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.

Zachary Bond is the principal advisor at Bond Financial Planning, LLC in Hampton, VA. He holds a Series 65 designation and has experience working as an engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding. Bond founded Bond Financial Planning, an independent registered investment adviser that provides discretionary investment management and financial planning for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes a long-term, fundamental-analysis approach and constructs portfolios primarily using ETFs and mutual funds, with occasional use of individual securities.

Michael Coirin is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience, operating as the sole advisor at Foundations Financial Planning, LLC in Williamsburg, VA. Foundations Financial Planning offers personalized, confidential financial planning and investment advice to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a strategic asset-allocation, core-and-satellite investment approach that favors low-cost, no-load mutual funds and ETFs, providing recommendations through written reports and periodic reviews without discretionary trading authority or custody of client assets.

Michael Harris is a CFP® with 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is the sole advisor at Blue Rock Financial Services, Inc., an independent firm based in Williamsburg, VA, where he has worked since 2006. Blue Rock Financial Services primarily serves individual investors through discretionary investment management and financial planning, utilizing diversified, multi-asset portfolios tailored to client objectives. The firm also manages assets for a private foundation and offers both one-time and ongoing planning engagements.

Daniel Bickey is the sole advisor at B Hive Financial, LLC in Williamsburg, VA. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at the State Corporation Commission and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Dawson Ford Garbee & Co., where he is also active as a real estate salesperson. B Hive Financial provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small- to medium-sized businesses. The firm uses a range of investment strategies tailored to client goals and serves a client base that includes both individual and corporate clients.

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.

Marco Johnson is the sole advisor at Intentional-Growth Advisors LLC in Newport News, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 14 years of experience in financial services. He previously worked with Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services for over a decade and concurrently serves as a systems analyst at the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic since 2003. Additionally, Mr. Johnson creates financial education content under his personal brand H.I.M.E. through various digital platforms. Intentional-Growth Advisors LLC serves individuals, families, trusts, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement accounts, offering portfolio management and wealth planning through various fee structures. The firm combines passive and active investment strategies using both fundamental and technical analysis and integrates behavioral finance and client education via the proprietary H.I.M.E. framework as an educational tool alongside advisory services delivered under a fiduciary standard.

David McKnight is a CFP® with 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is the principal of Ultimate Retirement Products, Inc., an independent firm based in Williamsburg, VA, where he has worked since 2006. His prior experience includes roles at Fortune Financial Services, Inc. and operating as a sole proprietor under Planned Financial Consultants. Outside of his advisory work, he is a part owner of a nonprofit focused on dock maintenance. Ultimate Retirement Products, Inc. provides discretionary asset management and pension consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis for portfolio management and serves as both an ERISA 3(21) advisor and a 3(38) investment manager.

William Carbonell is a financial advisor at Arion Wealth Management LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and beginning his advisory career in 2026. He has prior work experience at Huntington Ingalls Industries and the City of Monrovia. Outside of his advisory role, he maintains employment as an engineer. Arion Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, offering investment selection, asset allocation, and portfolio monitoring aligned with client goals and risk tolerances. The firm uses both fundamental and technical analysis and allows clients to impose investment restrictions without requiring a minimum account size.

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.

Christopher Landry is a financial advisor at Pacific Landfall with a Series 65 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked at Pacific Landfall since 2020 and has prior business experience with Dulles Restaurant Group, LLC and DRG2, LLC. Pacific Landfall provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, business entities, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of cyclical, fundamental, value, and quantitative analysis to manage customized portfolios and offers subscription-based planning along with nonprofit capital-campaign support and business formation-to-exit guidance.

Chance Butler is a financial advisor at Pacific Landfall with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at AppVision and NetSecurity Corporation. Butler has been with Pacific Landfall since 2016. Pacific Landfall provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, business entities, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of cyclical, fundamental, value, and quantitative analysis to manage both long-term and short-term portfolios tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerance, with additional services including nonprofit capital-campaign support and business lifecycle guidance.

Burton Baker is the sole advisor at Baker Asset Management, LLC in Williamsburg, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 22 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eastern Point Advisors, Investors Capital Corp, and 1693 Asset Management since the early 2000s. Baker Asset Management provides fee-only portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, endowments, and non-profit organizations. The firm focuses on both discretionary and non-discretionary management, employing diversified mutual fund/ETF allocations or individual securities with options strategies, and serves a client base that notably includes charitable organizations and endowments.

Justin Roberto is a financial advisor with Beacon Freedom Advisory, LLC, holding a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Colonial Wealth Strategies, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of financial advising, he coaches the William and Mary women’s golf team and serves as president of a nonprofit networking group. Beacon Freedom Advisory, LLC is a small registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm primarily delivers investment management through Matson Money’s asset-allocation models, complemented by financial planning and retirement consulting services.

Christopher Leonard is a financial advisor at Baker Asset Management, LLC in Williamsburg, VA. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 12 years of industry experience. Prior to his work in financial advising, he has been employed at Bristol Myers Squibb since 2007. Baker Asset Management is an independent, fee-only firm that provides portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, endowments, and nonprofit organizations. The firm focuses on documented client goals and offers diversified mutual fund/ETF strategies or individual-security portfolios that may include options and leverage to manage risk and cash flow.

Mark Shelby is a financial advisor at Vertical Wealth Management with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked in roles related to investment and tax advisory, including managing Radius Tax, LLC and coaching new investment advisors. In addition to his advisory work, he is a licensed insurance agent and provides fixed insurance sales. Vertical Wealth Management offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, retirement-plan advisory, and fee-based insurance consulting, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and retirement plans. The firm delegates trading to sub-advisors and uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor portfolios, while also maintaining affiliated tax advisory and insurance services.

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.