Marguerita Cheng is a CFP® professional with 27 years of experience in financial advising. She is affiliated with Private Client Services, LLC and also serves as CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth. Cheng contributes to Forbes on GenX women's issues and participates in several industry councils, including the CFP Board of Directors and the CNBC Digital FA Council. 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 provides financial planning, consulting, and portfolio management through a network of approximately 50 advisors and employs a structured risk-profiling process to develop and implement investment strategies across multiple platforms.

Kevin Reese is a financial advisor at Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC with 37 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. Reese has been with Navy Federal-affiliated firms since 2006 in various roles across investment services and financial group entities. Navy Federal Investment Services primarily serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union along with individual investors and trusts. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and an automated ETF-based Digital Investor product, utilizing third-party portfolio managers and model-driven strategies on the Envestnet platform.

Bradley Lipman is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, currently serving at AlphaCore Capital LLC. His prior experience includes six years at Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., and roles at SPC Financial, Inc. and Sella & Martinic, LLC. AlphaCore Capital LLC is an independent wealth advisory firm that serves individual and high-net-worth clients, entities, and institutional investors. The firm combines traditional and alternative investment strategies with comprehensive wealth planning, tax preparation, trustee services, and ERISA retirement plan advisory.

Michelle Cooper is a financial advisor with XML Financial Group in Bethesda, MD, holding a Series 66 credential and 25 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Merrill Lynch Trust Company, FSB for 19 years before joining XML Financial, LLC and XML Securities, LLC. In addition to her advisory work, she is the author of the book *I've Still Got Me* and participates in related speaking engagements. XML Financial Group is a multi-advisor wealth management firm overseeing approximately $3.3 billion in client assets and serving around 2,890 clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and access to alternative investments, tailoring portfolios at the household level through a combination of fundamental and technical analysis and third-party managers.

Tyler Miles is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with Wedmont Private Capital. His prior experience includes roles at Triad Advisors, Keeney Financial Group, SFG Wealth Management, and several other firms. Wedmont Private Capital provides ongoing financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, charities, corporations, and employee benefit plans, employing a primarily passive, tax-aware investment approach with a fixed advisory fee structure rather than a percentage-of-assets model.

Austin Pearl is a financial advisor with Apollon Wealth Management, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at CIC Wealth, LLC for six years and served in the U.S. Department of Defense for sixteen years. Outside of advisory roles, he has engaged in insurance sales activities. Apollon Wealth Management is a multi-team SEC-registered firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm combines centrally managed model strategies with locally managed portfolios, investing across a range of asset classes and offering specialized services including portfolio management, sub-advisory, and consulting for diverse client types such as insurance companies and private funds.

Connor Stanley is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with four years of industry experience, currently with Apollon Wealth Management, LLC. He previously worked at Bridgemark Wealth Management and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of advisory work, Stanley is also involved in selling insurance products to meet clients’ needs. Apollon Wealth Management is an SEC-registered multi-team adviser serving individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, businesses, charitable organizations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm utilizes a combination of centrally managed strategies and locally managed portfolios, investing across various asset classes and offering specialized services including ESG models, sub-advisory roles, and portfolio consulting.

Daniel Schueren is a financial advisor with Principal Advised Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and nine years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Merrill Lynch and Vanguard before joining Principal Financial Group entities in 2021. Principal Advised Services provides investment advice and related services primarily to retirement plan participants and retail IRA clients, offering both non-discretionary recommendations and a discretionary wrap-fee investment management program called SimpleInvest. The firm combines third-party methodologies with proprietary models and is distinguished by its integration within the Principal Financial Group family, enabling access to affiliated products and services.

Terri Laflam is a financial advisor with Choreo, LLC in Potomac, MD, holding a Series 65 credential and seven years of industry experience. She previously worked at RSM US Wealth Management LLC and RSM US LLP, where she spent a combined 19 years. Choreo provides investment and advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, family offices, endowments, foundations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm’s investment process emphasizes strategic asset allocation and diversified model portfolios overseen by a centralized management team and an Investment Committee.

Victor Krasij is a CFA® charterholder with three years of industry experience. He is currently with Aprio Wealth Management, LLC, having previously worked at BNY Mellon Wealth Management and U.S. Trust, Bank of America. He also serves as an agent in insurance sales through Aprio Risk Management and volunteers on the finance committee of the CFA Society of Washington, DC. Aprio Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, technical analysis, and both long- and short-term trading, with continuous account monitoring and at least annual reviews.

Faress Alakwaa is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience currently serving at Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC. Prior to joining Navy Federal, he held positions at Morgan Stanley, Merrill, Bank of Montreal, and Questrade. Navy Federal Investment Services primarily serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union as well as individual, trust, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and portfolio management through advisory programs and brokerage channels. The firm utilizes third-party portfolio managers on the Envestnet platform and provides overlay services, private wealth consulting, and a dual registration as both an SEC investment adviser and broker-dealer.

Renee Lennon is a financial advisor with Mutual Advisors, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Neuberger Berman, Fidelity Investments, and Triad Advisors. She serves as a board member of the Arts Council of Howard County, contributing to fundraising and strategic planning efforts. Mutual Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional investors. The firm offers a blend of active and passive strategies and supports various external platforms and manager arrangements, serving approximately $8.5 billion in assets.

John Flynn is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently serving at AlphaCore Capital LLC. Prior to joining AlphaCore, he held roles at SPC Financial Inc. and Northwestern Mutual in various capacities. Flynn is also a producing agent for AlphaCore Insurance Services, an insurance agency affiliated with his advisory firm. AlphaCore Capital LLC is an independent wealth advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, entities, and institutional investors. The firm combines traditional and alternative investment strategies with comprehensive wealth planning, tax preparation, trustee services, and ERISA retirement plan advisory.

Eden Akana is a financial advisor at AlphaCore Capital LLC in Rockville, MD, holding a Series 66 designation with eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining AlphaCore Capital in 2025, Eden worked at SPC Financial, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Grove Point Advisors, LLC, Grove Point Investments, LLC, H. Beck, Inc., and PNC Bank. AlphaCore Capital LLC is an independent wealth advisory firm serving individual, high-net-worth, entity, and institutional clients. The firm offers comprehensive wealth planning and investment management, emphasizing alternative investing alongside traditional equity and fixed-income strategies, and provides a range of services including tax preparation, trustee services, and ERISA retirement plan advisory.

Jason Davis is a CFA® charterholder with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at AlphaCore Capital LLC and previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. for 12 years and SPC Financial, Inc. His outside business activities include ownership of rental real estate. AlphaCore Capital LLC is an independent wealth advisory firm serving individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients. The firm combines traditional equity and fixed-income strategies with alternative investments and offers a range of services including comprehensive wealth planning, tax preparation, and retirement plan advisory.

John Orem is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Apollon Wealth Management, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Potomac Wealth Advisors, Commonwealth Financial Network, Grove Point Investments, Grove Point Advisors, and H.Beck, Inc. He is also involved in fixed insurance sales as a minor part of his business activities. Apollon Wealth Management, LLC is an SEC-registered multi-team adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm combines centrally managed model strategies with locally managed portfolios and invests across various asset classes including mutual funds, ETFs, equities, fixed income, and alternatives, offering specialized services such as ESG models, Direct Indexing, and sub-advisory roles for pooled and insurance-dedicated funds.

James Frangenberg is a CFP® with 22 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently with Founders Financial Securities LLC. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LPL Financial, M&T Securities, M&T Bank, and PNC Investments. He serves on the advisory council for Adventist Shady Grove Hospital Center and is a Leadership Council Member for Make-A-Wish Mid Atlantic. Founders Financial Securities provides investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, and corporate clients, managing approximately $4.1 billion in client assets. The firm offers diverse advisory platforms and delegates investment decisions to its representatives, supporting a broad range of services including managed portfolios, financial planning, and 1031 exchange consulting.

Richard Sebastian is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently with Apollon Wealth Management, LLC and previously worked at CIC Wealth, LLC and other firms. In addition to advisory services, he is involved in fixed insurance sales, providing clients with appropriate insurance recommendations. Apollon Wealth Management is an SEC-registered multi-team adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm combines centrally managed model strategies with locally managed portfolios and offers a range of investment solutions including ESG models, direct indexing, and sub-advisory services for pooled and insurance-dedicated funds.

Geoffrey Wistow is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Encompass More Asset Management LLC, bringing three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Encompass More, he worked at Bull Run Investment Management LLC, Bull Run Financial Group, and Rillhurst Capital. Wistow is also an attorney and manages a legal practice alongside his advisory role, providing legal services independently from his work at Encompass More. Additionally, he is a licensed insurance agent offering insurance products through Skyline Financial Partners, LLC. Encompass More Asset Management LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to private placements. The firm employs a model-based investment approach, utilizing both in-house and third-party sub-advisers, and manages approximately $582 million for around 4,000 clients.

Jennifer Antosh is a CFA® charterholder based in Potomac, MD, with two years of industry experience. She is currently with Merit Financial Advisors and previously worked at TritonPoint Wealth, Goldman Sachs PFM, Mercer Consulting, and BNY Mellon. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with 264 advisors serving over 20,000 clients across 66 offices, managing approximately $23.9 billion in assets. The firm focuses on long-term, diversified portfolios using centrally managed sleeves and model allocations, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary authority supported by fundamental analysis and supplemental investment tools.