Derek Thorp is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Houston, TX, holding the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Meservey Financial Group, LPL Financial, and Wells Fargo Advisors. He is also the owner of MFG Wealth, LLC, a private entity facilitating securities, advisory, and insurance business. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $212 billion in client assets. The firm provides a comprehensive adviser-support platform that includes managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody services.

Christopher Sarofim is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Sarofim Trust Co. in Houston, TX, with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked with Fayez Sarofim & Co., Sarofim International Management Company, Sarofim Trust Co., and Sarofim Advisors Group, Inc. since 2010. Sarofim Trust Co. is a Texas-chartered trust company and SEC-registered investment adviser serving institutional and private clients such as pension and profit-sharing plans, endowments, foundations, corporations, charitable organizations, banks, trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a predominantly bottom-up, fundamental research process with a focus on high-quality large-capitalization companies and offers discretionary investment management, trustee, custodial services, and access to private placements.

Megan Assenmacher is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. She is currently with Empower Advisory Group and Empower Financial Services, Inc., having joined in 2023. Prior to that, she worked at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill from 2014 to 2023. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage account holders. The firm uses an integrated service model linked to its recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Ryan Griswold is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including Invesco and Axa Advisors, LLC. His background also includes roles outside the financial industry at Samuels Jewelers and Texas Christian University. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a mix of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients that include large institutional investors such as sovereign wealth funds.

Marlon Scott is a financial advisor at CWM, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Wealth Standard Financial, LPL Financial, and Ameriprise Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as President of the UNT Alumni Association and Vice President of the INROADS Houston Alumni Association. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutions through a network of over 600 advisors. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, sub-advisory, and retirement plan services, typically managing accounts on a discretionary basis using model portfolios governed by an in-house Investment Committee.

Michelle Wilburn is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Valic Financial Advisors for eight years and has been with Empower-related firms since 2023. Wilburn is also involved with Catbirds, a business she has been connected to for over a decade. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to select IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm offers integrated services tied to its recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Harold Perkins Jr. is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 47 years of industry experience. He has been with Fahnestock & Co. Inc. since 2003. Perkins serves as a board member of the Michael Hoctor Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Oppenheimer serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering advisory and brokerage services with investment management, consulting, and retirement planning. The firm employs strategic and tactical asset allocation and manager selection across various investment vehicles, with a notable role as a qualified custodian and a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches.

Johnathon James is a financial advisor at United Planners' Financial Services of America, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials with eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at PNC Investments, Avantax Advisory Services, Truist Advisory Services, and JPMorgan Securities. Outside of financial services, he is involved with Amped Fitness. United Planners Financial Services is a national wealth-management enterprise serving a broad client base that includes individual investors, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and institutional clients. The firm delivers advisory and brokerage services through independent representatives and employs a mix of custodians, third-party money managers, and platform programs to implement investment strategies.

Keyton Rizzo is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked in various roles including at Saltgrass Steakhouse and Kuhllman Cellars. Oppenheimer serves individuals, corporations, pooled vehicles, and retirement plans by providing a range of advisory and execution services, including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, consulting, and retirement services. The firm employs varied investment approaches across its programs and reported approximately $36.7 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2025.

Alexander Spiller is a CFP® and Series 65-registered financial advisor at MAI Capital Management, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He previously worked at WCG Wealth Advisors, LLC and has been associated with Treloar & Heisel, LLC for over a decade, where he is involved in the sale of fixed insurance products. Spiller also served in the US Army for nine years. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides investment management, wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm manages $72.3 billion in assets and offers a range of portfolio strategies implemented through various management structures, integrating financial planning and tax services into many client relationships.

Gregory Rivine is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Houston, TX. He has been with Eagle Strategies since 2016 and also maintains roles with Nylife Securities, LLC and New York Life Insurance since 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he invests personally in cryptocurrency offerings. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and retirement plans, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and predominantly manages assets on a non-discretionary basis, operating within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Alisa Smith is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. She has worked with GWFS Equities, Inc. since 2013. Outside of investment advisory, she assists with freelance writing, focusing on proofreading and fact-checking articles, and operates a temporary staffing business. 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 clients. The firm delivers services through an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping platforms and emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its planning approach.

Carlos Guerra is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on a board responsible for overseeing Galveston's tourism efforts, beach patrol, and coastal zone management. Oppenheimer serves a broad client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services such as investment management, consulting, and retirement services. The firm’s approach includes strategic and tactical asset allocation with a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary management tailored to client objectives.

Summer Rose is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at BBVA Wealth Solutions, BBVA Insurance Agency, BBVA Securities, and Edward Jones. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a digital discretionary model account available by invitation to employees. The firm uses algorithmic risk assessments and delegates portfolio management and proxy voting to third parties.

Joshua Levy is a financial advisor with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 12 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Voya in 2025, he worked at VALIC Financial Advisors and Agia. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional investors, offering services such as financial planning, portfolio management, and plan-sponsor consulting through various program structures. The firm generally provides non-discretionary advisory services and operates both as an SEC-registered investment adviser and a broker-dealer.

Haley Nguyen is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities. Her background includes roles at both firms and operating her own CPA firm focused on tax preparation and planning. She also works as an independent contractor offering insurance products outside of Guardian’s offerings. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage services, financial planning, and investment advisory programs to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory relationships, utilizing model portfolios from various in-house and third-party managers.

Hunter Hargraves is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with 9 years of industry experience. He has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC and Northwestern Mutual in various roles. Outside of finance, he serves as a firefighter for the City of Houston. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management and financial planning, employing customized portfolios that include mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income with a primarily long-term approach.

Erin Williams is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Erin held positions at Dell Technologies and Texas A&M University. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services provides financial planning, investment management, and advisory support to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth households, and institutional clients, leveraging centralized investment resources and integrated financial group capabilities.

Lori Bennett is a financial advisor at Oppenheimer with 36 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with Oppenheimer since 2015. Oppenheimer serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing strategic and tactical asset allocation, manager selection, and various investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Jon Urruzuno is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services for nine years before joining Oppenheimer in 2022. Oppenheimer serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services such as investment management, consulting, and retirement solutions. The firm employs strategic and tactical asset allocation, manager selection, and various investment strategies, with client objectives documented and accounts reviewed regularly.