Bryan Ellis is a financial advisor with Horizon Investment Counsel LLC in Marietta, GA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 17 years of industry experience, including 10 years at Horizon Investment Counsel and its predecessor firm. In addition to his advisory role, Bryan operates a licensed insurance agency offering life, property, and casualty insurance products. Horizon Investment Counsel provides discretionary portfolio management through two equity-focused programs, serving moderate to high net worth individuals and various institutional clients. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes long-term ownership of high-quality companies purchased at reasonable prices, managing primarily common stocks with a defined sell discipline.

Christopher Brown is the sole advisor at Brown Capital Advisors, LLC in Marietta, GA, holding a Series 66 designation with 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and Hennsler Financial before founding his current firm in 2018. Brown Capital Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and CFO advisory services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and entrepreneurs or small-business owners. The firm manages approximately $16.7 million across about 20 client relationships, emphasizing fundamental analysis, asset allocation, diversification, and risk management, with the use of equities, ETFs, and select alternative investments. Its CFO advisory services to small businesses, combined with a willingness to utilize derivatives and complex investment vehicles, distinguish its offerings from many independent advisory firms.

Joel Smith is the principal and owner of Joel Smith & Associates, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm based in Atlanta, GA. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 27 years of industry experience, including 20 years at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a director for the FBI Georgia Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and assists the Euharlee Police Department on weekends. Joel Smith & Associates provides financial planning, investment advisory, and consulting services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as charitable organizations, foundations, and municipalities. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and emphasizes strategic asset allocation, diversification, and periodic rebalancing in its client portfolios.

Cecily Welch is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, operating through her firm Welch Financial Investments, LLC in Atlanta, GA. She also owns Welch Financial Advisors, a CPA firm, and integrates accounting and financial advisory services. Welch has worked continuously with her firms since 2010. Welch Financial Investments serves a select group of individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charities, and business entities. The firm focuses on diversified asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory, typically using mutual funds and ETFs, and provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary management, often coordinating with third-party managers for portfolio implementation and reporting.

Robert Samsel is a financial advisor at Fortress Capital in Marietta, GA, holding a Series 65 license with five years of industry experience. Prior to founding Fortress Capital in 2021, he worked at Zep, Vanderlande Industries, and Cortland Partners. He is also involved with Top Tier Trees, an outside business activity. Fortress Capital provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to qualifying and high-net-worth individuals and entities, focusing on a single investment strategy based on bottom-up fundamental equity analysis. The firm manages concentrated portfolios emphasizing long-term capital growth and employs performance-based compensation arrangements for qualified clients.

Troy Harmon is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license, with three years of industry experience. He is the principal advisor at Due West Wealth Advisors LLC and serves as an adjunct professor at Kennesaw State University. Harmon is also the treasurer of the ASFIP Foundation, a nonprofit focused on financial education, and is CEO of A&E Investment Properties, Inc. Due West Wealth Advisors provides discretionary wealth management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs fundamental analysis and a primarily long-term investment approach, managing portfolios that often include ETFs, equities, mutual funds, and options contracts.

Portia Ryan Gerton is the sole advisor at Transformation Wealth Management, LLC in Atlanta, GA, with 18 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has held prior roles at Ameritas Investment Company, Blue Clover Financial, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and Edward Jones. Outside of financial advisory work, she owns and operates Eye Design Interiors, LLC, an interior design business. Transformation Wealth Management is an independent, single-advisor firm providing investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm combines discretionary SEI-sponsored programs with a significant share of non-discretionary assets and offers ongoing portfolio monitoring and planning, including held-away account management and referrals to third-party managers.

Jamar Bates is a financial advisor with Bates Financial Group, LLC in Smyrna, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 13 years of industry experience. He has led Bates Financial Group since 2014. Outside of advisory services, he is involved with Bates Realty Group, Inc., which engages in residential and commercial real estate brokerage. Bates Financial Group provides financial planning, consulting, and educational seminars to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm integrates advisory services with brokerage, insurance, and mortgage offerings, relying on third-party managers for investment guidance and emphasizing strategic and tactical asset allocation approaches.

James Durden Jr. is a financial advisor at Edward Wealth Partners in Lithia Springs, GA, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. He has been involved with Edward Financial Group since 2013 as an owner and insurance agent, dedicating approximately half of his time to insurance-related activities. Edward Wealth Partners provides advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth investors, and business entities, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a mix of fundamental and technical analysis and works with third-party managers and sub-advisors, with a notable affiliation to an insurance business and an emphasis on ERISA 3(21) pension plan services.

Cass Chappell III is a CFP® professional with 30 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Chappell Financial Group, an independent firm he has led since 2012. Prior to founding his firm, he worked with LPL Financial, LLC for 21 years and PRUCO Securities, LLC for two years. He is also a licensed insurance agent offering various insurance products. Chappell Financial Group serves individuals, families, business owners, and employer plan sponsors through wealth management, financial consulting, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm utilizes a diverse range of securities and incorporates quantitative and qualitative analysis, modern portfolio theory, and charting in its investment process.

Aaron Gaines is a CFP® and Series 66 holder with 10 years of experience in financial services. He currently leads Gaines Capital Management, an independent firm based in Smyrna, GA, and has prior experience with Edward Jones and multiple advisory firms since 2016. Gaines also operates an affiliated insurance agency, GCM Wealthshield LLC, providing a range of insurance products. Gaines Capital Management offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm employs fundamental analysis and strategic asset allocation with ETFs and individual equities, focusing on long-term holdings, and provides customized solutions including options and private equity for qualified clients.

Clark Jeffries is the sole advisor at Jeffries Wealth Management in Marietta, GA, holding a Series 65 credential with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Orion Advisor Solutions and HiddenLevers. Jeffries Wealth Management provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan rollover advice to individual clients as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and other business or charitable entities. The firm emphasizes broad asset-class diversification and uses tax-aware techniques, third-party sub-advisers, and may allocate assets to private and alternative investment funds, operating with a boutique, adviser-driven model.

Jon Ragsdale is a financial advisor at PRIA Strategies, LLC with a Series 65 designation and experience in the industry since 2019. He has previously worked at Lincoln Financial Group and Savings Bank Life Insurance of Massachusetts. Ragsdale is also a licensed insurance agent affiliated with PlanGap Agency, LLC and is a full-time employee of The Secure Companies, Inc., the parent company of PRIA Strategies. PRIA Strategies, LLC provides portfolio management and retirement-focused advisory services for pooled and institutional accounts, along with financial planning offered either as a one-time service or an ongoing subscription. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and modern portfolio theory analyses with a long-term trading approach across multiple asset classes and operates under fiduciary standards when advising retirement accounts.

Heather Szyperski is a financial advisor at Heinz Investments with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license, and has been with Heinz & Associates since 2011. In addition to her advisory role, she is a licensed insurance agent involved in selling fixed life insurance and annuities. Heinz Investments is a small advisory firm serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and other business entities. The firm manages approximately $82 million in discretionary assets using a core-and-satellite investment approach that combines passive index funds with selective active holdings, and provides comprehensive advisory services including cash-flow, retirement, tax, estate, and risk-management planning.

Leon Morris is a financial advisor at ABG Financial Services, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation as well as Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in developing scientifically based financial planning tools and educational programs through MyFSP. Co and is president and owner of a life and health insurance business. ABG Financial Services is a solo registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm provides financial planning, educational seminars, and non-discretionary equity advice while referring clients to third-party investment advisers for portfolio implementation.

Timothy Daughtry is a CFA® charterholder with three years of industry experience. He has worked at Access Investment Management, LLC since 2022, following four years at Waypoint Wealth Counsel and seven years at Buckhead Capital Management. He is based in Atlanta, GA. Access Investment Management, LLC is an SEC-registered adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients with managed account services. The firm employs various investment methods tailored to client objectives and manages assets primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

Luke Bennett is a financial advisor at DecisionMap Wealth Management, LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has previously worked at Suntrust Investment Services, Salvus Capital Management, and Lehman Brothers Inc. DecisionMap Wealth Management provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management services to a variety of clients including individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a core-satellite investment approach, combining passive and active strategies tailored to each client’s objectives and risk tolerance.

Gary Weld is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Galleria Financial Advisors, LLC since 2004. He is based in Atlanta, GA. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Weld holds passive, minority ownership interests in several private companies without active involvement during trading hours. Galleria Financial Advisors, LLC is a fee-only investment management firm that provides personalized advice and portfolio management to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $239 million in client assets, focusing on non-discretionary, globally diversified portfolios using passive index funds, ETFs, and select active managers.

Michele Poirier is a financial advisor with The Moorings Group, LLC in Atlanta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 22 years of industry experience. She has been with The Moorings Group since 2003. The Moorings Group provides discretionary portfolio management and sub-advisory services to a range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, and institutional accounts. The firm focuses on actively managed, customized fixed-income portfolios with an emphasis on municipal securities and employs a formalized process with designated benchmarks and multi-level municipal credit analysis.

Bradley Mcgrew is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 17 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has worked at Waypoint Wealth Counsel LLC since 2014 and previously at MAI Capital Management, LLC. Waypoint Wealth Counsel is an SEC-registered wealth management firm serving individuals, pensions, foundations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm manages discretionary portfolios, offers financial planning and fiduciary services, and employs a mix of fundamental and technical analyses, often implementing manager-based investment sleeves.