Thomas Atkins is a CFP® professional with 30 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has been with Advisor Resource Council (formerly 360 Wealth Management, LLC) since 2012 and also maintains a longstanding affiliation with LPL Financial since 2009. Outside of his advisory work, Atkins has worked as a bartender at The Colony Wine Bar. Advisor Resource Council serves individuals, families, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and business enterprises by providing asset management, financial planning, and consulting services through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm employs actively managed strategies that combine artificial intelligence tools with traditional fundamental analysis across diverse portfolio types.

Robert Burts Jr. is a financial advisor with Synovus Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 36 years of industry experience. He has a long tenure at Synovus-related firms dating back to 1999 and recently joined Pinnacle Bank in 2026. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a rental condominium in Panama City Beach, FL. Synovus Securities serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional investors, offering both advisory and brokerage services through various managed account programs and using a risk-tolerance framework to guide investment decisions.

John Lydick is a financial advisor at Jaffe Tilchin Investment Partners, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Merrill, Bank of America N.A., and Equitable Advisors. Outside of financial services, he is the president and owner of Jon Charles Makeovers Inc., a salon business, and serves as an organist at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church. Jaffe Tilchin Investment Partners serves individual and institutional clients, offering investment advisory, portfolio management, financial planning, and private placement services. The firm manages accounts on discretionary and non-discretionary bases and provides private fund operational services integrated into client support.

Clinton Gharib is a financial advisor with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 35 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cetera Advisor Networks LLC and Summit Financial Group Inc. He is involved in teaching financial planning classes through the Heartland Institute of Financial Education. Madison Avenue Securities provides investment advisory and related services to individual clients, charitable institutions, foundations, trusts, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $2.0 billion in assets and offers a range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through its network of investment adviser representatives.

Grafton Newman Jr. is a financial advisor with Silver Oak Securities, Incorporated, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and bringing 43 years of industry experience. He has worked with William E. Hopkins & Associates, Inc. since 2006 and has been self-employed in insurance and investment-related roles since 1985. Outside of securities, he manages a life insurance business offering equity and fixed annuities as well as long-term care insurance. Silver Oak Securities serves individuals, families, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations, managing over $2 billion in discretionary assets. The firm provides tailored portfolio management and financial planning through a network of more than 100 professionals, using both internal and third-party due diligence to support its investment strategies.

Kevin Mc Mahon is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Principal Life Insurance Company, Northwestern Mutual, and Shamrock Trading Corporation. He also engages in insurance sales and service through Crump/PPN. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel abroad. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Dalton Lueck is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. His work history includes roles at Empower Financial Services, Lucas Retirement Group, and Wells Fargo. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders, delivering services through an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Stephen Walsh II is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Creative Planning since 2017, following a tenure at PNC Investments from 2013 to 2016. He is based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by direct indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and other portfolio management techniques.

Preston Neumann is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Lucien, Stirling & Gray Advisory Group, Inc., and NYLIFE Securities LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional sponsors, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Otis Thames is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2003 and also serves as an agent with Agia, focusing on non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S. individuals, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and discretionary unified managed accounts through a large network of investment advisor representatives.

Scott Howe is a financial advisor with Mariner Wealth Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 29 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Mariner in 2023, he worked at Candriam and Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC among other roles. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm uses discretionary, customized portfolios supported by an internal team and third-party managers, with a notable integration of tax and accounting services uncommon for firms of its size.

Ashli Smith is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with nine years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Lockton Investment Advisors, Lockton Companies, and IRA Group, Inc. Outside of her advisory role, she owns a short-term rental property in Miramar Beach, Florida. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various tactical approaches.

Wayne Rogers is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers a combination of investment advisory and brokerage services, utilizing the Envestnet platform along with proprietary and third-party investment models, and operates with a unique mix of roles and fee structures uncommon among large enterprise firms.

Michael Rankin is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC since 2017 and previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors from 2013 to 2017. Rankin also operates a non-variable insurance business. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office services, and retirement plan advisory, utilizing customized portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and fixed income with a long-term investment approach.

Laura Plourde is a CFP® and ChFC® with 34 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has been affiliated with Equity Services, Inc. and National Life Group since 2010. Outside of her advisory work, she is a partner and owner of Clyde River Camping, a business renting campsites in Vermont. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms and utilizes third-party asset managers and model portfolios, combining long-term strategies with options for short-term trading and specialized instruments.

Joseph Hamner is a financial advisor at GWN Securities Inc. with 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at AXA Advisors, LLC from 2010 to 2017 before joining GWN Securities. Hamner serves as a board member for the Gulf Coast State College Foundation, focusing on fundraising activities. GWN Securities is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that offers discretionary managed accounts, financial planning, and access to third-party sub-advisers and model portfolios for individual and business clients. The firm supports a large network of advisors and provides a range of managed-account programs, including traditional asset allocation and legacy market-timing strategies.

Roger Hobby is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 35 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Fidelity Investments and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors for over a decade. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as the sole trustee for the Scott Family Trusts. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain retail brokerage clients. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Chad Link is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked with various Truist entities since 2015, including Truist Investment Services and Suntrust Investment Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by AI-enabled research and inter-affiliate integration.

Adam Breazeale is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. He has been with Charles Schwab-affiliated firms since 2018 and previously worked at Fifth Third Securities and CUNA Mutual Group. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, delivering recommendations based on standardized asset allocation models and Schwab research tools. The firm operates as an internal advisory unit within the Schwab ecosystem, focusing on wealth management education and annual financial reviews without exercising discretionary trading authority.

David Stone is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding CFP® and multiple securities licenses, and has 35 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Tartan Wealth Management LLC and Beacon Financial Advisory LLC. In addition to his advisory work, he co-owns several tax preparation and accounting service entities, including Tartan Tax and PTG Tax & Accounting Holdings LLC. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing roughly $213 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad support platform offering discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, retirement consulting, and custody services.