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 with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 16 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, LLC, and BB&T Investment Services, Inc. since 2016. 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 combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supplemented by AI-enabled equity research and integrated inter-affiliate support to deliver its investment solutions.

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.

Tyler Washington is a financial advisor with Foundations Investment Advisors LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Edward Jones and Newbridge Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is also an insurance agent involved in selling fixed annuities and life insurance. Foundations Investment Advisors provides financial planning and portfolio management to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and utilizes model portfolios and an asymmetric rebalancing strategy.

Graham Wilson is a CFP® and ChFC® with 42 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and serves as President and Owner of Sterling Financial Group, Inc., a private entity involved in securities, advisory, and insurance business. His prior experience includes roles at Lincoln Investment and Capital Analysts, Incorporated. Commonwealth Financial Network is a national registered investment adviser supporting approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients with a range of advisory programs, investment management, and practice-management services. The firm offers discretionary model portfolios, personalized indexing options, and multiple program structures, while providing operational and compliance support to affiliated advisors.

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.

Gerard Nieters is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at Sage Financial Partners since 2006 and has been affiliated with Principal Life Insurance Co. and Principal Securities Inc. since 2003. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in selling group and individual health insurance as well as other insurance products. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse clientele, including individual investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel abroad. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Kevin Renz is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank NA, and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations, providing a range of advisory and brokerage services. The firm emphasizes IAR-led financial assessments and uses a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes.

Jackey Webb is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 credential and 15 years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens Investor Services in 2015, Webb worked at Wells Fargo Clearing from 2011 to 2015. Outside of advisory work, Webb serves as Vice President of the Pisgah High School Athletic Booster Club and is a volunteer PA announcer for Pisgah High School sports. Webb also holds a leadership position as 3rd Vice-President of the Canton Lions Club. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients by providing advisory and brokerage services through a range of portfolio management solutions, including UMA and SMA programs, model portfolios, and automated investing platforms. The firm focuses on tailored client assessments and applies various investment analyses to construct diversified portfolios across equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Joseph Vaughn is a financial advisor with Guardian Life in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Guardian Life in 2026, he worked at LPL Financial from 2023 to 2026. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients by providing brokerage services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a range of investment advisory programs.

Nicholas Todd is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in community activities such as organizing basketball lessons, serving as a networking chair for the Charlotte Clemson Club Board, and participating on the boards of local professional networking groups. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, offering brokerage and advisory services along with financial planning and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party portfolios and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Amanda West is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently advising clients at Janney Montgomery Scott. She has worked at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2022 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. 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, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs, and integrates in-house and third-party portfolio management through various wrap programs and model portfolios.

Ryan Johnson is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and over 21 years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF in 2018, he worked at Credit Suisse Securities and Vincent Limousine. Outside of finance, Johnson has worked in transportation services, including roles as a driver for Uber, a medical courier, and an Amazon delivery driver. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with ties to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm’s advisory model distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing discretionary portfolio management, utilizing both model and customized portfolios.

Scott Warner is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Nuveen Asset Management and Nuveen Securities. Wells Fargo Investment Institute is a bank-affiliate research and advisory organization that provides model portfolios, asset allocation guidance, and securities research primarily to Wells Fargo wealth and fiduciary businesses. Its services are generally non-discretionary and team-based, combining qualitative and quantitative analysis to support affiliate investment decisions.

James Aughtry is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2006, including the firm’s affiliated entities. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers 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’s advisory model distinguishes point-in-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.

Tate Johnson is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Kipos Greek Taverna and Iza Whiskey and Eats. Johnson also has experience with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Metrolina Christian Academy. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management using model and customized portfolios.

Megan Payton is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Merrill and Bank of America, N.A. before joining Rockefeller. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, as well as institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting, and operates as a registered broker-dealer providing securities transactions, variable insurance products, placement, and investment banking services.