James Mcdermott is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at MAI Capital Management, LLC since 2024. Prior to joining MAI, he worked for 24 years at Madison Financial Advisors, Ltd. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm manages $72.3 billion in assets and offers customized portfolio strategies across multiple asset classes, integrating financial planning and other wealth services.

Stephen Zelcer is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at several firms including Shober Zelcer and S. Z. Financial. Kestra Advisory Services offers investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, providing services such as fiduciary consulting, vendor searches, and plan design. The firm serves a diverse client base, including large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds, managing approximately $79.8 billion in assets.

Christopher Lawson is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, and previously held roles at BB&T Securities and BB&T Investments from 2010 to 2021. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a mix of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Samantha Cooke is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. She previously worked at Kaplan Financial Group and spent seven years at George Mason University. Outside of her advisory role, Samantha hosts a local trivia event called District Trivia in Woodbridge, VA. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides advisory programs, wealth management, and retirement plan consulting, supporting affiliated advisors with operations, trading, technology, compliance, and practice management.

John Nocita is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Bethesda, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at NYLIFE Securities LLC, Strategic Financial Associates, New York Life Insurance Co, and Ast Investor Services LLC. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a network of affiliated advisors. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages a substantial asset base primarily on a non-discretionary basis, working with a variety of plan sponsors and clients.

Brianna Buckley is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with 13 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Oak Hill Wealth Advisors, ACNB Bank, Cetera, PNC Investments, and Equitable Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she is an author of a cookbook sold on Amazon and creates content promoting brands on social media. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets. The firm offers customized wealth management services with an investment approach centered on client-specific profiles, combining quantitative screening, manager selection, and access to alternative and private market solutions.

Skerdi Kostreci is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience, currently with Eagle Strategies (NY Life). His career includes long-term roles at Eagle Strategies and NYLIFE Securities LLC, along with experience at multiple financial advisory firms. 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 primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Dariana Gordon is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 30 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2007. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm uses multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and combines large institutional scale with specialized market roles such as operating as a security-based swap dealer and futures commission merchant.

Lisu Gu is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 13 years of industry experience. She has worked with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2013 and has been affiliated with World Financial Group since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as a caregiver for her elderly father through Nova Adult Home Care and is president of LG Solutions LLC, an insurance sales business. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services, employing a combination of proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary options.

Keith Burgess is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked with NFP Securities Inc. since 2010, as well as with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of his advisory work, he coaches a youth soccer team. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse clientele, including institutional and individual clients. The firm offers comprehensive fiduciary services, plan design, and investment management, serving a client base that includes large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Myrle Simone is a CFP® professional with three years of industry experience. She is currently with Creative Planning, LLC and previously spent 18 years at Burt Wealth Advisors. Burt Wealth Advisors is a fee-only, SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis across various time horizons and primarily allocates assets among mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.

James Stewart is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Carmichael Hill since 1993. Stewart is based in Gaithersburg, MD. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm manages $72.3 billion in assets and offers services such as trust administration and insurance through affiliated entities, employing a customized approach across multiple investment strategies and platforms.

Christopher Persak is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Principal Securities Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2004. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, 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.

Monique Sinmao is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with 14 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at SOL Capital Management Company, Pontoro, and Marlo. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, charitable institutions, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services and employs a client-specific investment framework that incorporates quantitative screening, manager selection, and access to alternative and private market solutions.

Michael Orleans is an investment advisor representative at Kestra Advisory with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked with Kestra Investment Services since 2010 and Kestra Advisory since 2016. Orleans serves as director of Special Needs Special Planning at The Meltzer Companies and has held leadership roles, including past president of Shared Horizons, where he participated on the finance committee. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a broad range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including plan design, fiduciary consulting, vendor searches, and employee education, and manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets for clients such as sovereign wealth funds and large institutional investors.

Manfred Klee Saieh is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has previously worked at SOL Capital Management Company and the United Nations Development Programme. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, charitable institutions, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets as of December 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services and employs a client-specific investment framework that integrates quantitative screening, manager selection, and direct security selection, alongside access to alternative and private market solutions for qualified clients.

Shampa Bera is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services and holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. She has 26 years of industry experience, including 10 years with Truist Advisory Services and over 20 years with Truist Investment Services. Outside of her advisory role, she owns a beach condo rental business in Ocean View, Delaware. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes both discretionary and non-discretionary investment approaches, supported by third-party manager platforms and AI-enabled equity research, with a focus on integrated inter-affiliate service arrangements.

Nancy Hendershot is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment in Rockville, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 37 years of industry experience. She has been with Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. since 1988 and operates Hendershot Financial Group, where she provides support for corporate responsibilities. Outside of her advisory roles, she serves as Treasurer and Board Member for the nonprofit Walk the Walk Inc. Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC is a large enterprise firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, trusts, charities, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, advisor-led consulting, and portfolio management through model portfolios and third-party managers, supported by an in-house Investment Management & Research team.

Connie Rong is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2018. Prior to this, she was affiliated with World Financial Group and has experience at Freddie Mac as an operational control analyst. She is also involved in the sales of insurance products affiliated with Transamerica. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes model portfolios and third-party managers through multiple program platforms, managing approximately $1.7 billion in regulatory assets under management.

Michael Von Berg is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. He has worked with SunTrust Advisory Services since 2012 and Wells Fargo Clearing from 2004 to 2012. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and utilizes third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools in its investment process.