Andrew Breasure is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services since 2022. His prior roles include positions at North Carolina State University, The Ability Experience, and Steward Wealth Strategies. Outside the advisory field, he is president of Tau Properties, Inc., a nonprofit housing corporation supporting the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at NC State, where he oversees budget and alumni events. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Thomas Harless is a CFP® professional affiliated with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, with 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fisher Investments and E*Trade Securities. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital offering that employs algorithmic portfolio selection and uses mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Ashley Montesdeoca is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, she held positions at Sylvan Learning, Walmart, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 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 to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model with both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management services.

James Kirby is a ChFC® credentialed advisor with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving at Equity Services, Inc. since 1998. He has prior experience with National Life of Vermont dating back to 1994. Outside of his advisory work, Kirby is a high-performance driving instructor and serves as a board member for a homeowners association. Equity Services, Inc., doing business as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and utilizes third-party asset managers and model portfolios.

Barry Teague is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and bringing 55 years of industry experience. He has been with Equity Services and National Life since 1977. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board of a nonprofit that provides counseling and emotional support for people with terminal cancer and is president of a local social club. Equity Services, Inc. (EFA) offers financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm operates as both a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser, utilizing multiple advisory platforms and third-party managers to provide a combination of long-term strategies and specialized investment options.

Nicholas Wernli is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Consolidated Planning LLC and Raymond James Financial Services. His background also includes roles in education at UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College. 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 with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement relationships. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management through customized and model portfolio services.

David Landrum is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Schwab Wealth Advisory since 2026, having prior roles at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Charles Schwab Bank SSB, and several other non-financial firms. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, delivering annual financial reviews, retirement and planning discussions, and investment recommendations using Schwab’s asset allocation models and research tools. The firm operates as an internal advisory unit within the Schwab ecosystem and does not directly charge clients fees, distinguishing it from many other enterprise wealth managers.

Justin Conkling is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Accenture and several roles involving educational institutions and service industries. 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 TIAA-administered retirement plans. The firm separates financial planning services from ongoing discretionary management and offers both model and customized portfolio options under a fiduciary standard.

Steven Rogers is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and Tiaa since 2008, serving the firm for a total of 15 years. 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 connections through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning with ongoing managed account services and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated structure that includes affiliated funds.

Christopher Mahoney is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 48 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2010. 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 wide range of clients, including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs.

Natasha Crowell is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 25 years of industry experience. She has held her current position at TIAA-CREF since 2002 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. 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, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm provides both point-in-time financial planning and ongoing discretionary management, serving clients often connected to TIAA-administered retirement plans.

Christopher Graper is a CFP® with 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2020, and previously held roles at Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is a joint owner of rental properties in Charlotte, NC. 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 individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and municipal clients through a combination of brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs.

Rahul Tumkur is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at various TIAA entities since 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he has worked as a delivery driver for a food delivery service. 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 to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers customized portfolio management alongside model portfolio options and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

John Rickelton is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Equity Services, Inc. and National Life of Vermont since 1985. Outside of his primary advisory work, he consults with business owners on buy/sell agreements through his sole proprietorship, Rickelton & Associates. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms utilizing third-party asset managers and model portfolios, combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading.

Ashley Schuster is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked with Truist Advisory Services and its affiliates since 2016. 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, participant advice, and a manager-selection program that combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

David Nantau is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, E*Trade Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and Regions Bank. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its planning process and serves a large participant base relative to its advisor headcount.

Gerald Smith is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at FSC Securities for 12 years and has held roles at OSAIC, Kelly Ryan Financial, and Commonwealth since 2023. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and services, including discretionary model portfolios and customized investment solutions, supported by operations, technology, and compliance resources.

Robert Maloney is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Howard Hanna Mortgage Services and Allen Tate Mortgage. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes IAR-led financial assessments and employs fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios across various asset classes.

Thomas Roediger is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and 28 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at BB&T Securities, BB&T Investments, and PNC Investments. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled equity research and an integrated inter-affiliate operating model.

Thomas Farmer is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 19 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has worked at Corient and its affiliated entities since 2016, including roles at Ci Brightworth and CIPW Service Company, LLC. Farmer is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 uses a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates proprietary strategies with third-party managers and employs risk management tools to align portfolios with client objectives.