Anita Carr is a financial advisor at Core Planning with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Her prior work history includes roles at FEI Systems, Equinox, and Motionsoft. She has also taken a sabbatical since 2024. Core Planning is a multi-team firm providing fee-only financial planning, wealth management, and portfolio management primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services. The firm uses third-party model portfolios and automated tools to tailor and maintain investment strategies according to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Justin Marcus is a financial advisor at Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has held roles at firms including AE Wealth Management and PFS Investments. Outside of his advisory work, Marcus is involved in staffing and business development through leadership positions at Gratus Staffing and Big 4 Talent, an online staffing platform. Fortis Capital Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, institutional clients, and other advisers. The firm offers customized, primarily discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, utilizing a mix of passive, active, tactical, and ESG-aware strategies along with third-party sub-advisors.

Brett Bernstein is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at XML Financial Group with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at XML Securities, LLC since 2019 and at XML Financial, LLC since 2016. Bernstein is also the managing partner of BR Financial Associates Management Company, LLC. XML Financial Group is a multi-advisor wealth management firm overseeing approximately $3.3 billion in client assets. The firm serves nearly 2,900 clients, providing customized portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and access to alternative investment opportunities.

Franklin Stitely Jr. is a Series 66-licensed advisor with ValMark Advisers, Inc. based in Ashburn, VA, bringing three years of industry experience. He is also the managing member and majority owner of SK CPA's & Business Advisors PLLC, a CPA firm specializing in tax preparation and accounting, where he has worked since 1990. Additionally, he is involved with Clarity Practice Management, LLC, which provides practice management software for CPA and tax firms. ValMark Advisers offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm employs a diversified, goal-based investment approach, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and separate-account managers, with oversight from an investment committee and integration of third-party manager programs.

Christopher Oxenham is a financial advisor with Verus Capital Partners, LLC, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license, and has 19 years of industry experience. He has worked at Verus Capital Partners since 2011 and has prior experience with LPL Financial and Securities America, Inc. Verus Capital Partners is a fee-based investment advisory firm serving individuals, trusts, pension plans, and estates. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to create customized portfolios, incorporates tactical adjustments and selective hedging, and tailors allocations based on clients’ time horizons, risk tolerances, and tax considerations.

Sharon Ifrach is a financial advisor with Private Client Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Bright Futures Wealth Management, LLC and Cetera Advisors LLC. Outside of advising, she operates a part-time business consulting firm focused on improving small business operations efficiency. Private Client Services is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plan sponsors, and businesses. The firm employs a structured discovery and risk-profiling process to develop investment strategies and offers multiple implementation platforms, managing approximately $1.05 billion across more than 3,200 client accounts.

Kristian Ayala is a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work history including positions at VLP and several educational institutions. Choreo serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm employs a disciplined investment process anchored in strategic asset allocation and quantitative screening, offering a broad array of services such as portfolio management, financial planning, and outsourced CIO solutions.

Allen Bruce is a financial advisor with ON Investment Management Company who holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 53 years of industry experience, including roles at The O.N. Equity Sales Company, Ohio National Financial Services, and A.R. Bruce & Company Inc., where he also serves as president. Bruce is a guest lecturer at Howard University School of Business, delivering annual sessions on financial planning topics. He is also the treasurer of the Headley Carter Cares Foundation, a nonprofit organization. ON Investment Management Company is a SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services through comprehensive and modular plans, access to third-party investment programs, and both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Aidan Baron is a financial advisor with ValMark Advisers, Inc. holding a Series 66 license and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at W3 Financial Group and Christopher Newport University. ValMark Advisers provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm’s investment approach focuses on diversified, goal-based model portfolios and asset allocation, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and separate-account managers with oversight from an investment committee.

Gulielma Fager is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with Rossby Financial, LLC, bringing five years of industry experience. She previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Michael Bombardier PhD LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a board member for the Friends School of Baltimore and is active as an author and speaker through Toler Financial Group LLC. Rossby Financial provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs diversified investment strategies tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances, managing approximately $565 million in discretionary assets.

William Chao is a financial advisor at Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley, Steward Partners, TIAA-CREF, Raymond James Financial Services, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of advising, he coaches youth soccer and operates a goldfish breeding business. Navy Federal Investment Services serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union as well as individual, trust, and institutional clients, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan fiduciary services. The firm primarily utilizes third-party portfolio managers on the Envestnet platform and offers both managed advisory programs and automated investment options.

Christopher Vanderkolk is a CFA® charterholder with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with HUB Investment Partners, LLC, having joined in 2023, and previously worked at AFS Financial Group, Commonwealth Financial Network, Pi Analytics, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in managing a short-term rental property jointly owned with his wife. HUB Investment Partners serves a diverse client base including institutional and individual investors, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside retirement and financial planning services. The firm employs a combination of active and passive investment strategies and maintains specialized service lines for banking and municipal clients.

Steven Collins is a financial advisor at XML Financial Group, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses with 31 years of industry experience. He has been with XML Financial, LLC since 2019 and with XML Securities, LLC since 2016. XML Financial Group is a multi-advisor wealth management firm overseeing approximately $3.3 billion in client assets. The firm serves around 2,890 clients with tailored portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and access to alternative investments through various platforms and affiliated managers.

Mitchell Caplan is a financial advisor at Composition Wealth, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously led Caplan Financial Group, LLC for 23 years. He is also a licensed insurance agent involved in insurance sales and implementations unrelated to investment advisory. Composition Wealth provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and businesses. The firm employs a primarily long-term investment approach using low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs, supplemented by individual securities and other strategies, and manages approximately $9.47 billion in discretionary assets across multiple advisors.

Paul Pourreza Jourshari is a financial advisor with Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc., holding a Series 65 designation and seven years of industry experience. He has worked with Mutual of Omaha and its investor services division since 2019. In addition to his advisory role, he owns an online retail business called Paul Pourreza and is also licensed as an insurance agent specializing in life, health, and accident insurance. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. provides advisory services to individuals, corporations, and qualified retirement plans, offering financial planning, managed account programs, and retirement plan consulting. The firm works primarily through platforms like Envestnet and emphasizes model portfolios and third-party manager relationships.

Jeffrey D. Smith is a financial advisor with Private Client Services, LLC in Rockville, MD, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. He has 23 years of industry experience and has worked at Private Client Services since 2020, with previous roles at Bright Futures Wealth Management, Cetera Advisors, and Brightline Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as treasurer for a girls’ competitive gymnastics team parent association and acts as an expert witness for a legal firm. Private Client Services is a multi-team advisory firm serving individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension plan sponsors, and businesses. The firm offers financial planning, consulting, and portfolio management through a network of approximately 50 advisors and employs a structured discovery and risk-profiling process to develop customized investment strategies.

Edward Skelly is a financial advisor with ValMark Advisers, Inc. in Ashburn, VA, holding the ChFC® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 36 years of industry experience, including 15 years at ValMark Advisers and ValMark Securities. Skelly serves as a partner and owner of W3 Wealth Management, LLC, and is a board member of the Loudoun Symphony Association. ValMark Advisers provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individuals, plan sponsors, and institutional clients through a network of approximately 280 advisors. The firm employs diversified, goal-based model portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers, supported by proprietary platforms and comprehensive back-office services.

Dawn Wright is a CFP® and Series 65 licensed advisor with four years of industry experience. She is currently with Apollon Wealth Management, LLC and previously worked at CIC Wealth, LLC and Knollwood Investment Advisory. Outside of her advisory role, she manages a farming property. Apollon Wealth Management, LLC is a multi-team SEC-registered adviser overseeing approximately $11.56 billion in client assets with a network of about 145 advisors across 67 offices. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, trusts, estates, and various institutional clients, combining centrally managed strategies with locally managed portfolios and utilizing fundamental analysis, tactical allocations, ESG risk models, and technology tools including generative AI in its investment process.

Vincent Mccarron is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Triad Advisors, Inc., and National Planning Corporation. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, high-net-worth clients, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and other institutional clients. The firm emphasizes a long-term, diversified asset allocation strategy managed through centrally overseen model portfolios, supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Hazel Toler is a financial advisor at Rossby Financial, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Outside of advising, she has been involved with Joes Seafood Stonecrab and Prime Steak since 2015. Rossby Financial provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, charitable organizations, pension plans, corporations, and other business entities, managing approximately $565 million in discretionary assets. The firm uses a variety of analytical approaches to tailor diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes and offers services including wrap-fee programs and retirement-plan advice under the DOL fiduciary framework.