Levi Jacob Smith

Matt Montgomery is the sole advisor and owner of his independent firm, Matt Montgomery, based in Jacksonville, Texas. He holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and has 40 years of industry experience, including over three decades at Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as chairman of the board for a nonprofit focused on international ministries and acts as treasurer for a local church. Matt Montgomery provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to advisor-managed model portfolios for individuals, small businesses, and retirement plans. His firm utilizes both fundamental and technical analysis, supported by third-party research and portfolio optimization tools, to manage accounts with a focus on risk tolerance and regular performance reviews.

Tom French Jr. is a financial advisor with Grimes & Company in Frankston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and over 21 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at TD Ameritrade and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. before joining Grimes & Company in 2017. Grimes & Company provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors. The firm employs customized investment strategies supported by proprietary research, allocating across various asset classes and offering services such as estate planning through the Vanilla platform.

Benjamin Burgeson is a financial advisor at Money Concepts Capital Corp with 40 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Grove Point Investments, Grove Point Advisors, and H.Beck, Inc. Money Concepts Advisory Service provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a range of managed programs and investment strategies, combining model portfolios, advisor-designed portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers.

Heather Bates is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) and holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. She has 12 years of industry experience and has worked with several firms, including Bates Wealth Strategies, LLC, Island Wealth Strategies & Insurance Solutions LLC, and Johnson Financial Strategies, LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Foundation Women’s Board and owns a residential cleaning business. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, managing the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Richard Stone Jr. is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with 39 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Commonwealth since 2014. Outside of advisory work, he owns gas, oil, and mineral rights in several Texas counties. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and back-office support, including operations, trading, technology, investment management, and compliance, allowing affiliated advisors discretion in portfolio construction alongside managed model portfolios.

Cecil Staples is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds a PFS™ designation along with Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 32 years of industry experience. He manages Staples Wealth Management LLC and has a long-standing background in accounting as the owner of Staples & Associates, PC, CPAs. His professional activities also include operating in real estate through several entities alongside his advisory work. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC operates as a multi-manager platform serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients across a broad range of portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm supports a large network of advisors offering access to affiliated and third-party investment managers with a variety of program options and custodial arrangements.