Eric Smeby is the principal advisor at EsmeB Inc, holding a Series 65 designation with 16 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Waterfall Wealth LLC, FTToken Inc, Dash.Fi, and Capital One. He leads multiple ventures related to digital financial platforms. EsmeB Incorporated provides automated investment management and self-directed financial planning tools via its WaterfallWealth.ai platform. The firm serves individual investors and companies seeking rules-based portfolio solutions, delivering services exclusively online using a quantitative, algorithm-driven investment process.

Kevin Bernard is a financial advisor at Pivot Capital Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Avantax and Solomon Edwards. Outside of his advisory role, he is a licensed CPA and serves as Director of Assurance and Federal Practice at a public accounting and consulting firm, and he also manages a bookkeeping and tax preparation business. Additionally, he holds licenses as a health, life, and annuities insurance producer and acts as a real estate referral agent. Pivot Capital Management, LLC serves individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses, offering customized portfolio management and financial planning. The firm uses a broad investment universe and employs various analytical methods while managing assets both on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis.

Bryan Lohr is a financial advisor at Present Value Financial Services LLC in Purcellville, VA, holding a Series 65 designation with eight years of industry experience. He has been with his current firm since 2018 and previously spent three years semi-retired preparing for a career change. Present Value Financial Services provides financial planning, investment management, tax preparation, and financial education to individuals and families across various income levels. The firm operates under a fiduciary standard, employs a bottom-up fundamental analysis combined with capital market techniques, and uses fee structures that avoid the typical asset-based model.

Robert Allen is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. He has been the principal at Allen Investment Management since 2014. Allen Investment Management serves individual investors, foundations, charitable organizations, businesses, and pension/profit-sharing plans by providing discretionary investment supervisory services combined with integrated financial planning. The firm emphasizes a value-oriented, long-term investment approach supplemented by active sector rotation or limited short-term trades and manages roughly $27.1 million in discretionary client assets across approximately 41 client relationships.

Jonathan Winter is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience and is the sole advisor at Continuum Wealth Strategies, LLC, an independent firm based in Reston, VA. He previously worked at Cetera Wealth Services and UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he teaches skiing seasonally at Vail Resorts. Continuum Wealth Strategies serves individual and other clients through wrap investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and ERISA/retirement consulting. The firm offers individualized, discretionary wrap accounts using multiple analysis methods and access to third-party portfolio managers via LPL Financial’s Manager Access Select program.

Mark Helm is the sole advisor at Helm Financial Advisors, LLC, an independent firm based in Purcellville, VA. He holds CFP® and Series 65 designations and has 22 years of industry experience, having founded Helm Financial Advisors in 2003. Helm Financial Advisors is a fee-only advisory firm serving individuals and families with comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services. The firm emphasizes non-discretionary, tax-aware investment strategies and integrates tax preparation and planning into its ongoing client engagements.

Jonathan Peyton is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently operating at Different Investments, LLC in Ashburn, VA. His career includes roles with USAA Financial Planning Services, LPL Financial, and Fidelity. Outside of advisory work, he founded Horizon Ridge Global, LLC, a publishing firm that produces his educational content including books and podcasts. Different Investments, LLC (doing business as C‑Suite Planning) provides discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, executives, entrepreneurs, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business clients. The firm emphasizes tailored portfolio construction guided by an Investment Policy Statement, incorporating various analytical approaches and a broad mix of investment instruments, and it serves both individual and institutional clients.

Kyle Kim is the founder of Kyo Asset Management, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 30 years of industry experience. Prior to establishing his current firm, he worked at LPL Financial and Invest Financial Corporation. Outside of advisory services, he is involved in residential and commercial real estate development through ownership of Kyo Capital Management. Kyo Asset Management, LLC provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to construct customized portfolios primarily focused on long-term strategies, with a discretionary approach to portfolio implementation and monitoring.

Christopher Williams is a financial advisor at Capital Fiduciary Advisors in Ashburn, VA, holding a Series 66 designation with 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Capital Fiduciary Advisors since 2011, including a period at Andersen from 2016 to 2021. Capital Fiduciary Advisors provides wealth advisory and portfolio management services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, and institutional clients such as pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm offers personal financial planning and uses a formal due-diligence process to select third-party investment managers, supporting clients with institutional-style reporting and educational seminars.

Darren Straniero is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at OnPlane Financial Advisors, an independent firm he has led since 2018. Prior to founding OnPlane, he worked for Park Ave Securities and Guardian Life Insurance for ten years each. OnPlane Financial Advisors serves individual clients and families, providing comprehensive financial planning and asset management primarily through virtual meetings. The firm employs a passive, index-oriented investment strategy and uses a fixed retainer fee model rather than percentage-of-assets billing.

Bradley Piesco is the managing principal of Magpie Consulting LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Leesburg, VA. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has 16 years of industry experience. Piesco has led Magpie Consulting since 2007. Magpie Consulting LLC provides fee-only asset management and financial planning services to individual clients, including high-net-worth and private investors. The firm uses a disciplined financial planning process and constructs diversified portfolios mainly with exchange-traded funds, offering both discretionary and nondiscretionary management options.

Lamar Watson, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, founded Dream Financial Planning to serve the needs of young professionals and minorities who typically don’t have access to fee-only and fiduciary financial planning. Prior to founding Dream, Lamar worked at a wealth management firm in Reston, VA, for over a decade. At his most recent firm, he served as the lead research analyst on a team of advisors that managed approximately $2 Billion in assets. He also served as a Vice President and Financial Advisor in the Private Wealth Management division. In this role, he worked with hundreds of clients across the country to help them meet their financial goals. Lamar’s proprietary process, the DREAM Financial Planning Process™, is the culmination of 15+ years of industry insight and experience. Less than 30% of all CFPs nationwide are in their 20s and 30s. I use The DREAM Financial Planning Process ™ to help my clients save, grow, and protect their wealth. We operate as a virtual firm and offer evening and weekend meetings for our client’s convenience. Ask about our unique pricing structure that starts at $100 per month for young professionals. We don’t have asset minimums for our clients. Less than 3.5% of all the 80,000 Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) in the United States are black or Latino, according to a new survey from the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning. Put another way; there are just 2,700 black or Latino CFPs in America; 1,200 blacks and 1,500 Latinos. Born in D.C. and a lifelong resident of Virginia, Lamar is a die-hard fan of many Washington D.C. area sports teams, most notably the Washington Redskins. His love for the Redskins all began when his grandfather started taking him to games when he was just eight-years-old. Previously, Lamar served as a volunteer basketball coach for the Chantilly Youth Association and Frederick County Parks and Recreation. In his free time, Lamar enjoys working out, biking on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, and traveling. Feel free to contact me to schedule a complimentary 30-minute phone call to see if Dream Financial Planning is a good fit for you and your family.

Melanie Brophy is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 12 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has worked at Next Play Financial Solutions, LLC since 2018 and previously spent five years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Next Play Financial is an independent, fee-only advisory firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes passive strategies using diversified index funds and ETFs, supplemented by fundamental analysis and select third-party managers.

Chloerissa Kirwan is a financial advisor at Grey Kirwan Financial with 25 years of industry experience. She holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and previously worked at LPL Financial and Reston Wealth Management. In addition to her advisory role, she is a licensed notary public in Virginia and an independent insurance agent. Grey Kirwan Financial is an independent, single-advisor firm serving individuals, families, trusts, foundations, and small businesses. The firm provides comprehensive portfolio management and financial planning, focusing on fundamental analysis and a buy-and-hold investment approach with diversified asset allocation.

Kenneth Robinson is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at KCR Wealth Management, LLC since 2014, following prior roles at Bernhardt Wealth Management, Inc. and The Monitor Group, Inc. He is based in Reston, VA. KCR Wealth Management, LLC is a fee-only wealth management firm serving individuals, families, and institutional clients such as trusts, non-profits, and corporations. The firm uses a client-specific process guided by written Investment Policy Statements, focusing on asset allocation and low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, with services that include multigenerational and advanced financial planning.

Rahul Aggarwal is the sole advisor at Aris Alpha LLC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Accenture Federal Service and several other firms. Aris Alpha LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals and high-net-worth clients, employing fundamental analysis and a long-term trading approach. The firm offers a broad range of investment options and manages accounts on a discretionary basis, tailoring strategies to each client’s risk tolerance and objectives.

Jessie Rancourt is a financial advisor at Opportunity Cost Investors LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Harris Miller Miller & Miller and UFA, Inc. Rancourt also serves at the Federal Aviation Administration and owns Opportunity Cost Media, a company that produces finance-related content on YouTube. Opportunity Cost Investors LLC provides discretionary investment management to retail clients, focusing on value-oriented, fundamental research. The firm emphasizes concentrated portfolios of high-quality companies trading at perceived deep discounts, targeting long-term capital growth.

Phillip Bour is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Bour Group, an independent financial planning firm based in South Riding, VA. Bour retired from active practice in 2011 but continues to provide financial planning services through his firm. Bour Group serves individuals and couples across various life stages, offering comprehensive financial planning advice without managing client assets. The firm emphasizes long-term, buy-and-hold investment strategies focused on asset allocation and diversification, and provides clients with written plans and limited implementation support.

I founded Luminate Financial Planning because I am passionate about the power of planning and about helping you build a life based on what matters most to you. Financial planning is a mix of art and science. It’s not just about the numbers, but what the numbers mean for you. It's how you can use money as a tool to build your own great life. I will work with you to simplify and take control of your financial life. I will empower you to align your financial assets with your own values and goals. I believe that financial planning should be transparent, using a fee-only structure to minimize conflicts of interest. No commissions and no hidden fees. I personally understand the transformative power of sound financial planning and advice. Before leaving my prior career in corporate finance, and before I knew financial planning was even a profession, I built my own extensive plan for my family. We wanted to figure out if I could take time off of my career to start a family and become a stay-at-home mom while our kids were young. That basic plan (built with an Excel spreadsheet) served as a guidepost for the financial decisions my family and I have faced. My background  I have an MBA in Finance from Georgetown University and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Bloomsburg University. I hold the CFP® certification and passed the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser exam. I worked as an associate financial advisor and wealth planner for an independent broker-dealer before launching my own practice.

John Seraphin is a CFP® and Series 66 designated advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Phin Wealth Planning, LLC, an independent firm based in Middleburg, VA. His prior roles include positions at Steigerwald, Gordon & Koch Wealth Advisors, Eagle Strategies (NY Life), and several other firms. Phin Wealth Planning provides financial planning and investment management to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations. The firm offers fixed upfront and recurring fee planning engagements across Core and Advanced tiers, with discretionary portfolio management that combines passive and active strategies tailored to client objectives.