Dakota Murray is a financial advisor at First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with four years of industry experience. He has worked at First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Investor Services since 2019. Dakota attended Western Carolina University from 2015 to 2019. 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 employs IAR-led assessments and a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Norman Pierce is a financial advisor at Principal Financial Services with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Principal Life Insurance Company, Principal Securities Inc, Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation, and Nationwide Investment Services Corporation. He also has experience as a freelance commercial writer. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. 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.

Thomas Hicks II is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Janney in 2021, he worked for Wells Fargo Clearing from 2016 to 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a director of sponsorship for the Catawba Ridge High School Athletic Booster Club and is a personnel committee member at Sharon Baptist Church. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a 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, estates, corporate and retirement plans, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and multiple advisory programs.

Gavin Masa is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at TIAA-CREF and Tiaa since 2025. His prior experience includes roles at Lowe's Home Improvement and Housatonic Partners. 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 with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm combines planning services with ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund.

Joel Glasco is a financial advisor at &Partners with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has held positions at firms including Wells Fargo Clearing Services and Prudential Equity Group. He also serves as an arbitrator in a non-investment-related capacity. &Partners serves a diverse client base that includes high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers a range of investment management and financial planning services, employing various analytical approaches and both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Hanna Yesuf is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Kingfisher Capital and Bank of America Private Bank. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm uses a globally diversified investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, employing low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds, while also offering specialized services and client education programs.

Kimberly Myers Turner is a financial advisor at TD Private Client Wealth LLC in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 17 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Dimensional Fund Advisors and Equitable Advisors. TD Private Client Wealth LLC provides discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional, high-net-worth, and retail clients, combining strategic and tactical asset allocation with investments from affiliated and third-party sub-managers.

Robin Griffin is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) based in Charlotte, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. He has 40 years of industry experience, having worked at Equity Services since 1985 and previously at National Life of Vermont since 1982. In addition to his advisory work, Griffin operates Robin M. Griffin and Associates LLC, an insurance business, and owns a farm in Marshville, NC. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers various advisory platforms that combine long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and utilizes multiple third-party asset managers and model portfolios.

Craig Saurer is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and 23 years of industry experience. He has worked with PNC Investments since 2016 and joined First Citizens Investor Services in 2024. First Citizens Investor Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering portfolio management, wrap programs, model portfolios, and financial planning. The firm’s investment process involves IAR-led assessments and uses fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to allocate among various asset classes.

Neal Acharya is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA since 2014. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division 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 connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between point-in-time financial planning and ongoing discretionary management, utilizing model portfolios and customized strategies under a fiduciary standard.

Joshua Scott is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as treasurer for his neighborhood homeowners association. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with pre-existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm combines point-in-time planning with ongoing portfolio management under a fiduciary standard and acts as adviser to donor-advised funds within a vertically integrated group.

Kenneth Calhoun is a financial advisor at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC with 36 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Outside of advising, he owns and operates Basswood Creek Farms, an agricultural business in Gastonia, NC. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on customized, primarily long-term portfolios utilizing a range of investment vehicles and offers wealth management, financial planning, and retirement advisory services through a network of approximately 286 advisors.

Patrick Fleming is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, with six years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Horace Mann Investors, Vanguard Advisers, and Lincoln Financial Distributors. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC 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 retirement plan relationships. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing portfolio management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while operating within a vertically integrated group using affiliated funds.

Michael Frendak is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at PNC Investments since 2017, as well as positions at The Vanguard Group, SCOTTRADE, and AXA Advisors. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary account pilot for employees that utilizes algorithmic risk assessments and invests via approved model strategies using mutual funds and ETFs.

Jeffrey Collins is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 15 years of industry experience, including roles at Park Avenue Securities, Independent Advisor Alliance, LPL Financial, and Edward Jones. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue Securities LLC, provides brokerage and advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of financial planning, consulting, and investment management solutions, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and digital advisory platforms.

Dennis Myers III is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at both firms since 2004. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in insurance activities beyond those offered by Guardian Life. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers tailored client relationships through advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, integrating proprietary programs, third-party platforms, and a digital advisory solution.

Justin Popham is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., having previously worked at firms including Fisher Investments, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and E*TRADE. He is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 uses a client-centered process involving financial needs assessment and diverse portfolio management strategies.

Alexander Cohen is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining &PARTNERS in 2024, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for three years and held roles at Amazon Fulfillment Services and The UPS Store. He also has a background in education, having worked at Clemson University and Pine Lake Preparatory. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers investment management and financial planning services using a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, with portfolios managed directly by advisors or through third-party managers.

Jason Mertz is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services since 2021, following prior roles at Bb&T Securities and Merrill. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation advice, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

James Ferguson is a CFP® with 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently an advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory, where he has worked since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at Roan Capital Partners, Cetera Advisor Networks, and various other firms dating back to 2006. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients, providing non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations. The firm’s approach is based on Schwab’s asset-allocation models and internal research tools, with advice tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.