Connor Benson is an Investment Advisor and Banker with J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Houston, TX. He has over 12 years of industry experience working in institutional asset management, sales & trading, and comprehensive planning. His prior roles include positions at BBVA Securities, McGriff Insurance Services (Marsh & McClennan Conpany), Regions Bank, and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He is employed by both JPMorgan Securities and JPMorgan Private Bank, enabling him to offer a range of banking products alongside investment services. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, delivering asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized reporting. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage and investment management capabilities, offering non-discretionary wealth advisory services supported by a centralized due-diligence framework.

Natalie Kassenyeva is the principal of Natalie M. Kassenyeva, an investment management firm based in Houston, TX. She holds the CFA® designation along with Series 63 and 65 licenses and has 20 years of industry experience, including roles at BW Energy, McDermott International, and BP NAGP. In addition to her advisory work, she teaches preparatory classes for the Chartered Financial Analyst exam at Rice University. Her firm provides investment consulting and financial planning services focused on mutual funds, pooled accounts, and third-party managers, serving individual retirement, trust, and estate accounts. The practice emphasizes manager selection and due diligence, with non-discretionary advice and quarterly account reviews.

Kurt Ours is the sole advisor at Virescent Financial LLC in Houston, TX. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Occidental Petroleum Corporation for 11 years before founding Virescent Financial in 2025. Virescent Financial is an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser that provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management services to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a combination of fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing asset allocation and passive investment vehicles, and uses non-traditional fee structures including hourly and project-based fees rather than asset-based charges.

Andrew Nunnally is a financial advisor at Alpha-Tech Investments, LLC in Houston, TX, with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in roles at Arena Energy, Prescryptive Health, Marathon Oil, and DNC Technology. Outside of advising, he has worked as a sales analyst for Prescryptive Health, a digital health company focused on prescription intelligence platforms. Alpha-Tech Investments is a single-advisor independent firm providing discretionary asset management and portfolio supervision for individuals, corporations, and other entities. The firm employs a research-driven process combining fundamental analysis, technical methods, and modern portfolio theory, managing a diverse range of assets typically on a discretionary basis.

Terrance Elder is a CFP® professional with 22 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Optivise Advisory Services LLC. He has worked at Texas First Wealth Management, LLC since 2007 and has been involved with Cash Flow Planners since 2002, where he serves as president and dedicates significant time to selling fixed annuities and life insurance. Optivise Advisory Services provides portfolio management and financial planning to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both internally developed models and third-party sub-advisors, offering discretionary and non-discretionary solutions supported by advanced technology and reporting tools.

David Bass is a financial advisor at Decision Tree Advisor in Houston, TX, holding the ChFC® and Series 66 designations with 11 years of industry experience. He worked at Invesco for 20 years before joining Edward Jones briefly in 2021 and then founding Decision Tree Advisor in 2022. Decision Tree Advisor provides wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporations. The firm focuses on asset allocation and modern portfolio theory, primarily using passive index funds while incorporating active management and ESG criteria when requested.

Stephanie Scherr is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 39 years of industry experience. She is the principal of SM Scherr Financial LLC, an independent firm she has led since 2020, following a 21-year tenure at ProEquities, Inc. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as a trustee for family-related trusts and provides estate and financial planning services. SM Scherr Financial LLC offers comprehensive financial planning and investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, business owners, and select corporate and charitable organizations. The firm employs third-party money managers and asset allocation strategies, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary account management alongside written financial plans covering retirement, estate, tax, risk management, and business succession.

Jonathan Kolmetz is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Oaks Wealth Management in Houston, TX. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC and Strategic Financial Concepts, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is a financial therapist and counselor with Alaphia Financial Wellness and Oaks Counseling Associates, respectively. Oaks Wealth Management provides tailored investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as charitable organizations. The firm employs a primarily passive investment approach using diversified portfolios of index mutual funds and ETFs, supported by individualized plans and regular reviews.

Kenton Braun is a CFP®, ChFC®, and holds a Series 65 license, with five years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Personal Prosperity LLC and previously worked at MitchellClark & Company. Personal Prosperity LLC is an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients with tailored investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs a portfolio construction approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, combining passive and active strategies, and is notable for its use of borrowing and derivatives within separately managed accounts.

Stephanie Doyle is the principal of Stephanie E. Doyle Investment Management in Kingwood, TX, and holds a Series 63 designation. She has 14 years of industry experience and has led her independent firm since 2005. Her firm provides discretionary investment management and planning primarily for individual and prospective high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $7 million across about 20 relationships. The investment approach emphasizes strategic asset allocation using mutual funds and ETFs, with a focus on fundamental analysis and intermediate to long-term holdings. The firm also offers operational services such as managing held-away retirement and HSA accounts with tax-efficient strategies and hosts educational seminars alongside regular client meetings.

Brian Lively is the principal of B. Lively Financial, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Spring, TX. He holds a Series 65 designation and began his financial advisory career in 2026. Prior to founding the firm, he has worked at United Surgical Partners Incorporated since 2015. Mr. Lively devotes the majority of his professional time to a healthcare occupation outside the advisory business. B. Lively Financial, LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and investment advice to individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs an equity-focused investment approach that combines charting, technical, and fundamental analysis to implement growth- or momentum-oriented and sometimes concentrated positions across a range of securities, operating under ERISA fiduciary standards with ongoing client consultations.

Neal Carlson is a financial advisor at Forthright Family Wealth Advisory LLC in Houston, TX, with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors. Forthright Family Wealth Advisory provides fee-only, discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, and institutional clients. The firm uses an IPS-driven, continuously monitored investment process that incorporates diverse analytical methods and tailored asset allocation, managing over $200 million in discretionary assets with a small advisory team.

Shelley Hawkins is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience and has been the sole advisor at Four Seasons Investment Management, Inc. since 1998. She also serves as vice president of Equitable Solutions, Inc., a firm providing hourly divorce planning services. Four Seasons Investment Management offers discretionary investment management through an all-inclusive wrap fee program, managing approximately $26.7 million for about 36 clients as of December 2025. The firm employs an actively managed, diversified approach across multiple asset classes and conducts quarterly reviews to adjust portfolios within client-defined objectives and risk profiles.

Shaun Taylor is the principal of Taylor Williams Private Wealth Management LLC in Tomball, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors, Centric Advisors LLC, and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of financial services, he is involved in sports and entertainment activities through Taylor Williams Worldwide, coaching youth in basketball, golf, track & field, and baseball, as well as DJing events. Taylor Williams Private Wealth Management LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, ERISA retirement-plan advisory services, and financial planning to retirement plans, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm integrates security analysis techniques with client-specific objectives and offers pension consulting and plan services, including acting in a limited-scope 3(21) fiduciary capacity.

Adnan Hamed is a financial advisor at Blue Aris with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work experience at IBM. His other business activities include investment advisory and technology consulting. Blue Aris serves a selective client base including individuals, business entities, pension plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment advisory, and wealth management services with a multidisciplinary, education-focused approach that emphasizes strategic asset allocation and low-cost investment vehicles, supplemented by client education through newsletters, video blogs, and seminars.

Jennifer Aguirre is a financial advisor at Silverstone Private Wealth with nine years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Navy Federal Investment Services. Aguirre is also a licensed insurance agent. Silverstone Private Wealth provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on customized investment programs aligned with client goals and risk tolerance, offering both long- and short-term strategies with regular account reviews.

Julius Mathias Jr. is the sole advisor at Simba Investment Advisors in Houston, TX, holding a Series 65 license with 12 years of industry experience. He has operated Simba Investment Advisors since 2013 and has worked at Met Life and USA Asset Group since 2009 and 2007, respectively. Simba Investment Advisors provides portfolio management to institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, small businesses, foundations, and pension plans, offering customized, buy-and-hold investment strategies based on fundamental and technical analysis. The firm also offers pension consulting and basic financial planning, delivering services on a non-discretionary basis with annual account reviews and tax-related reporting.

John Capistran is the principal advisor at Caplo Advisory LLC in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 17 years of industry experience. He previously worked at AIG Retirement Advisors for 13 years before founding his independent firm in 2020. Caplo Advisory LLC provides asset management and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, and other entities. The firm utilizes both fundamental and technical analysis with tailored investment strategies, offering discretionary management and a broad range of planning and consulting services, including corporate portfolio management and business financial planning.

Matthew Mann is a financial advisor at Ascending Assets with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Ascending Assets since 2017. Outside of advising, he has worked with Domino's Pizza since 2016. Ascending Assets LLC provides portfolio management and investment planning services primarily to corporations and business entities. The firm focuses on tailored portfolio construction and ongoing monitoring, applying a blend of cyclical and fundamental analysis alongside modern portfolio theory in its investment approach.

Joseph Hopkins is a financial advisor at Mission Retirement with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at AE Wealth Management, LLC and Global Financial Private Capital, LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he has been an independent insurance agent since 1980. Mission Retirement provides investment advisory services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients by recommending and overseeing unaffiliated independent managers. The firm uses various analytic methods and offers both discretionary and nondiscretionary programs, focusing on due diligence and oversight rather than in-house portfolio management.