Patrick Dugan is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 18 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at HighTower Securities, Bank of America, Merrill, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup Global Markets. He is based in New Orleans, LA. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm’s approach includes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, with offerings that span mutual funds, ETFs, alternative investments, and customized indexing strategies.

Hailey Melerine is a Series 65-licensed advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, bringing one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Gregory Ricks & Associates Inc. and Riverlands Insurance, and she has experience working at the University of New Orleans and Coconut Beach Volleyball Complex. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm uses discretionary model portfolios and a variety of investment strategies, managing approximately $49.8 billion for over 127,000 clients.

Angela White is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors in New Orleans, LA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Raymond James Financial Services and Aflac. Outside of advising, she is a partner at CRW Properties, LLC, managing rental real estate properties, and owns LTC Financial Services, LLC. NewEdge Advisors is a large registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services and employs multiple program structures that combine in-house and third-party strategies with centralized due diligence and technology tools.

Maria Kyriakides is a financial advisor with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has seven years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Agia, Valic Financial Advisors, Bank of America, Merrill, and Olympic Insurance Underwriters Inc. Kyriakides is also active as an independent insurance agent, selling life, health, and disability insurance, as well as property and casualty insurance. Voya Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual and institutional clients such as retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, wrap programs, third-party money manager access, and plan-sponsor consulting, delivering advice primarily through non-discretionary, recommendation-based relationships.

Gerald Hebert is an investment advisor representative with NewEdge Advisors, holding a Series 65 credential and nine years of industry experience. Prior to joining NewEdge in 2024, he worked at Spire Investment Partners for seven years. Hebert co-hosts the Ragin Review Podcast and serves on the membership committee of the BNI Ragin Revenue Chapter. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services and utilizes a variety of program structures to combine in-house manager selection with third-party strategies and direct advisor discretion.

George Sins III is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 27 years of industry experience, including prior roles at LPL Financial, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Prudential Equity Group. Outside his advisory work, he is involved in a family business operating a bed and breakfast in New Orleans. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party investment strategies supported by technology and centralized due diligence.

Steven Darden is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at NewEdge Advisors and LPL Financial since 2016. He is a board member of St. Joseph's Cemetery Fund, Inc., a nonprofit organization. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser providing a broad range of services to individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers various investment program structures and emphasizes centralized due diligence, technology integration, and the use of artificial intelligence in some business operations.

Conrad Richard is an investment advisor at NewEdge Advisors with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at South Louisiana Bank, LPL Financial, and the Talbot, Carmouche & Marcello Law Firm. Outside of advisory services, he operates South Louisiana Financial Services, a DBA for his LPL business, and provides administrative support to NewEdge Advisors. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through a network of independent advisers, employing both in-house and third-party investment strategies supported by technology and ongoing due diligence.

William Parrie is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including TruWealth Advisors, Ameriprise Financial Services, and Solomon Group Productions. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm uses an integrated service model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Joshua Cavett is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with over 21 years of industry experience. He holds the PFS™ credential along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to his current role, Mr. Cavett worked with several entities including Raymond James Financial Services and has ownership interests in various business ventures such as Secretum, LLC, a cryptocurrency holding entity. He is also involved in community activities as a deacon at Riverside Church and serves on the board of Veritas Classical Academy. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm provides a broad range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to sponsored advisory programs, utilizing multiple program structures and technology tools to support both advisors and clients.

Kathleen Davenport is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Metairie, LA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has 40 years of industry experience and has worked with New York Life Insurance Co. and Nylife Securities Inc. since the mid-1980s. She also serves as a director of a local volleyball team and volunteers as an ambassador for Mt. Carmel Academy, a Catholic girls’ high school in New Orleans. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional sponsors. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated structure affiliated with New York Life.

Kevin Phillips is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. He has legal experience as an attorney at the Law Office of Kevin M. Phillips, LLC, and serves as a public defender at the Jefferson Parish Public Defenders Office. His background includes roles at Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and several financial services firms. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a network model of advisory representatives and utilizes a range of portfolio management strategies supported by advanced technology platforms.

Kayla Grodi is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. She has worked at NewEdge Advisors and LPL Financial since 2024, following seven years at Edward Jones and a year at Brown & Root. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a broad range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to sponsored advisory programs, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party strategies supported by technology and centralized due diligence.

Paul Thiels is a financial advisor with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 37 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes 14 years at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. and over two decades at GE Financial Assurance. He is also the owner and principal of Cypress Wealth Management, a name he uses publicly for his practice. J.W. Cole Advisors operates a large network of independent investment adviser representatives and offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and access to multiple third-party investment platforms for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies and advisory models, including discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Kenneth Trahan is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014. In addition to his advisory role, he operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional investors, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and plan-sponsor consulting. The firm provides advice primarily through non-discretionary, recommendation-based programs and maintains a dual registration as an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer.

Heather Ryan is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with nine years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has prior experience at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Edward Jones. NewEdge Advisors is a large registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a wide range of services such as portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party managers, employing multiple program structures that combine internal and external investment management with technology tools and centralized due diligence.

Nathaniel Novak is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Raymond James & Associates from 2013 to 2020. Novak is also a managing member of Gibson Lane LLC, a business entity for tax and investment purposes. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services, utilizing both in-house and third-party strategies supported by centralized due diligence and technology tools.

Matthew Tucker Varas is a CFP® and Series 65-registered financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors, LLC, with four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Fidelity Bank, NYLIFE Securities LLC, and New York Life Insurance Co. He operates advisory services under Guardian Wealth Management Group, LLC as part of his activities within NewEdge Advisors. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management and consulting services, utilizing multiple program structures and technology tools, with a focus on centralized due diligence and manager monitoring.

Olivia Helmers is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Metairie, LA. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has four years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Thomas Financial Group, LLC, and New York Life Insurance Company. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional investors, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages a significant portion of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Marcos Medina is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning. His previous roles include positions at JPMorgan Chase Bank, JPMorgan Securities, and Raymond James and Associates. He is also the owner of Tortuga Management Group LLC, a dormant real estate holding company. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process with an emphasis on low-cost indexing and offers a range of supplemental strategies alongside a suite of retirement plan services.