Celeste Friend is a CFP® professional with 24 years of experience, currently advising at Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. She previously worked at Agia and Valic Financial Advisors. In addition to her advisory role, she is also an independent insurance agent focused on fixed insurance products. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and retirement plan sponsors, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and consulting services. The firm provides advice primarily through non-discretionary arrangements and operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer.

Annie Adams is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC in Cleveland, TN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 11 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Horace Mann Companies and Horace Mann Investors, Inc. outside of her advisory role, she was the owner of Two Ravens LLC, a short-term rental business. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners by providing managed advice and investment education services. Its investment approach relies on Morningstar Investment Management’s proprietary software and model portfolios to guide asset allocation and retirement planning.

Lucille Townsend is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with industry experience spanning over 32 years, including a long tenure at JP Morgan Chase. She holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. Lucille is also involved in the sales of insurance and non-insurance products affiliated with her firm. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm provides both advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party model portfolios, offering discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

Connor Presnell is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Butler Lexus of South Atlanta and 27 Baseball. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain retail brokerage clients. The firm delivers services through an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and regular rebalancing.

Christopher Sislo is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC. He previously worked for HHM Wealth Advisors, LLC for 10 years. In addition to his advisory role, he works seasonally as a tax preparer. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base, including individuals, small businesses, and charitable organizations, providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and a variety of analytical strategies.

Tina Trew is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 37 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has been with SunTrust Advisory Services and affiliated firms since 2015. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches alongside third-party platforms and AI-augmented research.

Stephanie Malone is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. She has worked at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, following prior roles at BB&T Securities, BB&T, and Atlantic Capital Bank. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools, to deliver its investment solutions.

Jonathan Dutton is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Freedom Street Partners, Raymond James Financial Services, and Ameriprise Financial Services. He is involved as an agent servicing insurance policies at Tandem Financial Partners and serves as an advisor and managing partner of the same firm. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is a large-scale SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and consulting services.

Matthew Grant is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with Series 66 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he worked eight years at Truist Bank and five years at Bar Liva Restaurant. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and third-party platforms to deliver its AMC Advantage manager-selection program.

Trey Norris is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with one year of industry experience. He is currently with Empower Advisory Group and previously worked at Edward Jones and Thrivent Financial. 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’s approach integrates proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates, delivered through platforms connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative services.

Kolby Wilson is a financial advisor with Mariner, holding a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Mariner in 2024, he worked at Capital Planning LLC, SageView Advisory Group, and GuideStone Financial Resources. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services, utilizing a combination of in-house research and third-party managers across a wide range of asset classes and strategies.

Blake Kahn is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at MAI Capital Management, LLC since 2024. His prior experience includes roles at Empower Advisory Group, Personal Capital Advisors Corporation, and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. MAI Capital Management, LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional investors. The firm manages a range of investment strategies through in-house and third-party managers, while also providing trust and insurance administration services.

Amber Gardner is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Truist Investment Services and SunTrust Bank. Gardner serves as an executive board member of Signal Centers, a nonprofit focused on literacy, special needs, and early childhood education in Chattanooga, TN. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and manager selection programs, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Paul Gaither is a CFP® professional with 20 years of experience in financial advising. He currently works at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC and previously held roles at Raymond James Financial Services and Ameriprise Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Interim Director of Music Ministries at Covenant Presbyterian Church and performs as a tenor in a vocal quartet. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets and serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management services, financial planning, and consulting through both proprietary and third-party investment solutions.

James Brannon III is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Chattanooga, TN, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2009 and previously held roles at Appliance Credit Union and Unify Financial Federal Credit Union. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Stanley Russell is a CFP® with over 30 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with Edward Jones since 1995. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and operates with a large national network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Brandon Graves is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Edward Jones since 2018, following a 17-year career at State Farm Insurance. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee options, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management.

William Beard is a financial advisor with Merrill in Chattanooga, TN, holding a Series 66 designation and over seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Merrill since 2019 and previously held positions at SunTrust Bank and Bank of America. Outside of his financial career, Beard is involved with Consumer Direct Care, assisting individuals with physical, mental, learning, and emotional challenges through community support activities. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Trevor Smith is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked previously with FTB Advisors, Inc. and First Tennessee Brokerage Inc. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients nationwide. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement consulting services, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and model portfolios.

Christopher Parker is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Ooltewah, TN, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Before joining Edward Jones in 2018, he spent 24 years at Santek Waste Services. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory services and investment options supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors.