Joanna Pappas is a CFP® professional with 13 years of experience in the financial industry. She currently works at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. and First Citizens Bank and previously held roles at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and Wells Fargo. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client-focused process that integrates fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Cecilia Mavico is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with six years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including LPL Financial and Robinhood Markets. Cecilia also serves as an adjunct professor at the UNC School of Law, where she co-teaches a class on Financial Services Compliance. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes comprehensive asset allocation strategies and manager selection through the Envestnet platform, supported by a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools.

Jamison Holt is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Harrisburg, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and its predecessor TIAA since 2003. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’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 connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers a combination of model portfolio and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised fund services.

John Bruneau is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with two years of industry experience, currently with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC. His prior work includes roles at Ameritas Investment Company, LLC, Boston 128 Companies, and The Ripken Experience. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in investor relations at Boston 128 Companies. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a range of investment strategies incorporating model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities, supported by multiple program platforms and third-party technology.

Amanda Black is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 29 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at First Citizens Asset Management, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Ironstone Securities, Inc. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, emphasizing IAR-led financial assessments and diversified portfolio management across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Patrick Schultz is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC. His previous roles include positions at New York Life Investment Management LLC, Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc., and Neuberger Berman. Outside of advisory work, he acts as a marketing consultant for Armstrong, Fleming, & Moore. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on customized, primarily long-term portfolios using ETFs, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles, supported by a network of roughly 286 advisors managing over 13,000 clients.

Michael Smith is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Kannapolis, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2012. Fifth Third Securities 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 combines third-party portfolio managers, strategist portfolios, and advisor-managed sleeves, with features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Namaine Coombs is a CFA® charterholder with 28 years of industry experience. He is currently with Truist Advisory Services and previously worked at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Outside of financial advising, he is the CEO of Unleashed Success, LLC, a life-coaching and book publishing company focused on overcoming limiting subconscious beliefs. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support its advisory services and offers partnerships with Envestnet Retirement Solutions for retirement plan management.

Boyd Cauble II is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds Series 65 and Series 66 designations. He has 24 years of industry experience, including roles at Park Avenue Securities, Evergreen Investment Management, Columbia Management Advisors, and Banc of America Investment Services. Cauble also utilizes CBS Brokerage as a resource for life insurance policies outside of his primary firm. Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, and retirement plan sponsors. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and provides access to proprietary programs as well as third-party advisory solutions.

Margaret Sattler is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked with various Truist entities since 2021. Prior to her current role, her background includes positions at Capital City Financial Partners, E.W. Scripps Company, and Barre3, among others. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation and manager selection, offering ongoing reviews and client consultations through its comprehensive advisory platform.

Clacy Hysong is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2010. 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 connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates within a vertically integrated group and offers both model-based and customized portfolio management options.

Stephen Honea is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2010. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm also acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund and offers a range of advisory services within a vertically integrated structure.

Rhondale Haywood is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 63-licensed financial advisor with three years of industry experience. He is currently with Truist Advisory Services and previously worked at Bank of America and PNC Bank. He serves on the investment committee for the Foundation for the Carolinas, assisting with asset allocation and strategy monitoring. 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 uses a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support its advisory offerings and maintains extensive affiliated financial relationships.

Christopher Benitez is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously for The Vanguard Group and Angi. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm delivers an integrated service model tied to Empower’s administrative platforms and offers point-in-time financial plans alongside optional managed account solutions.

Robert Flynn is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group who holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at TIAA-CREF and TIAA from 1997 to 2022 before joining Empower Financial Services in 2023. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated approach leverages proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and is closely tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Chancey Zifko is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Fifth Third Bank, Wells Fargo, and BB&T. Outside of his advisory role, Zifko is involved in managing several rental properties in the Charlotte, NC area. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing both traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support client portfolios.

Tenley Desjardins is a financial advisor with Corient in Charlotte, NC, holding the CFP®, PFS™, and Series 66 designations. She has eight years of industry experience, including prior roles at Ernst & Young, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and Mcgill Advisors (now Brightworth). Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, employing a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house management with third-party solutions and specialized offerings through affiliated entities.

William Robbins is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with seven years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services since 2019, as well as experience with the City of Rock Hill and Francis Marion University. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a client process focused on assessing financial needs and risk tolerance, utilizing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Justin Balmer is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at First Command Advisory Services and related entities. Outside of finance, he is involved with Easton D LLC, a company performing manual labor tasks, and Decadence Popcorn LLC, a retail popcorn business in Concord, NC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to employer retirement plans administered by TIAA. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management, utilizing model and customized portfolios under a fiduciary standard.

Steven Ouellette is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with nine years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2025 and has been affiliated with TIAA since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer and Board Member for a nonprofit youth football program in Harrisburg, NC. 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 distinguishes planning services from ongoing discretionary management and operates within a vertically integrated structure using affiliated funds.