Suzanne Grason is a CFP® certificant with over 21 years of industry experience. She is currently a financial advisor at Spark Financial Advisors, where she has worked since 2022. Her prior experience includes roles at Cerity Partners LLC, FJY Financial, and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Grason serves as President of the FPA Central Virginia Chapter board and is a board member of the National Capital Chapter of the Society of Financial Services Professionals, participating in Women in Finance initiatives. Spark Financial Advisors serves individual clients, charitable organizations, and employers by providing wealth management, financial planning, and employee benefit plan services. The firm focuses on passive, diversified portfolios using low-cost index funds and ETFs, with options for values-based investing, and operates under a fee-only fiduciary model.

Alexander Scott is a financial advisor at Alpha Advisors, LLC in Richmond, VA, holding a Series 65 designation with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Alpha Advisors since 2013. Alpha Advisors serves primarily individuals and families, managing approximately $256 million in assets across roughly 115 clients. The firm focuses on discretionary portfolio management with an emphasis on asset allocation and diversification, using no-load mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed accounts to implement customized model portfolios.

Craig Smelley is a financial advisor with Virginia Investment Advisory, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 44 years of industry experience. He has worked at American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. since 2004 and has been with Virginia Investment Advisory since 1995. He is also the president of Virginia Investment Advisory and holds an active insurance agent license. Virginia Investment Advisory serves individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, including both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients. The firm provides wealth management and financial planning services with an emphasis on strategic asset allocation, diversification, and a conservative, long-term investment approach.

Todd Kuimjian is a financial advisor at Virginia Estate and Retirement Planning Advisors, Inc. with one year of industry experience. He holds the CFA® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses. Prior to joining his current firm, he worked at Comerica Bank for four years and has been a partner and consultant at D&K CPAs, a tax preparation and consulting firm, since 2009. Virginia Estate and Retirement Planning Advisors, Inc. provides discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to guide investment decisions and offers ongoing portfolio oversight aligned with clients’ goals.

Joseph Cervinka is a financial advisor at Accurate Capital and Wealth LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been involved in insurance sales and services through Reliant Retirement Corporation since 2017. Kingsguard Capital primarily serves individual clients with discretionary portfolio management and ongoing investment monitoring, using model portfolios and third-party managers. The firm emphasizes asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and manager oversight consistent with a Modern Portfolio/Efficient Market approach.

William Vernon is a financial advisor at Vernon Management Group, Incorporated, with a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Vernon Management Group, he worked at the Country Club of Virginia and spent 15 years in education. Vernon Management Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, pension plans, and other entities, primarily through separately managed accounts. The firm emphasizes a proprietary, trend-focused investment process that incorporates technical analysis, charting, and backtesting, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside comprehensive financial planning and consulting services.

Sarah Byrd is a financial advisor at Alpha Advisors, LLC in Richmond, VA, holding a Series 65 designation with 22 years of industry experience. She has been with Alpha Advisors since 2004. Outside of her advisory work, she serves part-time as a bookkeeper for TEI. Alpha Advisors primarily serves individuals and families with approximately 115 clients and $256 million in assets under management. The firm focuses on discretionary portfolio management with an emphasis on asset allocation and diversification, using no‑load mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed account services.

Richard Vernon is a financial advisor at Vernon Management Group, Incorporated with six years at the firm and three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation. Outside of his advisory role, Vernon is the owner of Blue Sky Life & Annuities, a business that sells life insurance and fixed annuities. Vernon Management Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, and pension plans, primarily through separately managed accounts. The firm employs a proprietary, trend-focused investment approach based on technical analysis and active daily portfolio monitoring.

Peter Walls is a financial advisor at Kinloch Capital, LLC in Glen Allen, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch from 2009 to 2019 before joining Kinloch Capital in 2019. Kinloch Capital advises individuals, trusts, non-profits, pensions, and businesses, focusing on discretionary asset management, financial planning, and divorce planning services. The firm employs a dynamic, technically driven investment approach using proprietary model portfolios and emphasizes tax efficiency and low-cost investment vehicles.

Gary Wood is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at BDC Capital Management, Inc. He has worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. since 2021 and previously spent seven years at Raymond James & Associates. Wood also conducts insurance sales as part of his business activities. BDC Capital Management, Inc. serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family-owned businesses, and charitable organizations with financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and asset allocation services. The firm integrates investment management with tax and estate planning and provides business valuation and transition analysis for owner-run enterprises.

Ann Healy is a CFP® with 46 years of industry experience, currently serving at Beale Healy Investment Advisors Inc in Richmond, VA. She has worked with Beale Healy Investment Advisors since 1982 and is also associated with Beale Healy Financial Group, where she provides consultation on insurance and risk management. Beale Healy Investment Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management focused on individually held securities, complemented by modular financial planning. The firm’s investment approach combines fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis within a committee framework, employing various strategies from long-term holdings to short-term trading and option positions.

Deborah Tucker is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience. She is currently with Claris Financial, LLC and previously worked at Triad Advisors and Wunderlich Securities, Inc. Deborah holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Claris Financial, LLC provides fee-based portfolio management and advisory services to individuals, families, high net worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and foundations. The firm uses a flexible, client-specific investment approach that combines fundamental and technical analysis, tailoring asset mixes to clients’ goals and risk tolerance.

Meredith Jones is a financial advisor at Allvet Financial with a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Student Loan Planner, SLP Wealth, and Vincere Wealth Management, among other roles. Outside of her advisory duties, she operates Dr. Meredith Jones, LLC, where she performs speaking engagements, consulting, and content creation. Allvet Financial is a fee-only registered investment adviser specializing in financial planning and investment management for veterinarians and students. The firm emphasizes passive portfolio construction and integrates planning areas such as cash flow, retirement, business, and student loan strategies.

Benjamin Wood is a financial advisor with BDC Capital Management, Inc., holding a Series 65 designation and 12 years of experience at the firm. He is based in Glen Allen, VA, and has spent his entire advisory career with BDC Capital Management. BDC Capital Management serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family-owned businesses, and charitable organizations with financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and asset allocation services. The firm integrates investment management with tax and estate planning and provides business valuation and transition analysis for owner-run enterprises.

Richard Beale IV is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) with 46 years of industry experience. He is a principal at Beale Healy Investment Advisors Inc., where he has worked since 1982, and also has a background in insurance sales through his role at Beale Healy Financial Group, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in farming activities as a sole proprietor. Beale Healy Investment Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management focused primarily on individual securities. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis with a range of investment strategies, including the use of margin and borrowing, and manages approximately $103 million for a small client base.

Hi, I’m Lauren Zangardi Haynes, CFP®, CIMA® and founder of Spark Financial Advisors. At Spark Financial Advisors we are focused on helping high earning women, dual-career couples & business owners put an effective strategy in place to build wealth, manage taxes, and spend more time doing what they love. Our clients gain peace of mind knowing their finances are outsourced to a highly qualified team with expertise in building wealth and transitioning into retirement. I got my start in the financial services industry in 2005 with Bank of America. While working for U.S. Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management I attained my CFP® designation and became a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®). I transitioned to a smaller Fee-Only financial planning firm to get broader experience beyond investment management and haven’t looked back. I have been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report among others, and have written for Richmond Family Magazine. I previously served on the South Region Board for the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) the leading organization for fiduciary, Fee-Only financial planners. When I’m not geeking out on financial planning I like to spend time with my husband and 3 kids, read, watch stand-up comedy, and (attempt to) garden.

Maria Lavrentyeva is a financial advisor at BDC Capital Management, Inc. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been in the industry since 2023, including prior experience at Northwestern Mutual. BDC Capital Management provides personalized financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, family-owned businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a top-down investment approach that integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, with ongoing portfolio monitoring and periodic rebalancing.

Richard Vernon is a financial advisor with Vernon Management Group, Incorporated in Richmond, VA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 30 years of industry experience, having been with Vernon Management Group since 1996. Vernon Management Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, pension plans, and other entities, primarily through separately managed accounts. The firm employs a proprietary, trend-focused investment process that utilizes technical analysis and active monitoring, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and consulting services.

Michael Ellis is a financial advisor with Steelhead Wealth Management in Glen Allen, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 22 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes sixteen years at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and related entities. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance sales on a limited basis. Steelhead Wealth Management serves employer plan sponsors, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities by providing discretionary investment management, financial consulting, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, modern portfolio theory, and charting to manage client portfolios, primarily focusing on institutional and business clients.

Cory Nichols is a financial advisor at Yes Life Financial with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual in various wealth management and insurance roles. Yes Life Financial provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services to individual clients, focusing on passive investment management using low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs. The firm offers virtual financial planning and structured subscription-style coaching, emphasizing scalable, retail-oriented delivery through a small advisory team.