Ashley Crotwell is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving at Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. She has held prior roles at Sequoia Financial Group, Sequoia Financial Advisors, Triad Financial Advisors, and Bankers Life. Her background also includes six years at United Technologies. Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc.’s Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, government entities, and charitable organizations. The firm uses both proprietary and third-party investment products, applying quantitative and qualitative due diligence to construct diversified portfolios.

Francis Schanne V is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth and Cary Stamp & Company since 2018. Prior to his advisory career, he worked at Sacred Heart University for four years. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser that supports a national network of nearly 3,000 advisors and their clients by providing a range of advisory programs, technology, and practice-management services. The firm offers discretionary model portfolios and customizable investment solutions while serving both retail and institutional clients.

Carlos Farelo is a CFP® professional with 21 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with OSAIC Institutions, Inc., where he has worked since 2025, following prior roles at Ameriprise and Royal Alliance. Carlos serves on the Board of Directors and acts as Treasurer for The Academy of Finance at William T Dwyer High School. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, ERISA plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, retirement plan services, and access to alternative investments, operating a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure with both discretionary and non-discretionary assets under management.

Christopher Burke is a financial advisor at Corient with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for Matrix Capital Advisors, LLC for over two decades. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party managers and risk management tools.

Mark Foley is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Jupiter, FL, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 designations and bringing 33 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory work, Foley volunteers with the Framingham Food Pantry, assisting with donation management and distribution. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base—including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients—and offers a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services through in-house portfolio management, third-party managers, and multiple wrap programs.

Taylor Northrop is a financial advisor with GWN Securities Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 20 years of industry experience. He has been with GWN Securities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Northrop volunteers as a football coach at Princeton University and runs the Taylor Northrop Kicking Academy. GWN Securities is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and business clients with discretionary managed accounts, financial planning, and access to third-party sub-advisers. The firm supports a large network of advisors and offers a range of managed-account programs and model portfolios, including legacy market-timing and momentum-based strategies.

Joseph Roddy is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He has worked at Park Avenue Securities since 2023 and is also affiliated with Guardian Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, he has been involved with the University of Miami since 2021 and previously worked at Gilmour Academy. Park Avenue Securities LLC, operating as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser wholly owned by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through brokerage services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a combination of proprietary and third-party investment advisory programs.

Dominick Vender III is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Truist Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of finance, he has been involved with Ital Bowls, a business venture. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering both point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Terisa Heine is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. She holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Wilmington Trust and Regions Bank. First Citizens Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a client-centered process led by Investment Adviser Representatives to assess financial needs and allocate assets using fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis across various investment vehicles.

Ryan Merrell is a financial advisor at Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 66 designations. His prior experience includes roles at Diversified Investors Securities Corp. and Diversified Investment Advisors, where he has worked since 2009 and 2010, respectively. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners by offering managed portfolio advice, investment education, and guidance on asset allocation, contribution rates, and retirement age. The firm relies on Morningstar Investment Management for portfolio construction and oversight, managing a large client base primarily through non-discretionary investment strategies.

Mark Renz is a CFA® charterholder with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Corient. His prior experience includes eight years at Socius Family Office, LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that combines in-house strategies with third-party managers and employs continuous portfolio monitoring and risk management tools.

Peter Silcox is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC. He previously worked for Raymond James & Associates for 16 years before joining Steward Partners in 2026. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering investment advisory, financial planning, and managed account programs through a variety of portfolio management solutions and third-party managers.

Brett Bladergroen is a financial advisor at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Raymond James & Associates and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Prior to his financial services career, he spent four years with the New York Mets. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a range of advisory, financial planning, and managed account services.

Claudia Hubbs is a financial advisor at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Prior to joining Steward Partners in 2026, she worked at Raymond James & Associates Inc from 2020 to 2026 and Scottrade, Inc. from 2007 to 2018. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered, enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in regulatory assets. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory and financial planning services through both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

William Bush is a financial advisor at Corient with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including J.P. Morgan Securities and Geller Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the advisory board of Exegy Inc., a financial technology company, and is involved in governance roles for private investment entities. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach integrating in-house strategies with third-party managers and utilizes risk management tools and alternative investments to align portfolios with client objectives.

Lori Colclasure is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. She has worked at Commonwealth Financial Network since 2013 and owns LMC Advisors, which provides general accounting services. Lori also provides divorce planning consulting and sells fixed insurance products through Asset Advisory Services, Inc. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and hundreds of thousands of clients. The firm manages over $212 billion in client assets and offers a broad platform including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and advisory support services.

Robert Banasiak is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott holding a Series 63 designation and 60 years of industry experience. He has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2013. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs with both in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Douglas Walters is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 30 years of industry experience. Prior to joining &PARTNERS in 2025, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and WELLS FARGO Advisors, LLC for a total of ten years. Outside of finance, he owns and manages several non-investment businesses including tire and oil service companies and holds passive investments in an adventure park in Costa Rica. &PARTNERS serves a broad range of individual and institutional clients, offering investment management, financial and tax planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis through proprietary and third-party strategies, with both discretionary and non-discretionary account management options.

Steven Sacco is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Palm City, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with four years of industry experience. Prior to his current roles at Eagle Strategies and Five Peaks Capital Group, he worked nearly two decades at the United States General Services Administration. He is also engaged in insurance brokering, focusing on non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, and institutional investors, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored advice delivered primarily through non-discretionary asset management within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Michael Bass is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and three years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial and held roles at Jupiter Medical Center, Baptist Health South Florida, and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. Bass previously operated Bass College Prep LLC for six years. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services and utilizes multiple program structures that integrate in-house and third-party strategies.