Hamilton Poynor is a financial advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Birmingham, AL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial, LLC and RFG Advisory Group, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the boards of St. Luke's Episcopal Church Foundation and Lutheran Services Florida and is involved with the Million Dollar Round Table finance committee and the Make A Wish Foundation of Alabama. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs discretionary portfolio management, proprietary model allocations, and third-party sub-advisers, and integrates affiliated financial businesses and product channels in its operations.

Melissa Barkley is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Avidian Wealth Solutions with 11 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Linscomb & Williams Inc. for 12 years before joining Avidian Wealth Enterprises, LLC. Avidian Wealth Solutions is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth families, businesses, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $3.99 billion in assets and offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-plan advisory services, utilizing model-based solutions alongside sub-advisors and separately managed accounts.

Wynton Blount is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Birmingham, AL, holding a Series 66 designation with six years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Stephens Inc., Riddell Sports Group, Suffolk Construction, and Cornerstone Investment Management and Consulting. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations, uses third-party sub-advisers, and acts as an ERISA fiduciary when applicable.

Robert Lasater is a financial advisor at Advisors Capital Management, LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Advisors Capital Management since 2015. Advisors Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and proprietary model strategies to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and government entities. The firm offers customized private accounts and model strategies, combining top-down macro analysis with fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative research.

Alan Ward is a CFP® certificant with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently with Compound Planning, Inc., where he has worked since 2024. Prior to joining Compound Planning, he spent 12 years at Johnson Sterling, Inc., and had a one-year tenure at Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated. Compound Planning serves individuals, high-net-worth families, businesses, retirement plans, and financial intermediaries through discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and institutional advisory services. The firm emphasizes risk-based model allocations and combines long-term strategies with tactical tools such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

David Giegel is a financial advisor at Sowell Management in Birmingham, AL, with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at StoneX Advisors Inc., StoneX Securities Inc., Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory role, he is affiliated with Hearthwell Financial, providing insurance and financial services through a DBA. Sowell Management is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and other RIAs with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm uses a variety of management styles and offers model portfolios, third-party manager selection, and unified managed account solutions through an independent-contractor model with over 100 investment adviser representatives.

Joseph Sanders is a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management in Birmingham, AL, with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior experience includes roles at ProEquities, Inc., Wealth Management Group LLC, and Securian Financial Services. Savant Wealth Management serves a wide range of clients including individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and family office services, combining evidence-based asset allocation with actively managed strategies overseen by an investment committee.

Lucy Thompson is a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management in Birmingham, AL, with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Savant Wealth Management since 2024. Prior to that, she held various roles including a position at Warren Averett and several assignments at the Country Club of Birmingham. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a blended investment approach that combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and sub-advised mandates, supported by its scale and integrated legal, accounting, and trust services.

David Ward Jr. is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management. Prior to joining Savant in 2023, he worked at Bridgeworth Financial, LLC for nine years and at LPL Financial for four years. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services to individuals, families, pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and offers integrated accounting, legal, and trust services through affiliated entities.

Rebekah Williamson is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. She previously worked at Edward Jones and Regions Bank. Outside of finance, she has experience with the Academy of Arts at First Baptist Church Jackson. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as certain retail clients. The firm’s integrated model focuses on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates, offering both point-in-time plans and optional managed accounts.

Charles Ivey is a CFP® and CFA® credentialed advisor with 25 years of industry experience. He has worked at Savant Wealth Management since 2023 and previously spent 11 years at Bridgeworth Wealth Management and six years at LPL Financial. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and family office services. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and offers integrated accounting, legal, and trust services through affiliated entities.

Ian Maddox is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked with LPL Financial and IFP Securities, LLC, and has been with Independent Financial Partners since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, Maddox serves as Vice Chair of the Trussville Redevelopment Authority and holds board positions with the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Trussville City Schools Foundation. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform with flexible investment strategies and notable retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

Matthew Kiser is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Birmingham, Alabama. He holds the Series 66 designation and has 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BBVA Securities Inc., BBVA Compass Insurance Agency, BBVA Wealth Solutions Inc., and Compass Bank. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a discretionary online model account available by invitation. The firm primarily utilizes approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists, with portfolio implementation and proxy voting delegated to external parties.

David Curles is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 designation, with 19 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He joined Savant Wealth Management in 2023 after spending 11 years at Bridgeworth Wealth Management and six years at LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, Curles has served as a football official at the college and professional levels. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and family office services. The firm employs a blend of evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation and actively managed strategies, supported by its scale and integrated legal, accounting, and trust services.

Colin Larsen is a CFP® professional affiliated with Mariner Wealth Advisors in Birmingham, AL, with 25 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Valmark Advisors, Inc. and Valmark Securities, Inc., and long-term involvement with Colton Groome Financial Advisors, LLC. Larsen has been with Mariner since 2023. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers customized investment management, financial planning, coordinated tax services, and employer financial-wellness tools, combining in-house research with third-party manager allocations across a broad range of asset classes.

Peyton Jones is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience, currently serving at Creative Planning. Prior to joining Creative Planning, he worked for seven years at Bridgeworth Wealth Management. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Taylor Brown is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently advising at Savant Wealth Management. He has previously worked at Bridgeworth Wealth Management, LPL Financial, and Minnesota Life Insurance. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and family office services to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and sub-advised mandates, supported by affiliated accounting, legal, and trust services.

Edward Thomas III is a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management in Birmingham, AL, with seven years of industry experience. He holds the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Savant Wealth Management, he worked at Bridgeworth Wealth Management and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Thomas also serves as a commissioned Marine Officer, involved in current operations planning for Marine Corps Forces throughout the Pacific Theater. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services. The firm employs a blend of evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation and actively managed strategies, supported by centralized resources and affiliated entities offering accounting, legal, and trust services.

Laura Rhoades is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience. She has worked at Savant Wealth Management since 2023, following prior roles at Bridgeworth Wealth Management and LPL Financial, LLC. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and family office services. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and sub-advised mandates, supported by affiliated accounting, legal, and trust service entities.

Marly Green is a CFP® professional with three years of experience in the financial industry. She is currently with Savant Wealth Management in Birmingham, AL, and has previously worked at Bridgeworth Wealth Management and Cru. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and related services. The firm employs a combination of evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation and actively managed strategies overseen by an investment committee.