Brian Best is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. His prior roles include positions at PNC Wealth Management, Trustmont Advisory Group, Best & Company Investment Management, and Raymond James & Associates. Outside of his advisory work, he is an owner and partner of Blue Horseshoe Ranch LLC, a family-run cattle ranch and wedding barn. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients, focusing on written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm’s advisory process integrates systematic quantitative screening with qualitative research and includes a broader range of derivatives and commodities capabilities than many institutional programs.

Donald Paxton is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Bradenton, FL, and has two years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Citrin Cooperman and Company LLP, Hard Rock Digital, Kreischer Miller, and Marcum LLP. He is also involved with Smart Pro Financial in Bradenton, where he engages in trading activities. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual, pension, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, investment management, retirement-plan advisory, and wrap-fee programs. The firm supports both discretionary and non-discretionary management through various platforms and offers access to third-party advisers and proprietary model strategies under the Founders Gate Capital brand.

Michael Long Jr. is a CFP®-designated advisor with Stifel in Sarasota, FL, bringing 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill before joining Stifel in 2020. Outside of his financial career, he serves as Vice President of SODO Design LLC, an interior design business, and leads a men's ministry group at the Church of the Redeemer. Stifel serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm uses a proprietary investment methodology developed by its Investment Strategy Group to provide asset allocation and planning analyses intended as a basis for client decisions.

Richard Eaton is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Bradenton, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 43 years of industry experience. He has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009, following seven years at Citigroup Global Markets. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs including tailored financial planning. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and employs a structured planning process supported by proprietary tools and market modeling.

Rachel Redington is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has held positions at J.P. Morgan Securities since 2023 and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank since 2022. Her work history includes roles outside finance, such as positions at Lululemon Athletica and Sirius Day Spa & Med Spa. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients. Its program offers non-discretionary, written asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting, supported by centralized due diligence and a combination of quantitative and qualitative research.

Brian Smith is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 31 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cetera in 2022, he worked at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors and Hancock Whitney Bank, where he also served as a wealth advisor providing financial planning and referrals to specialists. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves individual clients, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with a variety of portfolio management and financial planning services, supporting over 10,000 advisors and managing assets totaling more than $256 billion.

David Nicewarner is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and over 31 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Grove Point Advisors, LLC and Grove Point Investments, LLC, and has operated as a CPA providing tax preparation and accounting services since 1986. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Daniel Wood is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Bradenton, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2014, he worked at Edward Jones from 2010 to 2014. He also serves as a Financial Peace University class instructor. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, with platforms that support both discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies.

Thomas Hagigh is a CFP® professional with over 31 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with LPL Financial and has held positions at firms including Janney Montgomery Scott, Wells Fargo Clearing, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup Global Markets, and Legg Mason Wood Walker. He is also licensed to sell fixed annuity insurance. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Carl Koenig is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, based in the Doylestown, Pennsylvania office. He has been with the firm for over 30 years, assisting clients through the Wealth Management Process to develop tailored financial strategies. His expertise spans retirement, education, and estate planning, with a focus on goals-based investing and uncovering overlooked aspects of clients’ financial situations. Carl holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics from Old Dominion University. He was inducted into Omicron Delta Epsilon, the Honors Society in Economics, and completed the Merrill Financial Advisors Leadership Program through The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Carl resides in Newtown, Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys spending his leisure time fishing, biking, traveling, and being with his family.

Mark Occhipinti is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, where he has worked since 2009 and at the Morgan Stanley Private Bank since 2015, totaling 27 years of industry experience. He is based in Longboat, Florida. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in an LLC that manages rental storage units in Pennsylvania. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a wide range of advisory programs to individual and institutional clients, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and modeling techniques. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers both direct and corporate financial planning services.

Elliott Kugel is a financial advisor at Merrill with 34 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Merrill since 1992 and at Bank of America, N.A. since 2011. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients via the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Tammy Kaplan is a financial advisor at Fidelity with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Merrill, Chase Investment Services Corp., and Fidelity. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, including fund advisory and model portfolio construction that combines fundamental research with quantitative analysis and algorithmic methods.

Lisa Sheehan is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Truist Investment Services. Outside of advising, she works as a fitness instructor teaching Zumba and other classes in the Lakewood Ranch, Florida area. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing investment and fee-based financial planning services. The firm offers a broad range of planning solutions tailored to clients meeting certain net-worth thresholds, utilizing proprietary research and tools to develop personalized recommendations.

Corey Elliott is a CFP® professional based in Sarasota, FL, with 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank since 2018, following prior roles at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors and FIDELITY Brokerage Services LLC. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm provides a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment options, supported by multi-asset model portfolios and due diligence from the Schwab Center for Financial Research.

Richard Schaefer is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 42 years of industry experience. He has worked with Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association since 2015 and with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2010. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients, offering advisory programs that include tailored financial planning and estate planning strategies. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and utilizes structured planning processes supported by firm-approved tools.

Arik Jacobson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with OSAIC, based in Bradenton, FL, with 14 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Financial Dimensions Group, Inc. for 12 years. Outside of advising, he is an independent insurance agent selling personal life insurance and serves as a member of the finance committee for a local YMCA. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base including retail investors, retirement plans, charities, and corporations. The firm uses a multi-advisor platform offering brokerage and advisory services with a focus on model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization.

Rebecca Mc Swain is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Bradenton, Florida, holding the ChFC® and Series 66 designations with 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she coordinates activities for Young Life of Manatee County and coaches the junior varsity tennis team at Bradenton Christian School. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a broad range of advisory programs and investment options, supported by a nationwide network of over 23,000 financial advisors.

Joshua Fitzmorris is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors in Bradenton, FL. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has five years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Ramsey Solutions for seven years and briefly operated a catering business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals and institutions, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm manages a multi-billion dollar asset base and provides access to proprietary model strategies and various account platforms.

George Elliott is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates who holds a Series 66 designation and has 26 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2016, he worked at UBS Financial Services, Citigroup Global Markets, and Legg Mason Wood Walker. Outside of advising, he is involved in managing a rental real estate property on Anna Maria Island, FL. Raymond James & Associates is a large broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary solutions, employing a range of portfolio management styles supported by firm research and affiliated sub-advisers.