Michael Black is a financial advisor at Financial Concepts with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over five years of experience. Prior to joining Financial Concepts in 2025, he worked at Patterson Andrews Wealth Management and held various roles in academic institutions, including Samford University and Texas A&M University. Financial Concepts is a team firm serving individuals, charitable organizations, and small businesses with discretionary investment supervisory services, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm employs a buy-and-hold investment approach focused on growth, growth-and-income, and balanced portfolios, emphasizing equities as an inflation hedge and monitoring accounts at least quarterly.

Sawyer Brown is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Financial Concepts with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Financial Concepts, he held positions at Mississippi State University, Caring Transitions of GTR, East Mississippi Community College, Sleepmade, and Caledonia High School. Financial Concepts provides discretionary investment supervisory services, financial planning, and pension consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a buy-and-hold equity investment approach complemented by behavior coaching and utilizes third-party platforms such as SEI for portfolio management.

Jason Spears is a financial advisor at Beam Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Columbus, MS, with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Securities America Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Spears is involved in community activities including coaching competitive youth soccer, serving as a den leader for a local Boy Scout pack, and participating on the Columbus Redevelopment Authority board. Beam Wealth Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and businesses, providing comprehensive financial planning and investment management. The firm employs asset allocation and diversification strategies guided by Modern and Post-Modern Portfolio Theory, and maintains affiliated tax and CPA services to support integrated financial solutions.

Scott Ferguson is a financial advisor with Financial Concepts in Columbus, MS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Financial Concepts since 2012, with a brief period at National Planning Corporation from 2015 to 2017. Ferguson serves as board president of the United Way of Lowndes County. Financial Concepts provides discretionary investment supervisory services, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm emphasizes a buy-and-hold equity strategy to address inflation risk and incorporates behavior coaching to discourage market timing, managing portfolios primarily through mutual funds and SEI model allocations.

Kristen Elsmore is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Financial Concepts in Columbus, MS, where she has worked since 2020. She has six years of industry experience, including prior roles at Mississippi University for Women, Lake Lowndes State Park, and New Hope High School. Financial Concepts provides discretionary investment supervisory services, financial planning, and pension consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a buy-and-hold equity investment philosophy and utilizes third-party platforms such as the SEI Asset Allocation Program to manage over 3,000 clients with a team of three advisors.

Felice Olmos is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with two years of industry experience, currently serving at Financial Concepts in Columbus, MS. Prior to her current role, she worked at Nicholas Air and United Exchange Corp. Financial Concepts provides discretionary investment supervisory services, financial planning, and pension consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a buy-and-hold equity strategy supported by behavior coaching and utilizes third-party platforms such as SEI to manage over 3,000 clients with a small advisory team.

Morgan Nickels is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with IFG Advisory, LLC. He has previously worked at Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialists and LPL Financial, LLC. Nickels also operates L.H. Nickels & Associates and is involved in fixed insurance products as an agent. IFG Advisory, LLC serves a broad range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable and corporate entities, and retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, using a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis along with a variety of investment management strategies.

Danette Starks is a financial advisor at IFG Advisory, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at IFG Advisory since 2024. Her prior experience includes roles at Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialists and LPL Financial. IFG Advisory serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, using a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and manages held-away assets to align with clients’ objectives.

Dennis Holliman is a financial advisor with Silver Oak Securities, Incorporated, holding a Series 63 designation and over 38 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms including LPL Financial, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialists, and L.H. Nickels & Associates. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of Holliman Group LLC, which manages his life insurance business. Silver Oak Securities, Inc. provides advisory services to individuals, families, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, managing approximately $2.03 billion in discretionary assets through a network of more than 100 financial professionals. The firm offers individualized portfolio management, a unified managed account program, and a range of financial planning and manager referral services.

Ernest Blackburn is a financial advisor with IFG Advisory, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 31 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialists and LPL Financial, as well as a long tenure at L.H. Nickels & Associates. He is involved in selling fixed life and health insurance products through his affiliated business. IFG Advisory, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and retirement plans, offering comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a multi-faceted investment approach using fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and provides specialized services such as real estate planning and business valuation.

John Prince is a financial advisor at ValMark Advisers, Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and serves as Vice President and Director of Tax at T.E. Lott & Company, where he has worked since 1993. Prior to joining ValMark Advisers, he was affiliated with CenterPoint Advantage, LLC. ValMark Advisers provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, plan sponsors, and institutions through a network of approximately 280 advisors. The firm emphasizes diversified, goal-based model portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers, supported by proprietary platforms and a range of fee-based planning and consulting services.

Suzette Bates is a financial advisor with IFG Advisory, LLC and holds a Series 66 credential. She has 17 years of industry experience, including roles at LPL Financial and Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialists. Outside of her advisory work, she is a commissioned Notary Public in Mississippi. IFG Advisory, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm’s investment approach integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis and employs a range of management strategies, including in-house and third-party managers.

Tracey Bryan is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at IFG Advisory, LLC. She has worked with Nickels Wealth Management and LPL Financial since 2016 and was previously with Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialists. Bryan is also a commissioned notary public. IFG Advisory, LLC provides advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable and corporate entities, and retirement plans. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis along with various management and advisory resources.

Alex Holliman is a financial advisor with Silver Oak Securities, Incorporated and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 20 years of industry experience and has worked with firms including LPL Financial and Regional Enterprises LLC. Outside of investment advising, he is involved in insurance and Medicare supplement sales through his roles with Holliman Group LLC and AJH Management LLC. Silver Oak Securities provides advisory services to individuals, families, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, managing over $2 billion in discretionary assets. The firm offers customized portfolio management and unified managed account programs, delivering investment advice primarily on a discretionary basis across a range of asset types.

James Rooker is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 38 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Benjamin F. Edwards in 2021, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer with approximately 436 advisors and $15.7 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, and nonprofit organizations, offering a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and investment management services.

Jim Ford Jr. is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 39 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he manages timber and cattle farming operations, oversees oil and gas exploration activities, and maintains copyrights to original literary works. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and nonprofit organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and employs a mix of firm-developed and third-party investment strategies with oversight from an Investment Strategy Committee.

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.

Joshua Read is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Columbus, Mississippi, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates Read Family Investments LLC, a real estate business. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including a broad range of households, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm manages over $1 trillion in assets through a nationwide network of financial advisors, offering various advisory and investment strategies under a fiduciary standard.

Tony Jackson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Columbus, MS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc., and Amsouth Investment Services, Inc. Outside of finance, he owns a tanning salon business managed by his family. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice with an IPS-driven process grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm’s approach includes a broad range of financial products, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Fred Nabors is a financial advisor with MassMutual Investors Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has worked with Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017 and previously spent over two decades with MetLife Securities and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in Magnolia Aviation LLC, which rents personal airplanes. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, using firm-approved software and collaborative planning processes to support its clients.

Stevan Black Jr. is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Columbus, MS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for seven years before joining Wells Fargo in 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates a competitive cheerleading and tumbling gym called Gametime Athletics. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and incorporates modern portfolio theory, serving as an ERISA fiduciary and providing a broader range of financial products, including insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

John Rollins is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cetera and its affiliates since 2020 and previously held roles at LPL Financial and Cadence Bank. Cetera Investment Advisers serves a wide range of individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and retirement-plan clients through a large network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and fiduciary solutions, combining retirement and institutional capabilities with a variety of advisory programs and custodial arrangements.

Jerry Toney is a CFP® professional with 27 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with LPL Financial since 2012. He also maintains a long-term relationship with Cadence Bank dating back to 2007. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as a for-profit board member of West Side Funds and manages a home-based business entity, Six Point One LLC. LPL Financial offers advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, and high-net-worth households. The firm provides a range of investment solutions, supported by an in-house research team, and combines advisory services with non-advisory products such as insurance and lending options.

Rebecca Maurer is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017 and previously held positions at MassMutual Life Insurance Company and MetLife Securities. In addition to her advisory role, she collects renewal commissions for Medicare, life, and dental insurance policies. MassMutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm structures financial planning as annual, collaborative engagements using advanced analytical tools and offers a range of specialized planning programs, including a recent Divorce Planning service.

Jeffrey Chase is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor at Stifel with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Stifel since 2015 and also has a prior affiliation with Sterne Agee beginning in 2011. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individual, institutional, and charitable organizations, offering both brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm employs a proprietary methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group for investment analysis and allocation guidance.

Michael Covington is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Columbus, MS, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and nine years of industry experience. He previously worked at Raymond James & Associates, Mass Mutual Investors Services, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Hornor Townsend & Kent Inc, and Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. LPL Financial provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, charities, and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a range of investment solutions supported by an in-house research team and combines advisory operations with non-advisory product offerings.