Alexandra Kantarski is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving at XML Financial Group. She has been with XML Financial, LLC since 2019 and also works with XML Securities, LLC (formerly Lara, May & Associates LLC) since 2015. Outside of her advisory role, she is a notary public and pursues hobbies as an astrology consultant and artist, selling her paintings. XML Financial Group provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and wrap fee programs to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and employer-sponsored plans. The firm operates through a multi-advisor team model and combines fundamental and technical analysis, often utilizing third-party managers and an internal Investment Committee to customize portfolios according to client goals and risk tolerance.

Kathleen Duffy is a CFP® and ChFC® with 28 years of industry experience. She currently works at Apella Wealth and was previously with Independence Wealth Advisors Inc. for 18 years. Apella Wealth serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plan sponsors, foundations, and institutions, offering a range of investment management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a model-driven, quantitative investment approach and integrates various third-party technologies to support portfolio customization and monitoring.

Faye Lawrence is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in financial advising. She currently works at SEIA and has prior experience with firms including Royal Alliance Associates, INC., Bogart Wealth, and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. SEIA serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, and other institutional and charitable clients through a multi-team advisory platform of roughly 140 advisors. The firm’s investment process combines strategic macro asset allocation with tactical adjustments using both quantitative and qualitative research, with most assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Cayenne Rooks is a financial advisor at Cassaday & Company, Inc. with a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cassaday & Company, Rooks held roles at Osaic and Chez Le Mannequins. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and small businesses. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation-driven investment approach centered on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers a range of services including retirement plan consulting and fiduciary monitoring.

James Bogart is a CFP®, ChFC®, and holds a Series 66 license with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Bogart Wealth, LLC since 2016, where he is part of a multi-team firm based in McLean, VA. Prior to that, he worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments from 2016 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer for the Hopkins Society of Sigma Nu Housing Corporation Alumni Association. Bogart Wealth serves individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing comprehensive financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management using model portfolios, specialized investment options, and coordinated tax-preparation and estate-planning tools.

Brenda Blisk is a CFP® with 40 years of industry experience, currently serving at Spire Wealth Management, LLC since 1997 and Spire Investment Partners, LLC since 2007. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Blisk is a member of the Board of Trustees for Concordia Plan Services. Spire Wealth Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $4.5 billion in assets. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management with a combination of advisor-constructed portfolios, model asset allocation strategies, and sub-advised approaches.

Brandon Gulley is a financial advisor with Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes 12 years at MML Investors Services Inc and MassMutual. Outside of advising, he owns a professional networking group called Elite Mind Connections and provides college funding coaching through seminars and workshops. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a goals-based financial advising discipline using proprietary software and behavioral economics, combining passive and active investment strategies alongside dynamic rebalancing.

Carmen Dello Iacono is a CFA® charterholder and holds the Series 66 designation, with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Corbett Road Investment Management since 2018 and previously spent three years at FactSet. He is also affiliated with Corbett Road Capital Management through a joint venture related to his role at Spire Wealth Management, LLC. Spire Wealth Management, LLC provides investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans, offering a range of strategies including passive, active, and hybrid tax-aware allocations. The firm manages both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios and delivers several model strategies with proprietary risk overlays through its affiliate Corbett Road Capital Management.

William Scoggins is a financial advisor at First Citizens Asset Management, Inc. with 18 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has previously worked at firms including SVB Wealth LLC, Boston Private Wealth, and Keel Point. First Citizens Asset Management provides model-based sub-advisory and direct investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and public entities. The firm specializes in global multi-asset class portfolios using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis within discretionary investment management.

Joseph Dawkins is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience and currently serves as an advisor at SEIA. His prior experience includes roles at SES LLC, Royal Alliance Associates, INC., and JHFN SII. He is also an advisor for Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC. SEIA is a multi-team advisory firm with approximately 140 advisors, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional and charitable clients. The firm’s investment approach combines strategic macro asset-allocation with tactical adjustments, employing both discretionary and non-discretionary management tailored to client preferences.

Harrison Fresh is a financial advisor at Cassaday & Company, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Corbett Road Wealth Management and OSAIC before joining Cassaday. He also serves as a notary in Virginia. Cassaday & Company provides investment management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and small businesses, managing over $7 billion in discretionary assets. The firm emphasizes a long-term, asset-allocation driven approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing actively managed funds, ETFs, fixed income, and model portfolios aligned with written investment policy statements.

Scott George is a financial advisor with Mason Investment Advisory Services Inc in Reston, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He has worked with Mason Investment Advisory Services since 1998 and previously with Mason Securities, Inc. from 1988 to 2025. Mason Investment Advisory Services provides fee-based financial planning and investment management to a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable institutions. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes long-term strategic asset allocation, disciplined rebalancing, and manager selection, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, third-party money managers, and limited direct equity or fixed-income positions.

Elijah Hawkes is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with eight years of industry experience. He is currently with Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC and has prior work history with Morgan Stanley, Merrill, Bank of America, and other firms. Elijah has also held roles in retail sales at Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Navy Federal Investment Services primarily serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union and other individual, trust, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan fiduciary services. The firm uses third-party portfolio managers on the Envestnet platform and provides a range of advisory and brokerage services through a dual-registered structure.

Nicole Petersen is a financial advisor with Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She has been with Navy Federal Credit Union and its affiliated entities since 2012. Navy Federal Investment Services primarily serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union along with individual investors and trusts, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and an automated ETF-based Digital Investor product. The firm utilizes model portfolios managed by third-party managers through platforms like Envestnet, providing account monitoring, rebalancing, and additional overlay services.

Adrian Nicholson is a financial advisor at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Arete Wealth Advisors since 2020, previously working at Arete Wealth Management LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he co-hosts the investment-related podcast Retirement Lifestyle Show. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs both advisor-driven and proprietary model allocations, manages assets primarily on a discretionary basis, and incorporates third-party sub-advisers and due diligence processes in its investment approach.

Chaz Billak is a CFP® professional at Bogart Wealth, LLC with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Bogart Wealth, he worked at Avenue Wealth and Carahsoft, and spent four years at Virginia Tech. Bogart Wealth serves individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations with comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services. The firm utilizes model portfolios alongside specialized options such as direct indexing and private-market alternatives, combining fundamental equity analysis with top-down asset allocation.

Garrett Beckstrom is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with six years of industry experience. He is currently with United Capital Financial Advisors and has previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors, Ameriprise, and other firms. Outside of finance, he has experience in the food service industry with roles at Philly Pretzel Factory and Publico Kitchen and Tap. United Capital Financial Advisors provides national financial planning and discretionary investment management to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth households, retirement plans, and institutional accounts. The firm supports customization in investment strategies and offers a broad affiliate network and technology platform that serves other independent advisors.

Craig Alden is a financial advisor with Founders Financial Securities LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fortune Financial Services, Brooklight Place Securities, Gwn Securities, and Interactive Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, Alden serves as a baseball umpire for college, high school, and recreational games. Founders Financial Securities serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of services such as portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and brokerage and insurance services, utilizing various delivery methods including managed portfolios, third-party asset managers, and co-advised wealth management programs.

Thomas West is a financial advisor at SEIA with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Signator Investors, Royal Alliance Associates, and SEIA, where he has been since 2011. West is the founder of LifeCare Affordability Plan, a sole proprietorship focused on financial planning for long-term care financing, and serves as CEO of Longevity Strategists LLC, a software-driven networking business in the financial services industry. SEIA serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, retirement plans, and institutional and charitable clients through a multi-team platform of approximately 140 advisors. The firm offers investment management, modular and comprehensive financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing a combined strategic and tactical investment approach guided by an in-house Investment Solutions Group and Investment Committee.

Mark Frenzel Sulyok is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with four years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Brighton Jones LLC, where he has worked since 2021. Prior to that, he was with Mcadam Financial and held roles at Dickinson College. Brighton Jones LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, business entities, and trusts. The firm provides comprehensive wealth management services including family office services, discretionary investment management, tax preparation, real estate consulting, and access to private investment opportunities through a holistic, balance-sheet approach.