Justin Romero is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and five years of industry experience. He has previously worked at firms including Accelerate Investment Advisors LLC, Principal Life Insurance Company, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, Romero is a partner at Cypress Benefit Solutions, a firm specializing in group insurance and employee benefits. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Anna Giampietro is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Truist Investment Services since 2019. Prior to her current role, she held various positions including roles at West Virginia University and Encova Insurance. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate integration with Truist Investment Services and Truist Bank.

Charles Bevan is a CFP® professional associated with Schwab Wealth Advisory Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with two years of industry experience. He has held roles at Charles Schwab & Co., Vanguard Marketing Corporation, The Vanguard Group, and Wells Fargo Bank and Clearing Services. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering services such as annual financial reviews, retirement planning, and investment recommendations using Schwab’s proprietary asset allocation models and research tools. The firm operates as an internal advisory unit within the Schwab ecosystem and does not act as a discretionary portfolio manager.

Mark Nesbitt is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked within the First Citizens organization since 2019, with prior experience at Avena Homes. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals—including high-net-worth clients—pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm utilizes a client process led by investment advisor representatives to assess financial needs and applies fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across a range of investment products.

Christopher Hance is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 credential and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and its predecessor entities since 2006, with a brief period of unemployment in 2019. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm operates a fiduciary advisory model that distinguishes planning services from ongoing discretionary management and advises a donor-advised fund while utilizing a vertically integrated investment approach.

Pete Trontis is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Savant Wealth Management since 2026. He previously worked at Exencial Wealth Advisors, LLC, where he was also an equity partner, as well as at Willingdon Wealth Management and Horizon Investments. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an investment approach that combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and offers integrated services through affiliated accounting, legal, and trust entities.

Kelly Sewell is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 designations. Sewell has been with TIAA since 2010 and joined TIAA-CREF in 2025, with a total of 16 years in the industry. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected with TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporations, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group using affiliated funds.

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.