Pete Trontis is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Savant Wealth Management and previously worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, LLC, where he was also an equity partner. Prior to that, he held roles at Willingdon Wealth Management and Horizon Investments. Savant Wealth Management serves a broad client base including individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a mixed investment approach combining evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and offers integrated services such as accounting, legal, and trust through affiliated entities.

Kelly Sewell is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with TIAA since 2010, including her current role at TIAA-CREF starting in 2025. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, and other entities. The firm offers both point-in-time financial planning and ongoing discretionary portfolio management, utilizing model or customized portfolios within a vertically integrated structure.

James Paradise is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently with Janney Montgomery Scott, having joined in 2026 after a decade at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank NA. 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 client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services.

Jennifer Hamlin is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 25 years of industry experience. She has previously worked at MassMutual, Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and MetLife Securities. 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 combines traditional research with AI-enabled tools and offers services through multiple affiliated financial entities.

Zuzana Ambrova is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Matthews, NC. She holds the Series 66 designation and has 17 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes positions at Merrill and ongoing roles with Parker Financial Group and NYLIFE Securities. Ambrova operates under the DBA Parker Financial Group, servicing insurance and financial product clients. Eagle Strategies serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and delivers solutions via multiple program types, with most assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Andrew Dorrien is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at various Truist entities since 2022. Prior to his advisory roles, he gained experience outside finance, including positions with KW Beverage and Harrington Landscapes. 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 for ongoing portfolio monitoring and client consultation, leveraging extensive affiliated financial relationships within the Truist Financial network.

Robyn Ducharme is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, Robyn worked at CarMax Inc for six years and spent seven years in full-time education. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm’s services leverage integrated recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates rather than short-term forecasts.

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.

Magdy Mahmoud is an advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. based in Charlotte, NC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has experience working in the financial industry since 2014, including positions at Wells Fargo, First Horizon, and Fifth Third Bank. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions, offering both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm provides access to multiple investment programs through the Passageway Managed Account platform, combining third-party portfolio managers and advisor-directed strategies.

Martiara Boyd is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Before joining Truist, Boyd held various roles in organizations including the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development and S3 Security. Outside of financial services, Boyd owns MB Luxe Events, a business specializing in event decorating. 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 utilizes a combination of traditional and AI-enabled research tools and provides ongoing monitoring and client consultations through its affiliation with Truist Financial.

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.

Randy Farina is a CFA® charterholder with six years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Savant Wealth Management since 2026. Prior to joining Savant, he worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, LLC for six years and had a one-year tenure at Westwood Global. Savant Wealth Management provides wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, families, corporate clients, and institutions. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and offers integrated accounting, legal, and trust services through affiliated entities.

Michael Hoffmann is a CFA® charterholder with 12 years of industry experience. He is currently with Truist Advisory Services and has been with the Truist organization since 2014, including prior roles at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and SunTrust Investment Service, Inc. Truist Advisory Services provides 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-enabled tools to monitor investments and offers a range of advisory services including manager selection through the Envestnet platform.

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.