Wesley Brown is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with CogentBlue Wealth Advisors since 2019, including its prior formation as WEALTHCARE ADVISORY PARTNERS LLC, and previously worked at Rather & Kittrell, Inc. Outside of financial advising, he is a partner in Origin Offroad, LLC, a vehicle upfitting business. CogentBlue Wealth Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory-based approach tailored to each client’s investment policy statement, utilizing outside managers and sub-advisors as appropriate.

James Brogan is a financial advisor with Brogan Financial in Knoxville, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Brogan Financial since 2001. In addition to his advisory role, he is an independent life and health insurance agent operating under Brogan Financial LLC. Brogan Financial serves individuals, businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing investment management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm manages approximately $533 million in assets across 755 client relationships, employing fundamental securities analysis and offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside standalone financial planning.

Patrick Clark is a financial advisor at Alliance Wealth Management Partners LLC with 25 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. and Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. He is also an independent insurance agent for various companies. Alliance Wealth Management Partners LLC is a multi-advisor team serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses, offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes customized portfolios using diversified mutual funds and ETFs, applying fundamental and technical analysis with a generally long-term orientation.

Matthew McDaniel is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Compass Ion Advisors, LLC since 2021 and previously at Vision Financial Consulting and JTEKT Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he provides tax preparation and planning services through McDaniel Tax Advisory LLC. Compass Ion Advisors, LLC serves individuals and families, including high-net-worth clients, as well as various institutions, offering integrated financial planning, investment advisory, and retirement plan consulting through a team-driven model managing approximately $1.59 billion in assets. The firm focuses on strategic asset allocation and long-term holding periods, utilizing a range of investment vehicles and regularly monitoring client portfolios.

Jason Surdyk is a financial advisor at Brogan Financial in Knoxville, TN, holding the Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Commonwealth Financial Network and Vector Wealth Strategies, among others. Brogan Financial serves individual clients, high-net-worth individuals, businesses, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations by providing investment advisory, portfolio management, and comprehensive financial planning services. The firm emphasizes fundamental securities analysis and diversified strategies tailored to clients’ objectives and risk profiles.

Tyler Stermetz is a financial advisor at Brogan Financial with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions outside the financial industry, such as work at 21st Mortgage Corporation and various local businesses in Knoxville, TN. Brogan Financial serves individual clients, businesses, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing investment advisory, portfolio management, and financial planning services. The firm customizes advice based on client objectives and risk profiles, managing diversified portfolios using fundamental securities analysis and a combination of long- and short-term strategies.

Eric Belew is a financial advisor at Brogan Financial in Knoxville, TN, holding a Series 66 designation with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill from 2014 to 2021 before joining Brogan Financial in 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Brogan Financial Insurance Planning, focusing on life, long-term care, disability, and fixed annuities. Brogan Financial serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as businesses, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm provides investment advisory and portfolio management services alongside comprehensive financial planning, using a mix of fundamental securities analysis and diversified strategies tailored to each client’s objectives and risk profile.

Michael Lawson is a financial advisor at Alliance Wealth Management Partners LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research and LPL Financial. Lawson is also a licensed independent insurance agent, selling commissionable insurance products. Alliance Wealth Management Partners serves individuals, trusts, estates, and businesses with discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis with a primarily long-term investment focus while allowing tactical adjustments, and it offers portfolios constructed with diversified mutual funds and ETFs.

Aaron Sams is a CFA® charterholder with 15 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with PYA Waltman Capital, LLC since 2011, working as part of a nine-advisor team based in Knoxville, TN. PYA Waltman Capital provides financial planning, investment supervisory and management services, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a tactical investment approach focused on fundamental-value analysis with supplemental technical analysis for timing, managing portfolios on an individualized basis.

Richard Williamson is a financial advisor at FMSA in Knoxville, TN, holding a Series 65 designation. He began his advisory career in 2025 and previously worked in corporate roles at Vulcan Materials and International Paper for over 30 years. FMSA is a privately owned registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, municipalities, and trusts. The firm manages approximately $216 million for over 1,200 clients using a fundamental, research-driven investment approach with discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services.

Melissa Ballard is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with 17 years of industry experience. She has been with PYA Waltman Capital, LLC since 2008. PYA Waltman Capital, LLC provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan consulting services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a tactical investment approach combining fundamental-value and technical analysis and manages accounts on an individualized basis with regular reviews.

Dylon Hibbard is a financial advisor with TVAMP, LLC in Knoxville, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and two years of industry experience. His background includes roles at LPL Financial LLC and Northwestern Mutual. Prior to his financial career, he served six years in the Armed Forces. TVAMP provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term, asset allocation strategy using diversified portfolios with mutual funds and ETFs, and offers a range of services including sub-advisory relationships and variable sub-account management.

Luke Bowes is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license with 12 years of industry experience. He currently works at Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners, LLC and LPL Financial, LLC, having previously been employed at Evercore Group LLC and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. In addition to his advisory role, Bowes provides administrative support to Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners, LLC. TVAMP, LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation strategy using diversified portfolios primarily made up of mutual funds and ETFs, and offers wrap-fee programs, educational seminars, and accounting-liaison services.

Neil Goodson is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Proffitt & Goodson Inc. since 2017 and previously at New Century Advisors, Inc. from 2010 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in a real estate partnership that owns the office building used by Proffitt & Goodson Inc. as its principal location. Proffitt & Goodson provides advisory services to individuals, families, trusts, and retirement plans, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial and wealth planning, and pension consulting. The firm employs an evidence-based investment framework with model-based, core-satellite allocations and uses automated tools for rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting.

Scott Fisher is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with TVAMP, LLC and has worked at related firms including Tennessee Brokerage Agency and LPL Financial. Fisher is involved in TVAMP Tax Planning, LLC, a tax preparation and accounting business. TVAMP provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation approach using diversified portfolios with mutual funds and ETFs, and offers additional services such as retirement-plan advisory, sub-advisory relationships, and educational seminars.

Jane Maikkula is an advisor at Brogan Financial in Knoxville, TN, holding a Series 65 credential with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Brogan Financial, she worked in various roles including at Real Hot Yoga Knoxville and the UTK Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life. Brogan Financial serves individual clients, businesses, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations with services including investment advisory, portfolio management, and financial planning. The firm focuses on tailored advice based on clients' objectives and risk profiles, utilizing fundamental securities analysis and a mix of long- and short-term strategies.

Kevin Gormley is a CFP® professional with 15 years of experience, currently serving as an advisor at Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC. He has worked with Leading Edge Financial Planning since 2015 and is also the managing member and owner of Leading Edge Tax Planning, LLC, a tax planning and preparation firm. Prior to this, he spent nine years at Accounting Consultants, Inc. Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC offers wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, diversification, and long-term investing, utilizing a mix of low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment vehicles while providing discretionary portfolio management and continuous account reviews.

Claire Kluth is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at PYA Waltman Capital, LLC since 2022. Her prior work includes positions at Liberty University and Ronald Blue Trust. PYA Waltman Capital, LLC provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a tactical investment approach combining fundamental-value and technical analysis and offers individualized portfolio management with performance-based fee arrangements for qualified clients.

InvestmentNews recognized Thomas as one of the best wealth advisors under 40 in the USA. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and an Enrolled Agent for the IRS. He is also an adjunct lecturer in the Finance department at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee—Knoxville. He is the director of pro bono financial planning on the Board of the Financial Planning Association of East Tennessee and a volunteer tax preparer through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. He served a Christian mission for two years in Colombia, South America, and is fluent in Spanish. He currently volunteers in his church's youth program. In his free time, he enjoys an active lifestyle with his wife and two sons, playing strategy games and pickleball. He is a proud sponsor of the Tellico Village Pickleball Club.

Ryan Hoppie is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he supports individuals and families in pursuing their financial goals and working toward financial freedom. He focuses on providing personalized guidance and strategies that align with clients' values and long-term objectives. Prior to his current role, Ryan gained experience as a Portfolio Implementation Specialist at The Vanguard Group, a Financial Literacy Coach at Utah Valley University, and a Client Relationship Manager at Soltis Investment Advisors. He is committed to continuous learning and staying informed about industry trends and regulatory changes. Outside of his professional work, Ryan enjoys biking, camping, family activities, parenthood, and reading.