Ashley Folkes is a CFP® professional with 24 years of experience in the financial services industry. She currently serves as an advisor at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services. Her prior experience includes roles at Farther Finance Advisors, Cetera Advisors, OneAmerica Securities, Park Ave Securities, Bridgeworth Wealth Management, PNC Private Bank, Moors & Cabot Inc, AXA Advisors-Equitable, AIG/Valic, Synovus Securities, FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, and Merrill. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform and manager arrangements, with a focus on manager selection and ongoing due diligence.

Natalie Manning Deal is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors in Birmingham, AL, and has four years of industry experience. She previously worked at Stonegate Investment Group, LLC and BBVA Compass Investment Solutions Inc. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers various portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, combining in-house manager selection with third-party strategies and emphasizes centralized due diligence supported by technology tools.

Justin Rowe is a Series 66-registered advisor with First Command Advisory Services in Birmingham, AL, with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining First Command, he worked at Rowe Building Supply and Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm provides financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, utilizing a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers to manage model portfolios and select third-party managers.

Donald Odendahl is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Birmingham, AL, holding a Series 66 designation and 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2009 and has prior experience at Colonial Asset Management Inc and Merrill. Outside of his advisory role, Odendahl serves on the architectural committee of his local homeowners' association and works part-time at the front desk of a hotel. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and discretionary unified managed accounts through a large network of advisors. The firm manages approximately $29.2 billion and utilizes centralized technology and model solutions to support its advisor base.

Matthew Scott is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group in Hoover, AL, with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Regions Bank, The Piedmont Group, and other firms. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as retail brokerage clients. The firm offers integrated services that focus on long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates within plan lineups selected by sponsors.

Wade Warren is a CFP® with 21 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Savant Wealth Management and previously worked at Bridgeworth, LLC, and LPL Financial. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and family office services to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm utilizes a combination of evidence-based asset allocation and actively managed strategies, supported by affiliated accounting, legal, and trust service entities.

Bret Hooten is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank, NA. He has also been involved with The Church at Shelby Crossings. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, utilizing third-party platforms and AI-enabled tools to support manager selection and portfolio oversight.

Tyler Hill is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC in Birmingham, AL, holding a Series 65 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked with AE Wealth Management since 2018 and operates Hill Wealth Management DBA Freedom Financial Group, where he is also involved in insurance sales. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a platform-centered approach that integrates model portfolios, discretionary asset management, and financial planning services.

David Bannon is a financial advisor with Corient in Birmingham, AL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 28 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Quasar Distributors, LLC, Minshall & Company, and Capital Advisors, Inc. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach combining in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions and specialized offerings such as family office and trustee services.

Arthur Henley is a CFP® professional with two years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management. His prior experience includes three years at Bridgeworth Wealth Management and a background that includes four years at Auburn University. Savant Wealth Management serves individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and related services. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies overseen by an investment committee, supporting approximately $55.6 billion in assets under management across nearly 400 advisors.

Kevin Held is a CFP® and ChFC® with 30 years of industry experience, currently serving at Kestra Advisory since 2016. He has been affiliated with Kestra Investment Services, LLC since 2008. Additionally, he owns a business focused on selling and servicing insurance products to individuals and group policyholders. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors, institutional clients, and individuals. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education, managing approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serving a diverse client base that includes sovereign wealth funds.

Steven Phillips is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 34 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. before joining Benjamin F. Edwards in 2013. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment management solutions that include proprietary strategies and third-party models, supported by in-house equity and fixed income trading and research.

Ryan Parks is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Merrill, Citigroup Global Markets, Bank of America, and BB&T Securities. Parks is based in Birmingham, AL. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering asset allocation, fiduciary support, and the AMC Advantage manager-selection program. The firm integrates discretionary and non-discretionary approaches and utilizes third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools as part of its investment process.

Patrick Long is a CFP® professional with 31 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network since 2023. He has prior experience with Raymond James Financial Services from 2016 to 2023 and is a co-owner of Longbow Capital Partners, LLC. His activities also include fixed insurance sales conducted alongside his advisory work. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a broad range of advisory services including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody services, supporting diverse investment approaches through both internal and external model portfolios.

Dustin Ward is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. Prior to joining PNC in 2024, he worked at Bank of America, Merrill, TD Ameritrade, and Equitable Advisors. He is a committee member for Delta Waterfowl, a charitable organization focused on conservation, where he contributes to fundraising and event support. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based investment programs, including an employee-only digital discretionary model portfolio that employs algorithm-driven risk assessment and third-party-managed mutual fund and ETF strategies.

Thomas Luttrell is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. in Birmingham, AL, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Luttrell serves on the grounds committee of Stonegate Farms in Shelby County, AL. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities. The firm provides a range of services such as financial planning, retirement consulting, and both discretionary and non-discretionary managed investment solutions.

Jeffery Ruffin is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Birmingham, AL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Securities Inc., Principal Life Insurance Company, BBVA Securities Inc., and other financial firms. Outside of advising, he assists with tax preparation for a family business during tax season. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, offering direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

Wendy Fricks is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Birmingham, AL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Simplicity Wealth, LLC, Front Page Financial Advisors, and Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only, digital discretionary model account pilot for PNC employees that uses algorithmic risk assessment and available investment strategies implemented via mutual funds and ETFs.

Anthony Alliman is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Prior to joining Truist, he worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank, and earlier in his career, he served with the Dothan Police Department. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation analysis, plan sponsor fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, implementing advice through both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and research tools.

Danielle Pittler is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Freedom Financial Group, Broad Financial, and Mazza and More among other firms. AE Wealth Management offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a varied client base including individual households, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and a range of investment strategies, serving over 127,000 clients with a platform-focused approach.