As a military spouse, Lauren has pursued her interest in personal finance around the globe. Lauren joined Illuminate Wealth Management in 2021 and works primarily with clients through the firm's Retirement Readiness and Financial Foundations planning projects. She enjoys getting to know each client's unique situation and helping them think through important financial decisions. For clients approaching retirement, Lauren helps evaluate retirement income needs, Social Security claiming options, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), Roth conversion opportunities, and withdrawal strategies. Through the Financial Foundations projects, she works with individuals and families who want to build strong financial habits, organize their finances, and create a plan for future goals. In her free time, Lauren wrangles her three wild children (four if you include her husband) and is in constant pursuit of the perfect breakfast taco outside of Texas, which has yet to be found…

Lars Lassen is a CFP® with 15 years of experience and is the sole advisor at Magnolia Lane Capital, LLC, an independent firm he has led since 2015. He serves as a trustee of the Lassen Irrevocable Family Trust and is involved in community activities as a board member of the Hampton Roads Academy Alumni Council and a volunteer mentor with the Oyster Point Rotary Club. Magnolia Lane Capital provides discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a value-oriented, fundamental stock-picking approach focused on selecting securities trading below intrinsic value, with portfolios tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and income needs.

Jonathan West is a financial advisor at Montgomery Capital Management, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Montgomery Capital Management since 2003. West is also the director of College Funding Group, LLC, where he provides advice on college funding, financial aid opportunities, and scholarship sources. Montgomery Capital Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management combined with college-funding consulting, employing an actively managed, top-down investment approach that adjusts portfolios based on a range of economic and market factors.

Cheryl Nester is the principal advisor at Histor Investing, LLC in Williamsburg, VA, with 13 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Histor Companies since 2008. In addition to her advisory role, she is president and principal consultant of HistorConsulting, a firm providing financial and management consulting services to nonprofit organizations. HistorInvesting is a fee-only, fiduciary advisory firm serving individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, and institutional clients. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside educational services such as workshops, seminars, a video series, and a monthly newsletter. Its investment approach emphasizes macroeconomic analysis, life-cycle planning, and a buy-and-hold strategy with limited trading.

Brian Booker is a financial advisor at Prosperity Wealth Management with 21 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked for Northwestern Mutual in various capacities from 2003 to 2019. He is also an independent licensed insurance agent. Prosperity Wealth Management offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm uses documented client goals and risk tolerance to guide diversified portfolio strategies and operates a wrap fee program, as well as managing held-away retirement and education accounts through the Pontera Solutions platform.

Oscar Alvarez is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Pathway Financial Planning, Inc. in Newport News, VA. He has led his independent firm since 2014 and has operated a related financial services business since 2011. In addition to advisory work, Mr. Alvarez spends a significant portion of his time offering insurance products through a separate affiliated business. Pathway Financial Planning, Inc. provides fee-based investment management and financial planning services to individuals and small businesses, primarily through non-discretionary mandates. The firm offers tailored investment strategies, combines direct management with third-party managers, and conducts educational seminars and workshops for clients.

Mark Castonguay is a financial advisor with American Financial Planning, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Infinex Investments, Inc. and Virginia Asset Group. Outside of financial advising, he manages a bookkeeping and accounting business and serves as an administrative assistant for Congregation Zion's Sake. American Financial Planning, Inc. offers comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, corporate pension plans, and charitable institutions. The firm employs diversified index strategies with selective active management and provides investment policy statements tailored to client preferences.

Kenneth Mason is a financial advisor with Mason & Associates, LLC in Newport News, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 36 years of industry experience. He has worked at Mason & Associates since 2010 and previously spent 17 years at Centaurus Financial, Inc. Mason & Associates, LLC provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and trusts. The firm employs diversified, risk-based model portfolios using mutual funds and ETFs and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management, often utilizing independent sub-advisers while maintaining oversight. The firm also delivers educational seminars, particularly on federal employee retirement benefits, and coordinates tax services through third-party consultants.

Phillip Saunders is a Series 65 credentialed advisor at Joss Brown Wealth Advisors with four years of industry experience. He has worked with Joss Brown Wealth Advisors and its affiliated group since 2021. His prior roles include positions at Virginia Tech and Partners in Financial Planning, as well as involvement with the Virginia Future Farmers of America Association and Crossroads Camp. Joss Brown Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth households, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and other entities, providing financial planning, investment management, and non-investment consulting on a fee-only basis. The firm manages approximately $162 million in assets and offers a combination of digital platforms, third-party managers, and personalized planning services.

Simcha Terwilliger is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with SLP Wealth and has prior experience at Fox & Company Wealth Management and The Advisory Firm of Katherine L. Brown, LLC. Terwilliger also works as a student loan consultant, providing repayment and forgiveness planning for federal and private student loans. SLP Wealth is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual clients and small-business owners with discretionary investment management and financial planning. The firm uses diversified, risk-based portfolios primarily composed of no-load mutual funds and ETFs and offers additional services such as tax preparation and non-discretionary 401(k) plans.

Mason & Associates is an independent, fee-only financial planning firm located in Newport News, Virginia. We provide ongoing comprehensive financial planning and tax planning advice to clients locally and throughout the United States. Our financial advisors specialize in providing financial planning advice to federal employees who are covered by the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) and Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The financial planning team helps federal employees maximize federal benefits and provides guidance in all areas of financial planning such as retirement planning, tax planning, and estate planning. Not a federal employee? No problem! We serve a variety of clients who have no ties to the federal government other than the taxes they pay. Our financial planning process and client experience allows us to serve families who are already retired or actively working. John leads Mason & Associates as President and Senior Financial Planner, bringing over 15 years of specialized expertise in federal employee financial planning. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ since 2012, John has built a reputation for delivering comprehensive, client-centered guidance across tax, retirement, and estate planning. John earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business, where he also completed his CFP® education requirement. He is an Investment Advisor Representative and maintains a Virginia Life and Health Consultant License. John is a member of the following professional organizations: •National Association of Personal Financial Advisors •XY Planning Network •Financial Planning Association As co-host of the Federal Employee Financial Planning Podcast, John has become a recognized voice in the federal benefits space. He is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences and educational events for federal employees, and his insights have been featured in leading publications. Outside the office, John and his wife, Sara, both Virginia Tech graduates, enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and exploring the outdoors in their camper. They’re proud parents to a young son who’s best friends with their golden retriever, Penny.

Michael Mason is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) with 39 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Mason & Associates, LLC since 2010 and previously worked at Centaurus Financial, Inc. for 17 years. Mason leads a team of seven advisors based in Newport News, VA. Mason & Associates, LLC provides investment management and ongoing financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and trusts. The firm utilizes diversified, risk-based model portfolios primarily through mutual funds and ETFs, often collaborating with independent sub-advisers for portfolio management while retaining oversight. They also offer standalone services such as divorce planning, tax preparation facilitation, and educational seminars, including topics on federal employee retirement benefits.

Katherine Brown is a CFP® with 21 years of experience in financial advising. She currently works at Joss Brown Wealth Advisors, where she has been with the firm since 2020, following 15 years operating her own advisory firm. Outside of her advisory role, she is a 50% owner of Maison Brune Investments, LLC, a real estate investment business she manages with her spouse. Joss Brown Wealth Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth households, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, investment management, and non-investment consulting on a fee-only basis. The firm manages approximately $162 million in regulatory assets and offers a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary services through multiple platforms and third-party managers.

Tommy is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business, where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business as a Finance major and completed the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) education requirement. While pursuing his Bachelor’s degree, Tommy observed that taxation was integral in financial planning and decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Accounting at Virginia Tech with a focus in taxation. Tommy is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He also holds the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), as well as the Series 65 and the Virginia Life and Health Consultant Licenses. Tommy joined Mason & Associates in 2019 as a Senior Financial Planner, and earned a partnership position in 2020. Prior to joining Mason & Associates, Tommy was a Senior Financial Planner at a respected financial planning firm in Richmond, VA, and also has experience with a “Big 4” public accounting firm. Tommy’s primary responsibilities consist of working directly with Mason & Associates clients in all aspects of their financial plan, with a particular emphasis on the subjects of tax, retirement, and estate planning. Tommy a co-host of the Federal Employee Financial Planning Podcast. Tommy’s memberships and designations include: CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Life and Health Insurance Consultant License in Virginia Chairman and Past President of the Central Virginia Financial Planning Association (FPA) chapter Recognized by the Virginia Society of CPA’s as a Top 5 under 35 in 2018 Recognized by Investment News as 40 under 40 in 2018 Received 2017 Standing Ovation Award in Personal Financial Planning from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Benjamin Raikes is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience. He is currently with Mason & Associates, LLC, where he has worked since 2022, following six years at Verus Financial Partners, Inc. Mason & Associates, LLC provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and trusts. The firm employs diversified, risk-based model portfolios primarily through mutual funds and ETFs and offers educational seminars, including topics on federal employee retirement benefits.

Addison Brown is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. with one year of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Prospera, Brown worked at Jamestowne Investments and has experience in hospitality and retail sectors. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors managing approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to multiple advisory programs and platforms.

Charles Jenks Jr. is a CFP® and ChFC® with 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Financial Security Advisory Inc since 1997. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as Vice President of Financial Security Group, Inc., where he is involved in life and health insurance sales and financial planning. Financial Security Advisory, Inc. provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored plans. The firm focuses on asset allocation and long-term holdings, utilizing quantitative and qualitative analysis to select investments.

Scott Schuett is a financial advisor at Impact Partnership Wealth, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously operated his own advisory business. Outside of his advisory work, Schuett is an owner and agent involved in insurance sales. Impact Partnership Wealth provides investment management, model-portfolio implementation, financial planning, and ERISA retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm utilizes a combination of third-party strategists, adviser-managed models, and direct indexing within a discretionary trading framework supported by a third-party services platform.

Andrew Avery is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at several firms including Paraclete Wealth Partners, Clearstead Advisory Solutions, and Wilbanks Smith and Thomas Asset Management. Prior to his advisory career, he held positions at Harris Teeter and Taco Bell. AlphaStar Capital Management serves individual, corporate, and retirement plan clients, providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, participant account management, and subadvisory services. The firm employs strategic and tactical investment approaches using a range of securities and third-party portfolio construction technology, managing approximately $2.5 billion in assets across over 8,400 client relationships.

Christopher Stout is a financial advisor at AlphaStar Capital Management with a Series 65 credential. He has been active in the industry since 2016, including roles at Paraclete Wealth Partners and Paraclete Wealth Management. AlphaStar Capital Management serves individual, corporate, and retirement plan clients, providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, participant account management, and subadvisory services. The firm uses a combination of strategic and tactical investment approaches across various asset types and employs third-party portfolio construction technology.