James Paradise is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience based in Charlotte, NC. He has worked at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC since 2026 and previously spent over a decade with Wells Fargo in various roles. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse clientele, including individuals, families, trusts, corporations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and multiple advisory programs supported by both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Jennifer Hamlin is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at MassMutual, Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and MetLife Securities. Outside of her advisory work, she has ownership in a real estate venture with her husband. 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 the AMC Advantage manager-selection program, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Zuzana Ambrova is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Matthews, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. She has been affiliated with Eagle Strategies and NYLIFE Securities LLC since 2013 and operates under the DBA Parker Financial Group, LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse clientele including individual investors, institutional plans, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Andrew Dorrien is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 designations and has worked in various roles within Truist entities since 2022. Prior to his financial services career, he held positions at KW Beverage and Harrington Landscapes and was affiliated with the University of South Carolina. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, and fiduciary support, utilizing both discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting in its advisory approach.

Robyn Ducharme is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with two years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at CarMax Inc and Regal Entertainment Group. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, utilizing an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates in its planning approach, serving a large participant base with a higher client-to-advisor workload than many peers.

Kaitlin Hord is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and approximately two years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, she held roles at Ulta Beauty, Pour64, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC serves individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often working with clients linked to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and separate broker-dealer services, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes donor-advised fund advisory and model-based as well as customized portfolio management.

Angela Bellamy is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 20 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, Bellamy teaches a financial planning fundamentals course at Central Piedmont Community College, involving lectures and practical instruction on financial calculators. 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 linked to employer retirement plans administered by TIAA. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including planning and ongoing portfolio management, and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund sponsored by Charityvest.

Shawna Norris is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 23 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms, including Morgan Stanley and Williamson Wealth Group. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, offering a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services through multiple portfolio management programs.

Jordan Jones is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at LPL Financial, Barings Asset Management, and Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Jones is based in Charlotte, NC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing managed accounts and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Martiara Boyd is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with two years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at various organizations including Truist Investment Services and the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development. Outside of finance, she is the owner of MB LUXE EVENTS, a business focused on event decorating. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, and fiduciary support, utilizing a mix of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supplemented by AI-enabled research tools.

William Gibson is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Bank of America and continues to hold a role at First Citizens Bank. Gibson serves on the boards of United Cerebral Palsy of South Carolina and the Town of Matthews Board of Adjustment. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, utilizing IAR-led assessments and diverse investment strategies across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Frank Owen III is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 45 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with GWN Securities Inc. since 2004. He has held roles at The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, F.R. Owen & Associates, and Mutual of New York. Outside of his advisory work, he facilitates seasonal tax preparation and serves as president of US Retirement Partners, focusing on financial services in the 403(b) nonprofit sector. GWN Securities is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and business clients through discretionary managed accounts, financial planning, and access to third-party sub-advisers and model portfolios. The firm supports a network of approximately 423 advisors and manages about $3.65 billion across more than 37,000 accounts, offering a range of investment programs including SMA, UMA, and fund-strategist options.

George Irby Jr. is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Advisor Alliance and LPL Financial since 2016. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a range of services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing model portfolios, sub-advisors, and various analytical techniques, supported by technology platforms for asset aggregation and estate planning.

Inna Collins is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 17 years of industry experience. She is currently an advisor at MAI Capital Management, LLC and has previously worked at Bank of America, Merrill, and The Vanguard Group. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides investment management, wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm manages $72.3 billion in assets and offers customized portfolio strategies integrating equity, fixed income, ETFs, and private investments, with additional services such as trust administration and insurance.

Michael Hoffmann is a CFA® charterholder with 12 years of industry experience. He currently serves as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services, where he has worked since 2018 following previous roles at Suntrust Robinson Humphrey. Hoffmann holds the Series 63 license and is based in Charlotte, NC. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integrations, to deliver customized investment solutions.

Matthew Allen is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Corient in Charlotte, NC. He has held roles at Corient Services LLC, Choreo, LLC, and The Vanguard Group, Inc., among others. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates proprietary and third-party strategies, employing risk management tools and continuously monitoring portfolios to align with client objectives.

William Mc Collum is a CFP®-designated advisor with 29 years of experience, currently with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2024. Before joining Janney, he worked at Robert W. Baird for 13 years. He serves as a board member for the Myers Park Trinity Little League Baseball and the Oceanside West Homeowners Association. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large enterprise firm managing approximately $110 billion in discretionary and non-discretionary assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipalities, offering brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services with both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Sarina Campbell is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 designations and previously worked at Founders Federal Credit Union and PNC Bank. Outside of her advisory work, she is an Independent Business Owner with Amway Global, involved in retail, networking, and mentorship. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, and other entities. The firm separates financial planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund within its vertically integrated structure.

Jeremiah John is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc., holding a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Investment Institute since 2021 and has worked at Wells Fargo Bank since 2004. Wells Fargo Investment Institute provides institutional research, manager due diligence, model portfolio construction, and asset-allocation guidance to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses as well as select external clients. The firm specializes in delivering research and model guidance without exercising investment discretion or holding custody of client assets.

Madhuri Bendale is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and previously worked for Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing for 11 years. Bendale is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 separates one-time financial planning from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group that uses affiliated funds.