Scott Branson is a financial advisor with Regal Advisory Services, Inc. in Knoxville, TN, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Regal Securities since 2012. Outside of advisory duties, he prepares tax returns through a separate financial services activity. Regal Advisory Services serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, foundations, and business entities, providing financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan advisory services using a combination of fundamental and quantitative research. The firm offers various program structures and manages assets through proprietary offerings and third-party platforms, with many clients retaining final trading authority under non-discretionary arrangements.

Joseph Bedford is a financial advisor at Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. in Knoxville, TN. He holds a Series 65 designation and has experience in tax accounting and advisory services through his roles at Your Back Office Accounting and Strategic Resource Alliance. Prior to his current advisory role, he worked at Intuit Inc. and Pellissippi State Community College. Sovereign Financial Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, retirement plans, and a registered investment company. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and cash-management solutions, employing a diversified investment approach that includes mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and alternative strategies.

Wesley Brown is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with CogentBlue Wealth Advisors since 2019, including its prior formation as WEALTHCARE ADVISORY PARTNERS LLC, and previously worked at Rather & Kittrell, Inc. Outside of financial advising, he is a partner in Origin Offroad, LLC, a vehicle upfitting business. CogentBlue Wealth Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory-based approach tailored to each client’s investment policy statement, utilizing outside managers and sub-advisors as appropriate.

Matthew McDaniel is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Compass Ion Advisors, LLC since 2021 and previously at Vision Financial Consulting and JTEKT Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he provides tax preparation and planning services through McDaniel Tax Advisory LLC. Compass Ion Advisors, LLC serves individuals and families, including high-net-worth clients, as well as various institutions, offering integrated financial planning, investment advisory, and retirement plan consulting through a team-driven model managing approximately $1.59 billion in assets. The firm focuses on strategic asset allocation and long-term holding periods, utilizing a range of investment vehicles and regularly monitoring client portfolios.

Theodore Yoos III is a CFP® professional with 26 years of experience in financial advising. He currently works at CogentBlue Wealth Advisors, LLC and has prior experience with Cornerstone Financial Management LLC, Back Bay Financial Group, Inc., and Tanager Financial Services Inc. CogentBlue Wealth Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory–based approach, incorporates third-party managers, and offers flexible planning engagements tailored to client needs.

Kevin Gormley is a CFP® professional with 15 years of experience, currently serving as an advisor at Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC. He has worked with Leading Edge Financial Planning since 2015 and is also the managing member and owner of Leading Edge Tax Planning, LLC, a tax planning and preparation firm. Prior to this, he spent nine years at Accounting Consultants, Inc. Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC offers wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, diversification, and long-term investing, utilizing a mix of low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment vehicles while providing discretionary portfolio management and continuous account reviews.

James Brynmor is a financial advisor at Marotta Wealth Management, Inc. based in Knoxville, TN. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. His prior work experience includes roles at Leading Edge Financial Planning, Ameriprise Financial, and Capitol Financial Solutions. Marotta Wealth Management provides wealth management and financial planning services to individual and institutional clients, including retirees, university professors, small business owners, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory approach with diversified asset allocation and offers fee-only fiduciary advisory services through a multi-advisor team.

Charles Mattingly is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC since 2015. He has a longstanding career as a pilot with Southwest Airlines, beginning in 2007, which he continues alongside his advisory work. Mattingly also owns Leading Edge Tax Planning LLC, a tax and accounting services business. Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC is a team of nine advisors providing wealth management and financial planning to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and a long-term investment approach using mostly low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, alongside discretionary portfolio management and financial consulting.

Jason Reagan is a CFP® and Series 66-registered advisor at Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Leading Edge since 2019 and previously served nine years with the Arizona Air National Guard. Outside of financial advising, he is a pilot for NetJets Aviation, a role he has held for over 19 years. Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC provides wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm manages approximately $522 million in assets using a long-term, diversified investment approach focused on low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, supported by discretionary portfolio management and regular account reviews.

Elizabeth Wheeler is a financial advisor with Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC in Knoxville, TN. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Leading Edge since 2021. Prior to her current role, she spent 11 years with University Surgeons Associates. Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC provides wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm employs a strategic, long-term investment approach focused on asset allocation and diversification, primarily using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, while supplementing portfolios with individual securities and independent managers when appropriate.

Paul Stout is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor at Financial & Tax Architects, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Financial & Tax Architects, Inc. since 2021 and has been associated with Rand A, Inc. since 1997, where he also serves as an insurance agent. Financial & Tax Architects provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on those nearing or in retirement. The firm employs proprietary “Private Wealth Strategies” using ETFs, individual securities, and trend-aware rebalancing, with accounts reviewed monthly and customizable strategies.

Vernon Henry is a financial advisor with CreativeOne Securities, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and GWN Securities Inc. Henry is also an independent insurance agent and is involved in multiple insurance-related activities. CreativeOne Securities, LLC is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities through a network of 127 advisors. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and access to third-party manager programs via its proprietary advisory platform.

Reese Marine is a Series 66 credentialed advisor with New Edge Wealth in Knoxville, TN, currently in the early stages of his financial advisory career. Prior to joining New Edge Wealth, he worked at the Garza Law Firm and was involved with the University of Tennessee Baseball program. New Edge Wealth primarily serves ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering a broad range of advisory services with a focus on asset allocation, investor behavior, and integrating technology tools alongside adviser judgment.

Christopher Brown is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Root Financial Partners since 2025 and previously worked at Clark Asset Management, Mariner Platform Solutions, and Patriot Investment Management Group. Root Financial Partners offers investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement-plan clients. The firm emphasizes broadly diversified, passive portfolios tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances, with specialized strategies available for clients with complex needs.

Matthew Canter is a financial advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Knoxville, TN, holding a Series 66 license and 17 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Center Street Securities, Cetera Investment Services, Regions Bank, EQIS Capital Management, Curian Capital, and Legacy Tax and Financial Planning. He is also involved as an agent with LeBlanc Financial Alliance. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pensions, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, retirement plan advisory, and access to proprietary and third-party investment models, while integrating affiliated financial businesses and product channels in its offerings.

Jonathan Moore is an investment advisor representative at IAMS Wealth Management, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with firms including Dunn Bailey Lamb & Moore and Legacy Tax & Wealth Management. Outside of advisory roles, he operates separate businesses providing tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll services, and QuickBooks coaching. IAMS Wealth Management, LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, and other business entities. The firm employs discretionary portfolio management with a diverse range of investment instruments and supports both model-based strategies and client-specific restrictions.

Christopher Demaria is a financial advisor at Kovack Advisors, Inc. with 27 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and Raymond James & Associates prior to joining Kovack Advisors in 2008. He is involved in publishing non-research articles on managing money and the market environment, as well as a business technology venture as a partner and founder. Kovack Advisors, Inc. is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 260 advisors and over $6 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, banks, and government entities using a combination of internally created and third-party investment models supported by an Envestnet workflow.

Scott Beaty is a financial advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Knoxville, TN, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Center Street Securities, Center Street Advisors, and Securities America, among others. Outside of advisory services, he is involved in insurance sales and serves as a health insurance agent, conducting community meetings on Medicare supplement and prescription drug plans. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, uses proprietary and advisor-driven allocation models, and integrates affiliated financial businesses and product channels in its service approach.

Kathryn Kavehrad is a CFP® practitioner at Root Financial Partners with five years of industry experience. She previously worked at Independent Advisor Alliance and Range Financial Group, LLC, and has experience with nonprofit foundations. Root Financial Partners provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement-plan clients, using a broadly diversified, passive investment approach tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Cooper Carrier is a financial advisor with Compass Financial Management LLC in Knoxville, TN. He holds a Series 65 designation and has three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Compass, he worked at Carrier CPA + FIS and held positions at Roane State Community College and Haffs High School. Compass Financial Management LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, providing discretionary investment management, retirement-plan consulting, and participant education. The firm manages approximately $894 million across a multi-advisor team and employs a range of investment strategies including equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and internally managed model portfolios.