Michael Keen is a CFP® professional based in Charlotte, NC, with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2023, after a year at Byron Financial, LLC, and seven years at The Vanguard Group, Inc. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolios supported by in-house research and third-party managers, and provides integrated tax, accounting, and financial wellness solutions.

Robert Johnson Jr. is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 15 years of industry experience. He has held roles at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Asset Management since 2020, and previously worked at PNC Bank and PNC Investments. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in real estate rehabilitation and property management through his ownership of RATE Properties. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, providing advisory and brokerage services with a range of portfolio management and financial planning solutions. The firm emphasizes IAR-led client assessments and applies multiple analytical approaches to investment allocation across equity, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

William Sadler is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2019. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he spent two years at Elon University and eight years in full-time education. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm serves clients often connected through TIAA-administered retirement plans and provides customized portfolio management alongside model portfolio options.

Sean Coggin is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and TIAA since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in several property management businesses, including ownership and management positions in rental property ventures. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with TIAA employer retirement plan relationships, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management, offering both model-driven and customized portfolio solutions within a vertically integrated advisory structure.

Andrew Tate is a financial advisor with Rockefeller Financial LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 25 years of industry experience. He was previously with UBS Financial Services for 10 years before joining Rockefeller Financial in 2024. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the Board of Governors and as Treasurer of the Quail Hollow Club, a golf club in Charlotte, NC. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services. The firm operates a Private Advisor model alongside a consolidated investment platform that provides a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions.

Joshua Hodge is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. He holds the Series 66 designation and has 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Charles Schwab and PNC Investments. 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 tax-overlay services, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Susan Brown is a financial advisor with \u0026PARTNERS in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. Prior to joining \u0026PARTNERS in 2025, she worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC for a combined 16 years. \u0026PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, and institutional entities, offering investment management and financial planning through both advisory and brokerage services. The firm employs a variety of analytical approaches and proprietary and third-party strategies, with advisors able to manage accounts directly or via selected third-party managers.

Shannon Lambert is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2002. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through employer retirement plans administered by TIAA. The firm acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund and provides a range of investment management options, including model and customized portfolios.

Martin Walker is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at First Citizens Investor Services, Pruco Securities LLC, and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of his advisory work, he is president and owner of Spectrum Benefits, Inc., a health insurance brokerage and consulting business. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform and manager arrangements, to implement investment advice.

Craig Faile is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC and holds the CFP® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 29 years of industry experience, including over a decade each at Independent Advisor Alliance and LPL Financial. 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. The firm utilizes various portfolio management strategies and technology platforms to support client services and maintains a network of advisory representatives with ties to LPL Financial.

Brandon Hatcher is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He is currently with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. and has previously worked at Serenity Investment Advisors, Edward Jones, and PNC. Outside of his advisory role, he manages a sports league as a league manager. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a national network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm provides portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party managers, and multiple managed account solutions.

Candice Trantham is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at First Citizens Investor Services and First Citizens Bank since 2014. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a client-centered process combining fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios through various investment vehicles, including UMAs, SMAs, and a Guided Investing platform.

Christopher Grainger is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Truist Advisory Services in 2025, he worked at Truist Bank, Wells Fargo, and TIAA-CREF. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools, to deliver tailored investment solutions.

Cynthia Piacentino is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 15 years of industry experience. She is currently with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and has prior experience at LPL Financial, CETERA Advisor Networks LLC, and Carroll Financial Associates, Inc. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides 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 regulatory assets under management and employs a diversified investment approach that blends passive and active management, overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Benjamin Smith is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at United Capital and Regions. Outside of finance, he was involved with 5 Star Nutrition LLC in 2019. 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, implementing advice through a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting.

John Kuhn is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Lake Norman Charter High School, Miller McNeish & Breedlove, PLLC, and Christ The King Catholic High School. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between point-in-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, offering both model portfolios and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard.

Cameron Mc Kee is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Principal Life Insurance Company, Guardian Life Insurance, and Northwestern Mutual, among other firms. Mc Kee is a member of the UNC Charlotte GOLD Alumni Committee and serves on the board of directors for Effort to Impact, a nonprofit organization. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers model and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard within a vertically integrated group that includes affiliated funds.

Alexander Houston is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 65 designation. He has been in the industry since 2025, with prior experience at Sterling Investment Counsel in the same year. Outside of finance, he has been involved with sports organizations, including the Pueblo Bulls Hockey Club and Midwest Knights Sports Group, and has an affiliation with Canisius University. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides institutional research, manager due diligence, model portfolio construction, and asset-allocation guidance primarily to Wells Fargo’s wealth and fiduciary businesses, along with select external clients. The firm’s work is divided among specialized divisions focused on manager research, securities analysis, asset allocation, and portfolio management, offering research and model guidance rather than direct investment management.

Joseph Baumgartner is a financial advisor at RBC Rochdale, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at New York Life insurance company for 14 years before joining CNR Securities, LLC. RBC Rochdale serves a diverse client base including high net worth individuals, investment companies, corporations, and government entities. The firm employs a multi-strategy investment process combining quantitative screening, statistical modeling, and fundamental analysis, and offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with sub-advisory and model delivery services.

Scott Angel is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. since 2003. He has also been affiliated with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company since 2002. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm utilizes a client-centric process led by investment adviser representatives, applying multiple forms of analysis to portfolio allocation across various asset classes.