Marc Bernacchi is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Partners with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including J.P. Morgan Securities and Santander Bank. Outside of his advisory work, Bernacchi is involved with Market America, selling health and wellness products. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary account management, with notable capabilities in retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting.

Jameson Ford is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with a Series 65 credential and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Citi and Fisher Investments. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios implemented through low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other specialized strategies.

Thomas Bagatini Alves is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Largo, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley, TMH Federal Credit Union, Citi, Regions Bank, Lockton, and Currency Exchange International. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account that uses algorithmic risk assessment and approved mutual funds and ETFs for portfolio implementation.

Thomas Schuller is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2012. He is based in St. Petersburg, FL. Outside of his advisory role, he has experience as an owner and landlord of rental property in Chicago. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration and affiliation with Fifth Third Bank to provide a range of managed-account programs featuring direct indexing, tax-overlay services, and access to multiple fund strategist portfolios.

William Plum is a financial advisor with GWN Securities Inc. in Clearwater Beach, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has been with GWN Securities since 2015 and also works with MVP Group Inc. since 1994. Outside of his advisory role, Plum operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products. GWN Securities is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and business clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm offers discretionary managed accounts, financial planning, and access to third-party sub-advisers and model portfolios, with a notable legacy of incorporating market-timing and momentum-based strategies within its investment programs.

Brooke Motley is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Saint Petersburg, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. She has worked with several related entities including BB&T and Wells Fargo Clearing. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Matthew Kulaga is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and beginning his advisory career in 2026. He has prior experience with Johnson Brothers of Florida, Jazz Wealth Managers, Inc., and a background in real estate with Keller Williams. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in real estate sales, showing homes on a part-time basis. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering various portfolio management and financial planning services.

Michael Cimarik is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 30 years of industry experience. His background includes long-term roles at Franklin Templeton Financial Services Corp. and Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., as well as recent positions within Transamerica Life Insurance Company and Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners by providing managed and non-discretionary investment advice, leveraging proprietary technology and model portfolios from Morningstar Investment Management. The firm manages a large client base primarily through non-discretionary assets, focusing on asset allocation, contribution guidance, and retirement planning.

Michael Riley is a Certified Financial Planner® at Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation and TransAmerica Retirement Solutions since 2014, and was previously employed by Fidelity from 2007 to 2014. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through managed advice programs and investment education services. The firm uses proprietary technology and third-party expertise to provide asset allocation and retirement guidance for a large client base, focusing primarily on non-discretionary investment solutions.

Andrew Denis is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He is currently with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC and its affiliated entities, having joined in 2024. Prior to this, he spent eight years with Cetera and Achieva Credit Union. He serves on the Board of Directors and is Chairman of the Membership Committee for the Rotary Club in Clearwater, FL. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered, enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in regulated assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory, financial planning, pension consulting, and managed account programs.

Jason Biance is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at AE Wealth Management, LLC. His work history includes roles at American Financial Education Alliance and Global Financial Private Capital, and he has managed his own entities such as J Biance Wealth Management, LLC. Biance is involved with nonprofit organizations focused on child welfare and memory-related illnesses, serving on the boards of Change of Pace, Inc. and Champion for Children Foundation of Highlands County, Inc. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes model portfolio and direct asset management programs, utilizing a range of investment strategies and supporting third-party RIAs through sub-advisory and model-licensing arrangements.

Joshua Donner is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners in Tampa, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role starting in 2022, he worked for American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for eight years. Outside of his advisory work, he manages a technology and audit trail platform through Six Months and a Day and is involved in business exit strategies with Clear Advice Business, LLC. Independent Financial Partners is a nationwide enterprise advisory firm serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients through a decentralized advisor model. The firm offers investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement-plan services and is notable for its formal retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

Erik Stad is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2016. Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer serving primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through a large network of advisors, utilizing discretionary unified managed accounts and technology-driven model solutions.

Alexis Rodriguez is a CFP® and CFA® with 11 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Independent Financial Partners and IFP Securities, LLC, having held previous roles at Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, Fidelity Investments, and Lord Abbett among others. Alexis is also involved with FirstRise Investments in a financial services capacity. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors, serving a diverse client base with both discretionary and non-discretionary account management options. The firm is notable for its formal retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting services.

Paul Carpentier is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with PNC Investments and Wells Fargo Clearing. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through several model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio solution for PNC Bank employees. The firm uses algorithm-driven model selection and delegates portfolio implementation to third-party strategists, focusing on mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Carissa Ellerd is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Independent Financial Partners with three years of industry experience. She previously worked at IFP Securities, LLC since 2023. Independent Financial Partners is a nationwide advisory firm supporting a multi-advisor platform with over 260 advisors managing more than $12.5 billion in assets. The firm offers a decentralized investment model and formal retirement-plan advisory services, including ERISA consulting and trustee services.

John Willoughby III is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with HB Wealth, having joined in 2024, and previously worked at SunTrust Advisory Services and SunTrust Bank for a combined total of 14 years. HB Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, retirement plans, corporate entities, foundations, family offices, institutional clients, and investment companies. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management aligned with client objectives and risk tolerance, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative due diligence across various public and private investment strategies.

Larry Parkin is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 21 years of industry experience. He currently serves as a financial advisor at HB Wealth, joining the firm in 2024. Prior to this, he worked for BB&T Securities and SunTrust Advisory Services in various capacities between 1998 and 2022. HB Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser offering wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, retirement plans, corporate entities, foundations, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm employs a disciplined investment process using both quantitative and qualitative analysis across diverse asset classes and provides discretionary portfolio management aligned with clients’ objectives and risk tolerance.

Marc Wilkins is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He currently works at Kestra Advisory Services, LLC and Kestra Investment Services, LLC, having previously been affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network, Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including plan sponsors and institutional clients. The firm offers services such as fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and employee education, supporting multiple management platforms and serving large institutional investors including sovereign wealth funds.

Andrew Schorr is a Series 65-credentialed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Independent Financial Partners and has previously worked at Advisory Services Network, LLC, and R.L.K. Advisory Group. Outside of his advisory work, Schorr serves as a board member and coach for the Daytona Beach Quarterback Club, a community organization recognizing local high school football players. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving a wide range of individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, with a notable focus on retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting.