Kevin Bernard is the principal of Pivot Capital Management, LLC, an independent advisory firm. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to founding Pivot Capital Management, he worked with several firms including Avantax Insurance Agency and Solomon Edwards. Outside of his advisory role, Bernard is also a licensed CPA and leads an accounting and consulting firm, in addition to managing a bookkeeping and tax preparation business and serving as a real estate referral agent. Pivot Capital Management provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a tailored approach incorporating technical and fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and various asset classes, including equities, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, structured products, publicly traded REITs, and digital assets.

Stephen Berube is the sole advisor at Echo Creek Capital, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm based in Rockville, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 27 years of industry experience. Berube has led Echo Creek Capital since 2013. Echo Creek Capital manages discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios for individual and institutional clients, focusing on tailored investment strategies that combine fundamental and technical analysis. The firm utilizes a range of instruments including equities, fixed income, ETFs, derivatives, and option strategies, and incorporates borrowing and margin as part of its approach.

Christopher Ruspi is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Applied Financial Wisdom since 2012 and also maintains an affiliation with LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a travel blog. Applied Financial Wisdom provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan allocation services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach is based on a proprietary top-down forecast that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, utilizing sector rotation, ETFs, individual equities, fixed income, and, when appropriate, options and margin strategies.

Maureen Mcshane is a financial advisor at Capital Investment Management Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Capital Investment Management since 2007, following a prior role at H. Beck, Inc. Mcshane is also licensed as an independent insurance agent. Capital Investment Management provides non-discretionary investment supervisory services primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients, including trusts, estates, IRAs, and 401(k) accounts. The firm’s approach centers on diversified, risk-based allocations implemented mainly through mutual funds and Modern Portfolio Theory, with ongoing client approval of investment actions.

Brian Wee is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as the principal of Homewood Capital Management East LLC since 2017. He previously worked at Homewood Capital Management, Inc. from 2013 to 2018. Outside of his advisory role, Brian is a licensed real estate agent and insurance agent based in Woodbine, MD. Homewood Capital Management East LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual clients, focusing on long-term, diversified investment strategies grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm emphasizes documented risk tolerance and time horizons, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management, with regular portfolio reviews.

Wenhai Tu is a financial advisor at FortuneNavi Capital Inc. with seven years of industry experience. He has held his current position since 2016. FortuneNavi Capital Inc. provides financial planning and discretionary investment management primarily for pooled vehicles and institutional-type clients such as family offices, retirement plans, endowments, foundations, trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis to construct portfolios, using model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, options, and margin transactions, and it conducts quarterly reviews and rebalancing aligned with client objectives and risk tolerances.

Christopher Shematek is a CFP® and ChFC® with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Cobalt Financial Partners LLC since 2005, concurrently affiliated with LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as the Business & Economics Department Chair and instructor at Glenelg Country School, where he teaches economics and business courses and supports student-run business projects. Cobalt Financial Partners provides portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, business entities, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm focuses on asset allocation, rebalancing, and modern portfolio theory, generally operating on a non-discretionary basis and managing approximately $108 million primarily through mutual funds and ETFs.

Sean Defrehn is a financial advisor at DeFrehn Consulting with 9 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Triad Advisors, Inc. and OSAIC. Outside of financial advising, he teaches hunter safety classes for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. DeFrehn Consulting is an independent firm serving clients from Adamstown, MD.

Jorge Cortes is the sole advisor at Terrafort Capital LLC, an independent firm based in North Bethesda, MD. He holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at the Maryland State Treasurer's Office, United Nations Capital Development Fund, IDB Invest, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. Terrafort Capital serves both individual and institutional clients, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and co-advisory services. The firm combines third-party model access with direct portfolio management across traditional and alternative asset classes and provides additional services such as Outsourced CIO support and pension consulting.

Harvey Robinson is a CFA® charterholder with 6 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Robinson Capital Group in Dayton, MD. He has been affiliated with Robinson Capital Group since 2003 and has concurrent roles at Gerson Lehrman Group and Robinson Kirlew & Associates since 2012. Robinson Capital Group is an independent, fee-only investment management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm utilizes a fundamental research process and a value-oriented investment approach, focusing on diversified, risk-adjusted portfolios with discretionary management and formalized investment policies.

Jonathan Peyton is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience. He is the principal advisor at Different Investments, LLC, formerly known as Horizon Ridge Wealth Management, where he has worked since 2016. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, USAA Financial Planning Services, Fidelity, and Ameriprise. Outside of advising, he has founded several non-investment-related businesses, including a publishing firm that produces educational content such as books and podcasts. Different Investments, LLC (doing business as C‑Suite Planning) provides discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning services for individuals, including executives and entrepreneurs, as well as trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business clients. The firm employs a variety of analytical techniques to tailor portfolios and offers specialized planning services such as divorce consulting, exit planning, and special-needs planning.

Wesley Brown is a financial advisor with Remnant Wealth in Gaithersburg, MD, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. He has 10 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance, Nationwide Insurance, and Ohio National Financial Services. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in property and casualty insurance sales. Remnant Wealth provides investment and advisory services focused on pooled vehicles and institutional-style engagements. The firm offers portfolio management, wealth management, financial planning, and educational seminars, employing a non-discretionary approach with a variety of securities and multiple methods of analysis tailored to client objectives.

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.

Andrew Hamill is a CFA® charterholder with experience at Foxgrover Investment Partners since 2025, Atlantic Union Bank since 2021, and Wells Fargo from 2011 to 2021. He is based in Gaithersburg, MD. Foxgrover Investment Partners provides portfolio management and personalized financial planning to individuals and high-net-worth clients, using fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and quantitative methods to inform investment decisions. The firm offers both non-wrap and wrap fee programs, managing portfolios with discretion based on clients’ investment policy statements.

Wesley Watkis is the sole advisor at The W & W Group LLC in Rockville, MD, with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at Global Brokerage Services, Inc. and World Capital Brokerage, Inc. Outside of advisory services, he provides consulting for an information technology firm and operates as an independent insurance agent. The W & W Group delivers customized investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, estates, and retirement plans, typically without a firm-level account minimum. The firm employs a long-term investment approach informed by fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management along with a wrap-fee program that consolidates transaction and custodial costs.

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.

Mark Reges is a financial services associate at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he joined the team in 2021. In his role, Mark focuses on managing team operations and is responsible for client servicing, ensuring timely responses to client requests. He also supports business development, relationship management, and contributes to wealth management planning. A native of Potomac, Maryland, Mark graduated from Miami University with a bachelor's degree in economics. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he pursues personal interests in sculpting and painting and enjoys hiking along the Potomac River.

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.

Yuan He is a financial advisor at HY Financial LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at the General Services Administration since 2019 and the Food and Drug Administration from 2015 to 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he is a limited partner in two small businesses operating entertainment venues in Gaithersburg, Maryland. HY Financial is a small independent registered investment adviser serving individual clients with discretionary portfolio management and limited financial planning services. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis with a focus on qualitative business evaluation and low turnover, and it monitors accounts regularly while providing written financial plans.