Lena Poma is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and eight years of industry experience. She has previously worked at LPL Financial, Ally Invest Securities LLC, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of her advisory role, she works as a delivery driver for Amazon Flex. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a diverse clientele including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers a range of fiduciary and discretionary services through its affiliation with Truist Financial and partnerships with Envestnet.

Candice Mason is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2009. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser capabilities with a platform that includes discretionary managed accounts, direct indexing, and tax-overlay services.

Katherine Eaker is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Indian Trail, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Capital Analysts and has experience in education through her time with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with FFG Companies, Inc. as a sales assistant while studying for the SIE and Series 7 exams. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans, with a particular history of working with educators and participants in 403(b) and 457(b) programs. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio management, and access to third-party managers, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team that creates strategic model portfolios and adaptive investment strategies.

Daneen Gimson is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Securities America Advisors. First Citizens Investor Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations, providing a range of advisory and brokerage services such as portfolio management, model portfolios, and financial planning. The firm’s approach employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate investments across various asset classes.

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 based in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 12 years of industry experience, including roles at BB&T Securities and Truist Investment Services. He serves as a volunteer Treasurer and Finance Committee member for the nonprofit Let Me Run, assisting with financial oversight and audits. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional research and AI tools to support asset allocation and manager selection, providing ongoing client reviews and reporting.

Kevin Loftin is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Suntrust Investment Services, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Advisors, and other firms. Truist Advisory Services offers investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a comprehensive approach combining traditional research and AI-enabled tools, partnering with Envestnet platforms to provide tailored asset allocation, manager selection, and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Michael Trotter is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at TIAA-CREF from 2014 to 2019 before joining PNC Investments, where he has been since 2019. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only, discretionary digital portfolio solution for employees with existing PNC Bank online banking credentials. The firm uses approved model strategies implemented via mutual funds and ETFs, with portfolio management delegated to third parties and enrollment guided by an algorithmic questionnaire.

Deanna Strean is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 16 years of industry experience and a Series 66 designation. Her prior roles include positions at The Colony Group, Buckingham Strategic Wealth, Carolina Capital Consulting, Contrary Investment Advisors, and Strean Financial Services. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, families, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional retirement plans by providing investment management, financial planning, tax and compliance support, family office and business management, and employee benefit retirement plan services. The firm employs a long-term investment approach that integrates active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds, customizing portfolios to clients’ specific risk tolerance, liquidity, and tax circumstances.

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 in Charlotte, NC, with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021, following previous roles at TRUIST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC., BB&T Investment Services, Inc., Banc Of America Investment Services, Inc., and Quick & Reilly, Inc. 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 leverages a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools, offering comprehensive reviews and reporting while operating within a broad network of affiliated financial entities.

Brian Guild is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Bankers Life entities since 2008 and serves as president of BGUILD Financial, an LLC he oversees. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to create tailored asset allocations and manages portfolios across a broad range of securities aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Joseph Tieber Jr. is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 27 years of industry experience. His career includes prior roles at Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE Capital Management, and Alight Financial Advisors, as well as previous tenure at TIAA-CREF and TIAA. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals—often those with existing employer retirement plan relationships—as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management under a fiduciary standard, utilizing model portfolios and customized management options.

John Czura is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Truist, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation strategies and ongoing client reviews.

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 licenses and has worked at several firms including Merrill, UBS Financial Services, Deutsche Bank Securities, and BB&T Securities prior to joining Truist. 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 with AI-enabled tools and offers ongoing client reviews, utilizing a range of affiliated financial relationships to support its advisory offerings.

Charles Dixon is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including LPL Financial, Ameriprise, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Dixon is also involved in an investment company, KDX Partners LLC. 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 with numerous advisory representatives and incorporates both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by various investment strategies and technology platforms.

Cathie Clontz is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms including BB&T Securities, PNC Investments, and Edward Jones. She is based in Charlotte, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, corporations, plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools to support asset allocation and manager selection, and offers ongoing client reviews and reporting.

Andrew Gradus II is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Adhesion Wealth, Nuveen Securities, and Teachers Personal Investors Services. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and other entities, frequently serving clients with pre-existing relationships through employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, with customized portfolio options under a fiduciary standard.

Samantha Allen is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. and previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for six years. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial that provides financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement advisory services to individuals, institutions, and corporate clients. The firm offers a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary account management, leveraging both in-house and third-party strategies supported by technology-enabled tools.