Lynn Phillips Gaines

Lauren Black is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Phillips Wealth Planners LLC since 2022. Her prior experience includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors and Phillips Financial. She is involved with the nonprofit Bridges Out of Poverty as Treasurer and holds several board positions in local educational organizations. Phillips Wealth Planners provides discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, and small businesses. The firm employs a primarily long-term investment approach with strategic asset allocation, internal due diligence, and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Elton Thomas III is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at VALIC Financial Advisors since 2003. He also holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with Agia since 2022. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the Finance Committee of First United Methodist Church in Columbus, MS. VALIC Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-based individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction and management.

Aaron Jones is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) and holds the ChFC® and Series 63 designations. He has 14 years of industry experience and has been with Eagle Strategies since 2018. He also serves as Vice President on the board of the Local Learning Community Foundation, which focuses on empowering families and youth in the community. Eagle Strategies LLC provides financial planning, investment advisory, and retirement plan consulting services to individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm emphasizes client-directed solutions and utilizes third-party managers and model portfolios, operating as an indirect subsidiary of New York Life.

Robert Crosland III is a CFP® professional with 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and is the owner of Crosland Wealth Management, Inc., where he has worked since 2010. His practice includes fixed insurance sales conducted at his branch location. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients, providing a range of advisory programs, including discretionary model portfolios and personalized investment solutions. The firm supports its advisors with operations, technology, compliance, and practice-management services.

Katrina Yarbrough is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Starkville, MS, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 12 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. and ET George Investment Management, LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Shockwave Starkville Swim Team. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm utilizes an integrated model connected to its recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Matthew Bowen is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Starkville, MS, holding the CFP® and ChFC® designations with four years of industry experience. Prior to Edward Jones, he worked at Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc., Reynolds, Bone & Griesbeck, PLC, Scott & Pohlman, PC, and First Horizon National Corporation. He is a partner in two small businesses: a property rehabilitation venture and a catering operation. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients through a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard and managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets.