Ben Smith Jr. is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Falls Church, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers as a financial educator for the Medical Society of Virginia through virtual presentations. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services targeted at individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver non-discretionary, algorithm-assisted recommendations, primarily for clients holding assets in Ameriprise-managed accounts.

Stefan Maric is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he provides guidance on investment strategies, retirement planning, and wealth planning. He works closely with clients to support them in making informed financial decisions aligned with their unique goals. Stefan has held various roles at Fidelity Investments, progressing from Financial Representative in 2024 to Relationship Manager in 2025, before becoming a Planning Consultant in 2026. This experience has given him insight into different facets of financial advising and client relationship management. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Stefan has interests that include cars, football, social events, golf, movies, and traveling.

Erik Steudle is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Alexandria, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 17 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Ameriprise Financial Services, Merrill, Truist Investment Services, and Wells Fargo Clearing. He is also engaged as an investment adviser representative through Good Life Advisors, LLC, an independent registered investment advisory firm. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Tristan Caudron is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with over 31 years of industry experience. He currently works at Wells Fargo Advisors and has previously been with Wells Fargo Clearing. Caudron is also the owner of Riverfront Wealth TC LLC and holds a majority stake in Riverfront Wealth Advisors LLC, both financial practices based in Virginia. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of financial planning services tailored to clients who meet a net-worth threshold, utilizing proprietary research and planning tools to develop personalized recommendations.

Ryan Oh is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Bank of America and ESLI Inc. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Bennett Whitlock III is a financial advisor with Ameriprise, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise Financial Service, LLC since 1993 and worked with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 15 years. Outside of advising, Whitlock holds ownership interests in a co-working space and a commercial real estate partnership, and serves on the boards of the Manassas Ballet Theatre and the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services targeting individuals with significant investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to create tailored income strategies. The firm provides a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its large institutional platform.

Jordan Frazier is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors holding a Series 66 designation and has been with the firm since 2026. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he held various roles including positions at Wetility, Microsoft, and Georgetown University. Outside of his advisory work, he has been involved with Boqueria for the past two years. Equitable Advisors serves a broad range of clients including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning and retirement consulting along with asset-management programs implemented through both proprietary and third-party solutions.

Rodney Willyerd is a CFP® professional at Edelman Financial Engines with 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab and Co., Inc., and Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. prior to his current role. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm combines a committee-driven modeling process with planner delivery and online tools, offering diversified portfolios, periodic rebalancing, and both discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions.

Abhijit Basu is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Woodbridge, VA, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. He is also the founder and president of Basu Strategies, Inc., a consulting business advising companies on public policy issues. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a wide range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Ashley Dunnington is a financial advisor at Fidelity with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Fidelity’s Strategic Advisers LLC provides investment management and advisory services to retail and institutional clients, employing a combination of proprietary fundamental research, quantitative analysis, and algorithmic portfolio construction. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary management, fund advisory, and model portfolio delivery, with notable involvement in regulated commodity pool operations and advisory roles for multiple registered investment companies.

Richard Hamilton is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 45 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at LPL Financial since 2009, following eight years at Valic Financial Advisors. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services, including model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms.

Jeffery Adair is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Manassas, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its related entities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in independent insurance brokering and serves as president of OPM, Inc., a company providing office support services to financial advisors. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service targeting individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, delivering written Recommendation Reports that address income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to provide non-discretionary recommendations, emphasizing managed accounts and incorporating algorithmic automation overseen by a retirement income committee.

Charles Sisson is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Woodbridge, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as power of attorney for both of his parents. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and combines research from the Wells Fargo Investment Institute with diversification principles and modern portfolio theory in its investment approach.

Mariah Dehaven is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Robert Baird & Co. She previously worked at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. for seven years, as well as at Edelman Financial Services, LLC and EF Legacy Securities, LLC. The DDK Group, part of Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Wealth Management department, serves individuals including high net worth clients, corporate and business clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of financial planning, portfolio management, and custody services, utilizing a combination of manager-traded and model-traded strategies, as well as internal research tools including artificial intelligence.

Andres Vitalis is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Alexandria, VA, holding a Series 66 license and 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at TD Ameritrade, Wells Fargo, and PNC Wealth Management. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Vitalis Ventures LLC, which manages real estate holdings through an LLC structure. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combined brokerage, advisory, and custody platform with both non-discretionary and discretionary investment options featuring multi-asset model portfolios and alternative investment access.

Debra Chandler is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 31 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Signator Investors, Inc. and H.D. Banker & Company, LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she is the founder of K F Enterprises, LLC, a social media network representation business. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, charities, and corporate clients, offering brokerage and advisory services through a multi-advisor platform. The firm’s investment approach centers on model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization, supported by various strategies and third-party managers.

David Powell is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 25 years of experience in financial services. He specializes in assisting individuals, families, business owners, and corporate clients with personal retirement planning, philanthropic planning, portfolio management, tax minimization, and socially responsible investment strategies, including ESG investing. David also supports corporations, non-profits, endowments, and associations in managing retirement plans and business financial needs. David holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). His education includes a high school diploma from St Josephs High School and attendance at the University of California Davis. In addition to his professional work, David enjoys adventure sports, antiquing, golfing, and music. He is also a collector and restorer of classic cars, a hobby that informs his patient and detail-oriented approach to wealth management. David works closely with clients and their trusted advisors to deliver customized financial strategies aimed at meeting their long-term goals.

Pablo Morantes Saa is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to define their financial goals and develop portfolio strategies aimed at achieving them. His approach involves ongoing advice and adapting portfolios as clients' situations change, with a focus on education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, and portfolio management services. Pablo holds a Bachelor's Degree from Purdue University and a High School Diploma from Paul VI Catholic High School. He is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and is a member of the Country Club of Fairfax. Fluent in English and Spanish, Pablo leverages his background to support diverse client needs. Originally from Colombia, Pablo enjoys playing and watching tennis, football, golfing, traveling, spending time by the beach, and exploring dining experiences in Washington, DC.

Michael Cradler is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms including Avantax and Van Buren Financial, and has been with Wells Fargo Clearing or related entities since 2022. Outside of his advisory work, he contributes as a freelance content writer for The Washington Update, providing non-partisan content. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm combines research from Wells Fargo Investment Institute with a broad range of financial products distributed through its bank and insurance affiliates.

Joel Patierno is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Alexandria, VA, holding CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 credentials and having 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013 and previously worked at Merrill in 2012. In addition to his advisory role, Patierno is involved with Girasole LLC, a business he has been associated with since 2012. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including a wide range of household types and organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory solutions, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a large network of financial advisors and branch offices across the country.