offers a range of consulting and planning services tailored to client needs.

Benjamin Cheaney is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Ernst & Young and Morningstar. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Securities LLC, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides a combination of advisor-led discretionary management, model-based strategies, and a digital advisory solution, with access to insurance products and alternative investments.

Michael Harris is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 65 credential and has four years of industry experience, including five years at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. prior to joining Wells Fargo Investment Institute in 2021. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides research, global investment strategy, and model-portfolio services to Wells Fargo affiliates and unaffiliated financial institutions. The firm offers non-discretionary, non-customized portfolio models developed through specialized divisions focused on manager research, securities research, investment strategy, and asset allocation.

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., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2015 and has worked with FIFTH THIRD BANK since 2009. FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts through both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers a range of programs on its Passageway platform, utilizing third-party portfolio managers and various investment strategies, and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third 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 with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Truist in 2025, he 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, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and collaborates with Envestnet platforms to offer tailored asset allocation strategies and manager recommendations.

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® professional with over 43 years of industry experience. He is currently with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and has held prior roles at Charlotte Wealth Management, LPL Financial, Securities America Advisors, Ameriprise Advisor Services, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Gardner is based in Charlotte, NC. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies. The firm integrates technology platforms and a network model that includes advisory representatives dually registered with LPL Financial.

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 at PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with the firm since 2026. Prior to joining PNC, he worked at Omya Inc. from 2009 to 2026. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a digital discretionary model account pilot available to PNC employees. The program uses algorithmic risk assessments to implement investments via approved strategies with mutual funds and ETFs, featuring annual rebalancing and outsourcing of portfolio implementation and proxy voting.

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.