Raymond Gazelle Jr. is a CFP® professional with 19 years of experience, operating as the sole advisor at his independent firm, Raymond L. Gazelle Jr., since 2005. His background includes providing consulting services to small banks on internal operations and data processing. The firm offers comprehensive financial and investment planning services to individuals as well as corporate and nonprofit clients, frequently collaborating with financial officers or committees. It uses a long-term, strategic portfolio allocation approach focused on asset allocation, diversification, and mutual fund and ETF selection, delivering advice on a consultative, non-discretionary basis without managing client assets.

Kathleen McQuade is a Certified Financial Planner® with three years of industry experience, operating as the sole advisor at her independent firm in Laurel, MD. She has been managing her practice since 2010 and holds a Series 65 license. Her firm provides fee-only financial planning and consulting services to individual clients, focusing on investment, retirement, insurance, education, and estate planning. The practice employs a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach, primarily recommending no-load, low-cost, tax-efficient mutual funds with asset allocation as the key factor in portfolio returns.

Katrina Riddick is the sole advisor at People First Financial Advisors in Landover, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 30 years of industry experience. She has served as a financial advisor consultant to state and local governments on debt issuances and leads a related minority business advisory effort. Riddick previously worked at Percival Financial Partners, Ltd and has longstanding ties to Faim Group Strategic Solutions Center, LLC. People First Financial Advisors is an independent firm specializing in municipal financial advisory services, primarily for Maryland state and local government issuers. The firm focuses on structuring bond transactions, reviewing documentation, and acting as a bidding agent for bond proceeds investments, typically providing non-discretionary advisory support rather than primary asset management.

Robert Clark is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He founded Clark Company in 2017 after 12 years at National Planning Corporation. Clark also provides tax preparation and fixed insurance services as part of his practice. Clark Company advises individual clients as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, offering portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm primarily manages client accounts on a non-discretionary basis, focusing on client-approved strategies, and combines advisory and insurance brokerage services.

Christopher Oland is a financial advisor at Harmony Wealth Advisors, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 66 designations. He has worked at Harmony Group, Inc. since 2015 and at Harmony Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2021. Outside of advising, he is a passive owner of Preserve, a restaurant in Annapolis, MD, and serves as President of the Southern Maryland Little League. Harmony Wealth Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $22 million in assets and employs a non-discretionary, long-term investment approach informed by cyclical and fundamental analysis along with modern portfolio theory.

Jacolyn Wetmore is the principal advisor at JWC Capital Management, LLC, an independent firm based in Annapolis, MD. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 15 years of industry experience, including prior roles at United Income, Inc. and Calvert Investment Counsel. JWC Capital Management provides fee-based, individually tailored portfolio management services to individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs fundamental analysis and manager-level evaluation primarily with exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, exchange-listed securities, and corporate debt, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

My path to founding a wealth management firm is different than most. As a child, my dream was to become a fighter pilot. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, I achieved that goal, serving on active duty for a decade. I flew the F-18E Super Hornet from aircraft carriers and deployed multiple times to the Western Pacific. After those deployments, the Navy sent me to UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School to study finance, followed by the privilege of teaching undergraduate economics at my alma mater. After transitioning from active duty, I applied the skills I honed in the cockpit and classroom—leadership, effective communication, process improvement, and strategic decision-making—to multiple entrepreneurial ventures. My career as a financial planner is a natural extension of my passion for solving problems and serving others. With a background in engineering, military flight operations, top-tier business education, and collegiate economics instruction, I bring a unique perspective to wealth management: * Tenacity – Giving up is never an option. Just as a fighter pilot must persist in the air, I am relentless in helping my clients succeed. * Calm Under Pressure – I have a proven ability to think clearly in high-stakes situations, whether in the military or financial markets. I will not panic when volatility arises. * Candor – In aviation and life, speaking up is critical when the stakes are high. I will always provide honest advice, even when it’s uncomfortable. Living near Annapolis, Maryland, I cherish time with my family and enjoy Navy football, traveling, boating, and improving my golf game. I also continue to serve as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserves. Ventus Wealth Management — After a decade in the workforce, I became increasingly frustrated by the lack of financial services that truly met my needs. I couldn’t find a firm or advisor that offered the right combination of: ☑️A transparent fee and incentive structure ☑️ A flexible, client-focused service model ☑️ Modern technology solutions ☑️ Virtual meeting capabilities ☑️ Expertise tailored to my specific situation Recognizing this gap, I launched Ventus Wealth Management to address these shortcomings. Everything we do is designed with our clients in mind. Every element of our service and business model is intentionally crafted to deliver value and provide solutions that meet your needs.

Jeff Mitchell is the principal of JRM Capital Management Inc., an independent advisory firm based in Mitchellville, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 27 years of industry experience. Prior to founding JRM Capital Management in 2003, he has been associated with Lifemark Securities Corp. since 2009. JRM Capital Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and institutional clients, including pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both fundamental and quantitative analysis to manage portfolios across various asset classes and offers specialized pension consulting services alongside unique engagement models such as performance-based fees and subscription publications.

William Tilghman is the sole advisor at Tilghman Wealth Management, LLC in Arnold, MD. He holds a Series 65 designation and has four years of industry experience, including time at Markin Asset Management, LP. Prior to his financial career, he worked in several roles including at Annapolis Yacht Sales and Compass Languages. Tilghman Wealth Management offers personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, trusts, estates, and family-owned businesses. The firm employs a fee-only advisory model and utilizes tailored investment strategies that include individual securities, mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed accounts with risk management techniques such as dynamic asset allocation and the use of derivatives.

Christopher Mamunes is a financial advisor at Railroad Street Wealth Management, LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has led his independent firm since 2014. Railroad Street Wealth Management provides customized investment management and periodic financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm manages approximately $20.4 million across 55 client relationships, using a tactical, rules-based investment process that combines technical analysis with a relative-strength framework to guide portfolio construction and risk management.

Jonathan Mathews is a CFP® professional with four years of experience in financial planning. He is the sole advisor at Nautical Financial Planning, an independent firm he has led since 2018. Mathews also works as a tax advisor with Block Advisors, providing personal and business tax preparation and planning. Nautical Financial Planning offers fee-only, hourly and project-based financial planning and consultation to individuals, couples, families, and business entities. The firm focuses on globally diversified, low-cost, tax-efficient passive investments and provides clients with guidance on asset allocation, custodial setup, and periodic portfolio reviews without managing assets directly.

Fletcher Perkins is a CFA® charterholder with 22 years of industry experience. He has been the sole advisor at Acara Capital Management, LLC since 2018, following three years as a personal trader. Acara Capital Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management through focused and diversified investment approaches. The firm emphasizes concentrated equity positions combined with a variety of asset classes and employs a multi-method analysis process, managing approximately $24.7 million in assets under management.

Michael Hocker is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with CTG Wealth Management LLC, where he has worked since 2023. He has two years of industry experience and previously held positions at the Defense Acquisition University from 2013 to 2019. CTG Wealth Management LLC provides fee-only investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages discretionary portfolios using a combination of passive and active strategies and serves a significant non-U.S. client base, which introduces cross-border considerations into its planning and custody decisions.

Heath Harris is the principal of Compound Advisory with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Oliver Wealth, Hayden Royal, CITIGROUP, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Compound Advisory LLC, formed in 2024, offers portfolio management services using a multi-method investment approach that includes charting, cyclical, fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis. The firm provides tailored model allocations and typically seeks discretionary authority without employing third-party managers or wrap fee programs.

Lorie Scheibel is the principal of Smarter and Wise, an independent financial advisory firm, with 15 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Lincoln Financial Advisors. Scheibel also serves as adjunct faculty at Anne Arundel Community College and operates as an independent insurance agent. Smarter and Wise provides financial planning and discretionary wealth management to individuals nearing retirement, high-net-worth clients, and sponsor-level retirement plans. The firm employs a planning-first approach centered on a comprehensive RetireSmarter process, incorporating risk modeling and ongoing portfolio management, and offers specialized investment real estate planning alongside retirement plan advisory services.

Liz Yoder is the owner of Dependent Financial Planning, specializing in serving individuals with disabilities, their families and organizations that support and employ them nationwide. Her clientele ranges from those with high support needs to those requiring less intensive assistance. The company’s goal is to facilitate pathways toward greater independence and integration for individuals with disabilities through financial planning. After college, Liz resided in a L’Arche home, where she served as a live-in direct support provider and community member for adults with Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD), alongside four other caregivers. She spent her time in the community building relationships and learning from her housemates and the IDD advocate community. The experience fueled her determination to assist families and individuals with navigating the complexities of government benefits. Liz pursued certification as a CFP® professional to advocate on their behalf. Liz holds a B.A. in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Loyola University in Maryland. She received her CFP® designation in 2020. She also has received the designation of Chartered Special Needs Consultant or ChSNC®.

Kendell Phillip is a financial advisor at Lockstep Financial LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Maverick Trading and Northrop Grumman. Lockstep Financial LLC is an independent advisory firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm employs a primarily passive investment approach using index funds and ETFs, supplemented by fundamental and technical analysis, and manages held-away assets through third-party platforms.

Michael Parks is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Upraise Wealth Advisory, LLC and has previously worked at Edward Jones and Fidelity Investments. Upraise Wealth Advisory, LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals and high-net-worth clients with wealth management and project-based financial planning. The firm’s approach combines passive and active strategies focused on asset allocation, fundamental analysis, and due diligence of mutual funds and ETFs, with client accounts reviewed quarterly and tailored to individual goals.

John Persico is the sole advisor at Persico Asset Management in Severna Park, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 4 years of industry experience, alongside 25 years at Peregrine Capital Management, LLC / PERSICO Capital, LLC. Persico Asset Management is a fee-only independent advisory firm managing approximately $90.3 million across 88 client relationships. The firm serves individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, charitable organizations, and pension or profit-sharing plans, employing a core-and-satellite investment approach with a range of instruments and an explicit pension consulting practice.

Youfeng Jiang is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with six years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Beyond Profit and Wealth Consulting, an independent firm he founded after positions at Kestra Financial, Offit Advisors, and MuniCap. He also has experience as a self-employed financial professional over the past decade. Beyond Profit and Wealth Consulting serves individuals, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, employee benefit plan consulting, and tax preparation. The firm emphasizes passive investment strategies with tailored portfolios while providing specialized services in pension and profit-sharing plan advisory.