Jacob Simon is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF located in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Before joining TIAA-CREF, he worked in retail and service roles at Sun and Ski Sports and Little Big Burger. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with employer retirement plan relationships, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm provides point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management under a fiduciary standard within a vertically integrated group.

Kenneth Putnam is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC since 2017. He previously worked at Cornerstone Financial Advisors and is also associated with LPL Financial, LLC. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm provides both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through a network model supported by technology platforms and access to third-party managers.

Nicholas Cerullo is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. His work history includes roles at RBMuha, Morgan Stanley, and E*Trade Securities LLC. Prior to his advisory career, he held positions in the hospitality industry and various educational institutions. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a diverse range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, investment advice, and employee education, serving large institutional investors and managing approximately $79.8 billion in assets.

Katharine Osborne is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed advisor at Corient with 21 years of industry experience. She previously worked at RBC Capital Markets for 16 years before joining Corient in 2025. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and utilizes risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

Patrick Hipkens is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services since 2021. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for four years and has held roles at Insights Global and Cardinal Financial LLC. Truist Advisory Services offers 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 uses a combination of traditional research and AI-enabled tools for investment management and provides ongoing client reviews and reporting.

Lisa Hund is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds the ChFC®, Series 63, and Series 65 designations. She has 16 years of industry experience, with a career spanning multiple roles at both Guardian Life Insurance Company and Park Avenue Securities. Outside of her advisory work, she serves on the Winthrop University Executive Alumni Board and the board of the Carolina Wind Orchestra, and she actively participates in community service through the Rock Hill Elks Lodge. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides a combination of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, supported by proprietary programs and third-party platforms, tailoring client relationships to individual needs.

Robert Schwartz is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 license and previously worked at Federated Investment Counseling and First Commonwealth Advisors. Schwartz serves as a board member and MBA partner at 99 Tartans, a role involving investment-related duties. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides manager research, global investment strategy, securities research, asset allocation analysis, and model-portfolio services primarily to Wells Fargo affiliates and other financial institutions. The firm acts as a research and model-provider without discretionary management or individualized financial planning.

Paul Floriani is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and TIAA since 2007. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund and operates within a vertically integrated group that utilizes affiliated funds under a fiduciary standard for its registered investment adviser services.

Grant Booterbaugh is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Principal Advised Services and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. His other business activities include providing one-on-one retirement consulting and education services to Principal retirement plan participants. TIAA-CREF’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving those connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates point-in-time planning from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund within a vertically integrated financial services group.

Kenneth Poe Jr. is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Corient. He has held positions at several firms, including McGill Advisors, Ci Brightworth, and CIPW Service Company, LLC, before joining Corient. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and uses comprehensive risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.

Kathryn Hughes is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with seven years of industry experience and holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. She has worked at Park Avenue Securities and Pruco Securities, and also serves as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, consulting on divorce-related financial matters. Outside her advisory role, she is an independent contractor with Quest Relocation Group and consults through Smart Divorce Decisions, LLC. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, 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 financial planning, consulting, and proprietary investment solutions.

Kaye Tahiliani is a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management with 17 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Before joining Savant in 2026, she worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, LLC, Willingdon Wealth Management, and TIAA-CREF. She is also an equity partner of less than 5% at Exencial Wealth Advisors. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses an investment approach that combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with a range of actively managed strategies and supports its services with affiliated accounting, legal, and trust entities.

Zahria Brown is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and seven years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at First Citizens Bank, Mattel American Girl, and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group.

Gavin Shuck is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, Scott & Stringfellow, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as board chair for the nonprofit A Better World, Charlotte, and is an executive committee member of the Radford University Davis School of Business Advisory Board. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and investment banking services through a Private Advisor model and a consolidated investment platform that includes equities, fixed income, and alternatives.

Kermit Bolick is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Princor Financial Services Corporation since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, Bolick is involved with HUGGINS & COMPANY, CPA and sells health insurance through various carriers. Principal Financial Services provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under multiple advisory and promoter arrangements.

Erik Ibsen is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and its affiliate Tiaa since 2015. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers 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’s advisory approach distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management, with portfolios that may be customized or model-based.

Steffon Cumberbatch is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Vanguard, Bank of America, Merrill, Wells Fargo, Truist Bank, and PNC Bank. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services 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 offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management through customized and model-based portfolios.

Paige Assa is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, Paige worked at RSM U.S. LLP and held various roles in the hospitality and auto auction sectors. 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 connected through TIAA-managed employer retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, operating within a vertically integrated model that includes affiliated funds and donor-advised fund advisory.

Ryan Miller is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2006. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC's Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily for individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Alexander Smith is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Equity Services since 1994 and has additional tenure at National Life dating back to 1990. Outside of his advisory role, Smith serves as Vice President of the North Carolina Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and is involved in several business ventures, including real estate ownership and insurance sales. Equity Services, Inc. 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, frequently utilizing third-party asset managers and model portfolios, combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and discretionary or non-discretionary management.