Stefan Patchan is a CFA® charterholder with four years of experience at Mason Investment Advisory Services, Inc. Prior to joining Mason, he worked at TFC Consulting, Inc. and held positions at Virginia Tech. Mason Investment Advisory Services, Inc. manages approximately $15.67 billion for about 1,063 clients through a team of 31 advisors. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutions, offering fee-based financial planning, separately managed accounts, and outsourced chief investment officer services with a focus on strategic, long-term asset allocation and manager selection.

Sai Ying Chu is a financial advisor with Capital Analysts holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Capital Analysts and Lincoln Investment in 2024, she worked at Agia and Valic Financial Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she also works as a contractor for Instacart, assisting with grocery deliveries. Capital Analysts serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, foundations, businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm offers portfolio management, custom and model portfolios, access to third-party managers, and retirement-plan advice, delivering investment management through both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches.

Noah Valdez is a financial advisor at Summit Financial, LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Inc., Agm Institute, and United Bank. Summit Financial, LLC is an SEC-registered multi-team advisory firm managing approximately $26.35 billion in assets for about 17,800 clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and portfolio management programs, combining discretionary and consultative services tailored to client needs.

Patrick Chitwood is a financial advisor with Arkadios Wealth Advisors, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and bringing 47 years of industry experience. He has held roles at multiple firms, including Triad Advisors, Acg Wealth, Inc., and Arkadios Capital, and has operated his own advisory businesses, Chitwood Advisory Group and Chitwood Wealth Management. Arkadios Wealth Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered firm serving individuals, trusts, businesses, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers customized investment plans implemented through various internally managed and third-party strategies, combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

Frederick Baerenz is a financial advisor at F L Putnam Investment Management Company with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Kalos Capital, Inc. and Alpha Omega Group, Inc. He serves on the advisory board of Real Asset Advisor, a publisher of investment-related newsletters focused on real estate, infrastructure, and real assets investment industries, without receiving compensation for this role. F L Putnam serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, and institutions, offering customized, team-based investment management and financial planning. The firm combines internally managed and third-party strategies across multiple asset classes, incorporating sustainable investing and tax-aware rebalancing, and supports these with a research process that integrates macroeconomic and security-level analysis.

Samuel Boyd is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving with Mariner Independent. His prior roles include positions at Capital Asset Management Group, Inc., Capital Investment Advisors, Inc., and Cambridge Investment Research Inc. He is a board member of the National Capital Area Financial Planning Association, a nonprofit entity based in Herndon, VA. Mariner Independent provides investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management and planning services through independent advisers supported by a platform that integrates institutional resources, model portfolios, and third-party managers.

Robert Schneider is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Beaumont Financial Partners. He has been with Beaumont since 2014 and also worked at BAHA Financial Group. Beaumont Financial Partners provides investment management, wealth management, family office services, financial planning, and in-house tax preparation to affluent individuals, families, small businesses, and select institutions. The firm employs a Dominant Benefit Theory of Investing, using primarily low-cost index funds, ETFs, selective sub-advisors, and alternative investments, with tailored portfolio management overseen by an Investment Committee.

Keith Brennan is a financial advisor at F.L. Putnam Investment Management Co. with nine years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Sei Private Wealth Management, Brighton Jones, SVB Wealth, and Wellesley Asset Management. F.L. Putnam serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, institutions, and registered investment companies. The firm offers a team-based, customized investment approach that combines internally managed strategies and third-party managers across multiple asset classes, incorporating tax-aware rebalancing and options for sustainable investing.

Michael Bui is a financial advisor with ValMark Advisers, Inc. in Ashburn, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has been with ValMark Advisers since 2011 and is also a partner and owner of W3 Wealth Management, LLC in Akron, OH, where he oversees daily activities and client meetings. 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 offers diversified, goal-based model portfolios primarily implemented with mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party managers, supported by proprietary platforms and extensive due diligence and operational resources.

John Tattersall is a financial advisor with Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Wealthcare Advisory Partners since 2017 and also maintains a long-term affiliation with LPL Financial beginning in 2011. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a fly fishing guide business in Virginia. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC manages approximately $6 billion in client assets through a team of over 150 advisors, serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines goals-based, client-centered planning supported by proprietary software with an evidence-based investment approach that incorporates behavioral economics and quantitative analysis.

Gregory Clarke is a financial advisor at Capitol Securities Management, Inc. in Reston, VA, with 41 years of industry experience. He has been with Capitol Securities Management since 2015. Clarke holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Capitol Securities Management serves individual investors, institutional and corporate clients, retirement plans, trusts, and small businesses, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm operates as both a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser, offering advisory programs that include discretionary and non-discretionary management, separately managed accounts, and third-party Money Managers.

Michael Romano is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Reston, VA. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Commonwealth and Forge Financial in 2024, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank NA for over a decade and had a brief tenure at Merrill. Outside of his advisory work, he owns MAR, LLC, an entity created for owning antique cars and real estate. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that supports a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and manages about $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm offers a broad platform of managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody services, facilitating portfolio solutions through both internally managed models and external subadvisers.

Angela Larkin is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Oak Hill Wealth Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing. In addition to her advisory role, she is a notary public, performing document notarizations for clients. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a broad national client base, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset allocation, manager selection, and periodic rebalancing, utilizing proprietary quantitative screens alongside third-party managers and individual securities.

Christopher Gordon is a financial advisor at Centaurus Financial, Inc. with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. for seven years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an adjunct professor teaching retirement courses at Howard Community College and Anne Arundel Community College. Centaurus Financial, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management solutions, employing various analytical approaches and allowing both discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements.

Patrick Mccarthy is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He is currently with Oppenheimer and previously worked at BTIG LLC, Carbon Advisors, Capewell Aerial Systems, and Neptune Holding. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, pooled investment vehicles, and IRAs. The firm offers a broad range of advisory programs across equity, balanced, and fixed-income portfolios, employing strategic and tactical asset allocation, manager selection, and portfolio reviews on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Michael Kitces is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations, along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Focus Partners, he worked at The Colony Group, Buckingham Strategic Wealth, and Pinnacle Advisory Group. Kitces is also the owner of Kitces.com, where he writes and speaks on financial planning topics, and he co-founded several organizations including XY Planning Network, AdvicePay, New Planner Recruiting, and fpPathFinder, which support financial advisors and the planning profession. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering wealth management and advisory services including investment management, financial and tax planning, and family office support. The firm uses a long-term investment approach blending active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Kenneth Shall Jr. is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities. He has held roles at both firms since 2016 and operates as an independent insurance agent. In addition to his advisory work, he is a commissioned notary. Park Avenue Securities LLC, doing business as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients with brokerage services, financial planning, and investment advisory programs.

Thomas Regan is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Cerity Partners, he worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Keystone Asset Management. His background also includes roles in education and community activities, such as at Virginia Tech University and Cardinal Hill Swim and Racquet Club. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management and related services to a diverse national client base, including individuals, families, trusts, estates, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset allocation and manager selection strategies, integrating proprietary quantitative screens and private-market investment offerings.

Carl Kielbasa is a financial advisor at Centaurus Financial, Inc. with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Centaurus Financial since 2017, following brief tenures at LeBaron Financial Group and Harbour Investments, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Carroll Retirement Plans and Investments as a registered representative and also operates CK Financial Services LLC, a payroll and business accounts payable service. Centaurus Financial, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, small businesses, and institutions, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a variety of analytical approaches and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary management, with access to specialized overlay programs and third-party money managers.

Lars Okeson is a financial advisor at Cresset Asset Management, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Cresset since 2020, following a four-year tenure at Pagnato Karp Partners, LLC. Okeson serves on the accounting board of the College of William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business. Cresset Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $71.9 billion in assets for a diverse client base that includes individuals, families, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a diversified, asset-allocation-driven approach, combining active and passive strategies and conducting structured due diligence to tailor portfolios to client objectives and risk profiles.