Stephanie Desear is a financial advisor with Synovus Securities, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked at firms including Wells Fargo, SunTrust, and Pinnacle Bank. She serves as a board member and finance committee member of the Morgan Franklin Fellowship, an organization focused on promoting financial literacy. Synovus Securities, Inc. serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients, offering both advisory and brokerage services. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management programs and provides access to alternative investments and outside money managers.

Christopher Fernandez is a financial advisor with Synovus Securities, Inc. based in Port Charlotte, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, Cetera, and Synovus bank. Synovus Securities serves individual and high-net-worth investors as well as institutional clients, offering both investment advisory and brokerage services with a focus on diversified portfolio management through discretionary and non-discretionary programs on the Envestnet platform.

Daniel Lodes is a financial advisor with Integrity Alliance, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at Brokers International Financial Services, LLC since 2017 and previously at Kovack Advisors, Inc. and Kovack Securities, Inc. from 2013 to 2017. He also operates Wealth Advisor Group, which provides financial services and insurance products. Integrity Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a network of 164 independent advisers. The firm offers continuous asset management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party manager programs, employing a range of portfolio management techniques and custodial platforms.

Ron Shchemelev is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining Empower in 2023, he worked with Janus Henderson Distributors US LLC and Janus Henderson Investors US LLC from 2022 to 2023. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm delivers services through an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

James Nicholson is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been with Hightower Advisors since 2021. Prior to his advisory role, he worked at Cape Coral High School and the University of North Florida. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a wide range of individual and institutional clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions using both affiliated and third-party managers, supported by proprietary research and diverse investment strategies.

Michael Landsberg is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with over 33 years of industry experience. He is currently with Hightower Advisors, where he has worked since 2021, following previous roles at Landsberg Bennett Private Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Advisors. Landsberg is based in Punta Gorda, Florida. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm’s approach includes multi-manager solutions featuring affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and a range of investment options such as mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

Carl Lutz is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Primerica Advisors and has held roles at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2008. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in coaching at the Soul Purpose Institute and serves as a member of a homeowners association board. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a diverse retail client base, offering brokerage and fee-based advisory services along with financial and business consulting. The firm utilizes a blend of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and supports a range of account types and services, including lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Jacqueline Thompson is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at firms including Morgan Stanley, Truist Investment Services, BB&T Securities, PNC Investments, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders, using an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Steven Morgan is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. He has 34 years of industry experience and has worked previously at firms including Grove Point Investments, H. Beck, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. 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 offers financial planning and wrap-fee asset management programs featuring centrally managed model portfolios and third-party managers selected by its Investment Management Team.

Reese Imes is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with a Series 65 credential. He joined the firm in 2024 and has prior work experience in building construction and other industries. Hightower Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and pooled investment vehicles, offering services such as portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a multi-manager investment approach, using both affiliated and third-party managers, and provides access to a range of investment products and strategies.

Adrienne Moore is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 19 years of industry experience. She has worked at Hightower Advisors since 2021 and previously held roles at Landsberg Bennett Private Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Advisors. Moore is based in Punta Gorda, FL. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s approach includes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers across various investment vehicles.

Flor Matteen is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. She has worked at Hightower Advisors since 2021 and previously held positions at Landsberg Bennett Private Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Advisors. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, using a multi-manager approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and various investment vehicles. The firm serves clients such as pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and trusts, and offers portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting.

Ryan Stevenson is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 19 years of industry experience. Stevenson has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2013 and has worked at Fifth Third Bank since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, he is a co-owner of Michelle Lynn Stevenson PA, a realty business in Cape Coral, Florida. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank and its status as a municipal advisor.

Brandon Boone is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, INC. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has two years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Crews Bank & Trust, Trinity Wealth Securities, LLC, and Florida Financial Advisors, as well as prior military service in the U.S. Army from 2010 to 2017. OSAIC Institutions serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services through customized engagements. The firm’s network of investment adviser representatives provides both advisory and brokerage solutions, using a mix of fundamental and technical analysis and access to alternative investments via platforms such as CAIS.

Lewis Bennett IV is a CFP® with 27 years of experience in financial advisory. He is currently with Hightower Advisors, where he has worked since 2021, following roles at Landsberg Bennett Private Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is an investor in a golf service company based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of clients, including individual and institutional investors. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside access to affiliated and third-party managers.

Trent Harris is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Port Charlotte, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2018 and previously held roles at Oneamerica Securities and American United Life. Outside of his advisory work, Harris is a self-published author of fiction and poetry and is active as a songwriter and performer. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, wrap programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Steven Wong is a financial advisor with FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2025 and has prior experience working at FIFTH THIRD BANK since 2022. Before entering the financial industry, he worked at Laishley Crabhouse from 2009 to 2022. 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 with its affiliation to Fifth Third Bank, providing multiple managed-account options and features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Michael Mcmillan is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and is the former CEO and chocolatier of Indulge Right Now LLC. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a wide range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm implements multi-asset, multi-manager strategies using internal standards and oversight committees, combining large institutional scale with specialized market roles.

Robert Howard is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Port Charlotte, FL, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Truist. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated model emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates, delivering both point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Debra Cooper is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 22 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Hightower Advisors since 2021, following prior roles at Landsberg Bennett Private Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Advisors. Hightower Advisors offers investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm employs a manager selection and multi-manager approach, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, and provides access to various investment vehicles and strategies tailored to client needs.