Synovia Bell is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing two years of industry experience. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, she worked at Truist Investment Services and Truist Advisory Services. Bell is the founder of ROCSA, an initiative that assists small businesses in Washington, DC with fundraising efforts to support their operations and growth. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing discretionary portfolio management using a fiduciary model.

Orlando Cruz Jr. is a financial advisor at Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and 66 licenses and has worked at firms including ICMA-RC Services, PNC Investments, and MetLife Securities. He is based in Charlotte, NC. Ameritas Advisory Services provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charities, and businesses. The firm employs a range of investment strategies and platforms, incorporating both proprietary and third-party models, and offers services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory.

Christopher Connor is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked previously at E*TRADE Capital Management LLC, E*TRADE Securities LLC, and Scottrade. Connor is based in Charlotte, NC. 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 connections to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm separates standalone planning services from ongoing discretionary management and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund while providing a range of managed account programs.

Robert Stroup is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 44 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Scott & Stringfellow, Inc. for 22 years, Bb&T Securities, LLC for 8 years, and Truist Investment Services since 2021. Truist Advisory Services offers 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 integrates traditional research with AI tools and provides ongoing client support through regular reviews and reporting.

Mitchell Hodgkiss is a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 28 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Morgan Keegan & Company, LLC prior to joining Ameriprise. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Pi Kappa Alpha KK Alumni Association. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides retirement income planning advice through a structured, non-discretionary process incorporating proprietary research and third-party data.

Gregory Beck is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 10 years of industry experience. He worked at TIAA and TIAA-CREF from 2014 to 2022 before joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2022. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary investment advice. The firm’s process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

John Knolhoff is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers based in Charlotte, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 19 years of industry experience, including 15 years with The Vanguard Group. Knolhoff serves as an agent on family members' investment accounts. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm utilizes a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with proprietary methodologies to construct portfolios primarily from Vanguard funds and ETFs, supported by a large-scale digital platform and a team servicing model.

Chandler King is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank since 2018. Prior to this, he was employed at NTT Data Services for two years. King serves as a board member on the investment committee for the Christ Church Foundation in Charlotte, North Carolina. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that provides advisory programs and tailored financial planning to individuals and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes a structured financial planning process supported by approved tools and portfolio modeling techniques.

Sulayman Nyang Jr. is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a mentor and business coach for at-risk young adults and holds positions on several nonprofit and advisory boards related to business coaching, education, and community initiatives. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of investment advisory programs and affiliated financial services. The firm is notable for its extensive advisor network, comprehensive service offerings, and fiduciary standard of care.

Brendan Cole is a financial advisor with Merrill based in Charlotte, NC. He holds the Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Merrill, he held various positions including roles at Principal Financial Services and The Hanover Insurance Group. He also worked as a retirement consultant offering personalized investment advice to Principal retirement plan participants. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary strategies for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Jacob Heinz is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charlotte, NC, with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. His previous positions include roles at Fidelity Investments and E*TRADE Capital Management. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of thousands of financial advisors and branch offices.

Harold Ballard Jr. is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary, Cornwell Center, and PFS Investment Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Yom Tov Enterprises, LLC, a non-investment-related business. Primerica Advisors is a large-scale institutional firm that sponsors a wrap-fee asset management program serving individual, corporate, and charitable clients. The firm emphasizes model-driven investment strategies managed by unaffiliated asset managers and uses custodial support from Pershing, focusing on a diverse range of strategic and tactical portfolio models.

Jeffrey Vandiver is a financial advisor at LPL Financial in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 33 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for seven years before joining LPL Financial in 2023. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in BRJK, LLC, a non-investment business entity. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to model portfolios and third-party asset management, supported by technology tools for operational and research purposes.

Daniel Copeland is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and 66 licenses and having six years of industry experience. He has been with The Vanguard Group since 2020, following earlier roles in brokerage services and various positions including work in the hospitality and entertainment sectors. Vanguard Advisers serves retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans through a combination of automated and human-supported investment advice. The firm uses a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios constructed mainly from Vanguard funds and ETFs, supporting a large client base through its digital platform and extensive team of advisors.

Mary Grace Cardow is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Her background includes roles at The Vanguard Group, Clemson University Academic Success Center, and Ameriprise. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, known for its Premier Retirement Income service that provides tailored retirement planning advice through a centralized team using proprietary research and tools.

Hyun Paik is a financial advisor with Vanguard Advisers, holding a Series 66 credential and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Vanguard Advisers, Paik worked at Fisher Investments and Fidelity Brokerage Services. Vanguard Advisers offers both automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans, utilizing a goal-based, algorithm-driven approach with portfolios primarily composed of Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Ganna Wenzell is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 11 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing, Fifth Third Securities, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, notable for its Ameriprise Premier Retirement Income service, which provides tailored retirement income planning and ongoing advice based on detailed analysis and collaboration between a centralized service team and financial advisors.

Elaine Turner is a financial advisor at Vanguard Advisers in Charlotte, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with six years of industry experience. She has worked at various Vanguard entities since 2020 and has also been self-employed in a childcare role since 2021. Vanguard Advisers provides automated and human-supported investment advice to retail investors and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, algorithm-driven investment approach utilizing proprietary models to create personalized asset allocations, primarily using Vanguard funds and ETFs.

Joshua Dodge is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at UBS Financial Services, Merrill, and Bank of America. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages roughly $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute and third-party databases.

Bryan Steele is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with UBS since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as the general manager of a property rental business in Charlotte, NC. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including portfolio management and fee-based financial planning. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and delivers advisory work through a network of Financial Advisors utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations.