Xolani Ndlovu is a financial advisor at DABA Advisors LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Old Mutual Limited for twelve years. He has also been involved with the Age of Learning Foundation. DABA Advisors LLC offers online robo-advisory portfolio management and membership subscription services focused on investing in and out of Africa. The firm uses an algorithmic process combined with oversight from advisory personnel to recommend investments across multiple asset classes, including equities, ETFs, fixed income, and digital assets.

Edward Lazerow is the sole advisor at EJL Asset Management, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Bethesda, MD. He holds the Series 66 designation and has 25 years of industry experience. Lazerow has managed EJL Asset Management since its founding in 2011. EJL Asset Management provides discretionary investment supervisory services primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses fundamental analysis to construct portfolios across a broad range of instruments, employs both long- and short-term trading strategies, and operates with discretionary authority guided by individualized Investment Policy Statements.

Eric Smeby is the principal advisor at EsmeB Inc, holding a Series 65 designation with 16 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Waterfall Wealth LLC, FTToken Inc, Dash.Fi, and Capital One. He leads multiple ventures related to digital financial platforms. EsmeB Incorporated provides automated investment management and self-directed financial planning tools via its WaterfallWealth.ai platform. The firm serves individual investors and companies seeking rules-based portfolio solutions, delivering services exclusively online using a quantitative, algorithm-driven investment process.

Michael Worch is the principal of Worch Financial Group, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Rockville, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience, including prior roles at ON Investment Management Co and Guardian Life. Outside of advisory services, he is also involved in insurance sales as a licensed agent. Worch Financial Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients by providing financial planning, portfolio management through third-party managers, and insurance product implementation. The firm employs fundamental analysis with both long- and short-term investment approaches and operates primarily through referrals to external managers without taking investment discretion.

Kevin Bernard is a financial advisor at Pivot Capital Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Avantax and Solomon Edwards. Outside of his advisory role, he is a licensed CPA and serves as Director of Assurance and Federal Practice at a public accounting and consulting firm, and he also manages a bookkeeping and tax preparation business. Additionally, he holds licenses as a health, life, and annuities insurance producer and acts as a real estate referral agent. Pivot Capital Management, LLC serves individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses, offering customized portfolio management and financial planning. The firm uses a broad investment universe and employs various analytical methods while managing assets both on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis.

Steve Jefferys is a CFA® charterholder based in Bethesda, MD, with 16 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Jefferys Capital Management from 2009 to 2012. He is the sole advisor at Arch Financial Advisors LLC, an independent firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services primarily to middle- and upper-middle-income individuals and families. The firm offers fee-only, non-discretionary advice with a tax-aware, client-specific asset allocation approach, and emphasizes a planning-focused relationship model.

Stephen Berube is the sole advisor at Echo Creek Capital, LLC, an independent firm based in Rockville, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 28 years of industry experience, including 15 years at UBS Financial Services prior to founding Echo Creek Capital in 2013. Echo Creek Capital provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management to individuals and institutions, managing approximately $22 million in discretionary assets across 32 client accounts. The firm utilizes both fundamental and technical analysis and employs options, derivatives, and margin as part of its investment strategies, including performance-based fee arrangements for qualified clients.

Wenhai Tu is a financial advisor at FortuneNavi Capital Inc. with seven years of industry experience. He has held his current position since 2016. FortuneNavi Capital Inc. provides financial planning and discretionary investment management primarily for pooled vehicles and institutional-type clients such as family offices, retirement plans, endowments, foundations, trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis to construct portfolios, using model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, options, and margin transactions, and it conducts quarterly reviews and rebalancing aligned with client objectives and risk tolerances.

Thomas Steeley is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Steeley Advisory, LLC and has held prior roles at SMG Advisory, LLC, Steeley & Associates, and Ameriprise Financial. He also owns and manages a CPA practice that advises clients on tax and business matters and operates a shared office suite for independent business owners. Steeley Advisory, LLC serves individual clients as well as pension and profit-sharing plans and corporate entities. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, using individualized Investment Policy Statements and a long-term, fundamental analysis approach to investing.

Robert Allen is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. He has been the principal at Allen Investment Management since 2014. Allen Investment Management serves individual investors, foundations, charitable organizations, businesses, and pension/profit-sharing plans by providing discretionary investment supervisory services combined with integrated financial planning. The firm emphasizes a value-oriented, long-term investment approach supplemented by active sector rotation or limited short-term trades and manages roughly $27.1 million in discretionary client assets across approximately 41 client relationships.

Sean Defrehn is a financial advisor at DeFrehn Consulting with 9 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Triad Advisors, Inc. and OSAIC. Outside of financial advising, he teaches hunter safety classes for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. DeFrehn Consulting is an independent firm serving clients from Adamstown, MD.

Jorge Cortes is the sole advisor at Terrafort Capital LLC, an independent firm based in North Bethesda, MD. He holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at the Maryland State Treasurer's Office, United Nations Capital Development Fund, IDB Invest, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. Terrafort Capital serves both individual and institutional clients, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and co-advisory services. The firm combines third-party model access with direct portfolio management across traditional and alternative asset classes and provides additional services such as Outsourced CIO support and pension consulting.

Jonathan Winter is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience and is the sole advisor at Continuum Wealth Strategies, LLC, an independent firm based in Reston, VA. He previously worked at Cetera Wealth Services and UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he teaches skiing seasonally at Vail Resorts. Continuum Wealth Strategies serves individual and other clients through wrap investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and ERISA/retirement consulting. The firm offers individualized, discretionary wrap accounts using multiple analysis methods and access to third-party portfolio managers via LPL Financial’s Manager Access Select program.

Scott Faley is a financial advisor at Inaltis Capital Management, LLC in Chevy Chase, MD, holding a Series 65 credential with 14 years of industry experience. He has worked with The Motley Fool, LLC since 2011, where he contributes to an income-focused investment newsletter. Outside the advisory field, he maintains a law firm, R Scott Faley, PC, in Bethesda, MD. InAltis Capital Management provides discretionary investment management, portfolio consulting, and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, small businesses, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm delivers advice through model portfolios called SpokeFund®, emphasizing fundamental analysis and value-oriented strategies tailored to client investment policies.

James Merrill is a financial advisor at Binnacle Financial Group LLC in Chevy Chase, MD, with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Binnacle Financial Group since 2022. Prior to that, he spent seven years in roles not specified in this data. Binnacle Financial Group provides wealth management, investment management, and project-based financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm manages a small number of client relationships with concentrated assets and uses a combination of passive and active investment strategies guided by Modern Portfolio Theory.

Jonathan Peyton is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently operating at Different Investments, LLC in Ashburn, VA. His career includes roles with USAA Financial Planning Services, LPL Financial, and Fidelity. Outside of advisory work, he founded Horizon Ridge Global, LLC, a publishing firm that produces his educational content including books and podcasts. Different Investments, LLC (doing business as C‑Suite Planning) provides discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, executives, entrepreneurs, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business clients. The firm emphasizes tailored portfolio construction guided by an Investment Policy Statement, incorporating various analytical approaches and a broad mix of investment instruments, and it serves both individual and institutional clients.

Kyle Kim is the founder of Kyo Asset Management, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 30 years of industry experience. Prior to establishing his current firm, he worked at LPL Financial and Invest Financial Corporation. Outside of advisory services, he is involved in residential and commercial real estate development through ownership of Kyo Capital Management. Kyo Asset Management, LLC provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to construct customized portfolios primarily focused on long-term strategies, with a discretionary approach to portfolio implementation and monitoring.

Wesley Brown is a financial advisor with Remnant Wealth in Gaithersburg, MD, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. He has 10 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance, Nationwide Insurance, and Ohio National Financial Services. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in property and casualty insurance sales. Remnant Wealth provides investment and advisory services focused on pooled vehicles and institutional-style engagements. The firm offers portfolio management, wealth management, financial planning, and educational seminars, employing a non-discretionary approach with a variety of securities and multiple methods of analysis tailored to client objectives.

Christopher Williams is a financial advisor at Capital Fiduciary Advisors in Ashburn, VA, holding a Series 66 designation with 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Capital Fiduciary Advisors since 2011, including a period at Andersen from 2016 to 2021. Capital Fiduciary Advisors provides wealth advisory and portfolio management services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, and institutional clients such as pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm offers personal financial planning and uses a formal due-diligence process to select third-party investment managers, supporting clients with institutional-style reporting and educational seminars.

Darren Straniero is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at OnPlane Financial Advisors, an independent firm he has led since 2018. Prior to founding OnPlane, he worked for Park Ave Securities and Guardian Life Insurance for ten years each. OnPlane Financial Advisors serves individual clients and families, providing comprehensive financial planning and asset management primarily through virtual meetings. The firm employs a passive, index-oriented investment strategy and uses a fixed retainer fee model rather than percentage-of-assets billing.