Gregory Ruoss is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he served in the United States Marine Corps for nine years and worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in a part-time equestrian tack care business, Tack Appeal, based in Aiken, SC. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as to select IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm offers integrated services linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio strategies and annual rebalancing within plan lineups established by sponsors.

Thomas Herlong Sr. is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Johnston, SC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 32 years of industry experience and has been with Eagle Strategies since 2011. Prior to establishing The Herlong Financial Group LLC in 2023, he spent nine years at Herlong & Doran Financial Group, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on several local nonprofit boards, including as chairman of the finance committee at Harmony United Methodist Church and as a board member of the Aiken Symphony Orchestra. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, as well as charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers multiple advisory programs and emphasizes tailored recommendations, managing the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Douglas Bruner III is a financial advisor at &Partners with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Ameriprise and Edward Jones. Bruner also serves as an officer in the US Army Reserve and is involved in a family-owned newspaper and advertising business. &Partners serves a diverse clientele including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers both advisory and brokerage services, utilizing the Envestnet platform to provide a mix of proprietary and third-party investment solutions.

Gina Rogers is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Citizens Investor Services in 2024, she worked at First Citizens Bank and SunTrust Bank, and also has experience with the Saluda County School District One. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, offering advisory and brokerage services through investment adviser representatives and third-party portfolio managers. The firm employs a client-centered process that includes assessments of financial needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon, applying various analyses to allocate assets among equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and ETFs.

George Barnes is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Ameriprise and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a CPA and tax practice, Barnes & Associates CPA, LLC. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional investors, providing investment advisory and brokerage services alongside financial planning, ERISA consulting, retirement plan management, and investment banking. The firm employs a combination of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and operates as both a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer.

Christopher Smith Jr. is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with LPL Financial and previously worked at Edward Jones for 12 years. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Andy Shumpert is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Leesville, South Carolina, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, Shumpert teaches voice lessons at Edisto Performing Arts Studio and serves as Minister of Music at Roundhill Baptist Church. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,700 financial advisors.

Dana Fletcher is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2018. Prior to joining Edward Jones, Fletcher worked at Rodan+Fields and Benefitfocus. Outside of financial advising, Fletcher co-owns a small horse sanctuary and provides one-to-one and group tutoring for CFP applicants. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, with over 23,700 advisors nationwide and approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions and operates under a fiduciary standard.

Douglas Rickert is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Leesville, South Carolina. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he operated Rickert Lawncare for seven years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions through a nationwide network of financial advisors.

Christopher Whitehead is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with Series 66 credentials and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Michelin North America and Bridgestone Retail Operations. Whitehead serves as president of the Columbia, SC chapter of Business Networking International, where he leads weekly meetings and participates on the leadership team. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs and investment options. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of over 23,000 advisors and 15,000 branch offices.

Robert Davis Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and manages a cattle ranch. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, combining discretionary and non-discretionary management with model portfolios and research from multiple sources.

Greggory Vaughn is a financial advisor at Treehouse Financial, Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Becket Financial Group, H & R Block, and Kleen Sites Geoservices Inc. Treehouse Financial, Inc. provides investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm manages approximately $1.43 million in assets across four client relationships and offers primarily non-discretionary account management alongside insurance products through an affiliated insurance company.