Lavonne Nicole Patterson

John Bell is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently the sole advisor at Free State Financial Planning, LLC, having previously worked at Charles Schwab and Ameritrade, Inc. Beyond his advisory work, he serves as a FINRA arbitrator and acts as the financial secretary and council member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where he manages donation tracking and budgeting. Free State Financial Planning LLC provides fee-only financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm’s guidance is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing passive investments through low-cost ETFs and no-load mutual funds, and focuses on delivering educational resources without discretionary investment management.

Michael Hoffman is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as Co-Managing Director of Forty W Advisors. He previously worked at Verdence Capital Advisors and held roles at Hightower Securities and Hightower Advisors. Forty W Advisors delivers comprehensive wealth management across three critical areas: financial administration, proactive tax-aware planning, and investment management with institutional access. Together, these services help align your personal wealth, family priorities, and business strategy into one coordinated plan, with the goal of reducing complexity and maximizing post-tax wealth.

Ben Arie is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He has worked at Sentinel Financial Group and Independent Financial Group since 2022 and previously spent one year at Plotkin Financial Advisors. Ben also has experience selling life and health insurance. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of strategic asset allocation, multi-manager portfolios, and ongoing due diligence to develop tailored investment strategies across various risk profiles.

Simeon’s role is to help clients create a coordinated financial strategy that aligns their investments, taxes, retirement income, and long-term goals into one cohesive plan. A big part of his approach is helping clients simplify complexity and make confident decisions during periods of uncertainty.

Jessica Horner is a CFP® professional at Tender Wealth with experience that includes roles at Chevy Chase Trust and JMH Financial LLC. She also runs an after-school program combining ultimate-frisbee instruction with basic financial literacy lessons. Tender Wealth provides financial planning and consulting services to individuals and high-net-worth clients, offering educational seminars and workshops on financial literacy, budgeting, and retirement planning. The firm focuses on comprehensive planning and supports clients in implementing recommendations through custodians or brokers of their choice.

Alexander Levy is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license, currently serving as the sole advisor at Noordzee Capital LLC with one year of industry experience. He has held management roles at Jetway Intel LLC, a news media and market intelligence firm focused on the airline and aerospace industries, and at Noordzee Consulting LLC, which provides research and consulting services. Noordzee Capital offers advisory services mainly to institutional clients, employer retirement plans, family offices, and high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, including a significant non-U.S. client base. The firm’s investment approach centers on fundamental analysis supported by economic and technical tools, providing portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and sector-specific research.