Elena Lazo Perez is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. She previously worked at Citibank and Truist, among other firms. Edelman Financial Engines offers technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a committee-driven proprietary modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management with a focus on diversified portfolios and long-term orientation.

Melissa Geracimos is a CFP® and ChFC® credentialed financial advisor at Cetera with 30 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Aurelius Family Office, Charles Schwab, HUB International Investment Services, and Campbell Wealth Management. She is based in Alexandria, VA. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform with access to both affiliated and third-party managers.

Victoria Neeley is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Fairfax, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. Her prior work includes a five-year role with Virginia Cooperative Extension and consulting in 2020. She has been with Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management since 2020. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients, providing written recommendations on a wide range of financial planning topics. The firm delivers holistic, goal-based analyses and allows clients to integrate planning with managed-account programs under a consolidated billing option, while maintaining separate services.

Elyse Dawn Fragata is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Merrill and Bank of America, among other firms. J.P. Morgan Securities provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, combining quantitative asset-allocation modeling with centralized due diligence and applying an ESG eligibility framework in its recommendations.

Joshua Blackman is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Alexandria, VA, with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he held roles at Fuel Sales Academy, SV Academy, Talend, and Nath, Goldberg, & Meyer. He is also a partner in AJ Digital Marketing Group, a website design business. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning and advisory services supported by structured discovery processes and advanced modeling tools. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers a range of investment programs and planning strategies.

John Kidwell is a financial professional with Cetera and holds a Series 66 designation. He has nine years of industry experience and also maintains ownership of a law firm, John Kent Kidwell PC, where he practices as an attorney. In addition, he is an author of self-published books and owns a title services business. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC provides financial advisory services through a nationwide network of over 10,000 independent advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a multi-manager platform with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers.

Aaron Kniss is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Pasadena, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2011, including time when the firm operated as Axa Advisors LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he works directly with Lincoln Financial Insurance offering group universal life and disability products. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model and offers both advisory and brokerage/insurance channels to implement client recommendations.

Mary O'Reilly is a financial advisor at Merrill with 29 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill since 1994. 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 model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

John Armati is a CFP® professional with 21 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been associated with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a member-at-large on a local condominium association board in Manassas, VA. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting using risk profiling and analytical modeling, along with specialized municipal and public finance advisory services.

Brian Shanley is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Centreville, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked extensively in the music industry as a professional musician and operated his own music education business for over 16 years. Outside of advising, he continues to engage in music-related activities as a sole proprietor. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services targeting individuals approaching or in retirement with substantial investable assets, combining research, modeling, and tax-efficiency strategies to support client financial goals. The firm offers a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions through its affiliated entities.

Hongmei Deng is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Falls Church, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors in 2021, she worked at LPL Financial from 2017 to 2021. She is also the president and owner of HMD Wealth Management Inc. and serves as a trustee for a revocable trust. Equitable Advisors serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and institutions, providing financial planning, broker-dealer services, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer, relying heavily on LPL-sponsored programs and third-party managers to deliver its advisory and brokerage solutions.

Erich Hoffman is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines in Fairfax, VA. He has been with the firm since 2005, including prior roles at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. and EF Legacy Securities, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm combines a committee-driven proprietary modeling process with planner delivery and online tools, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary management options with an emphasis on diversified model portfolios and long-term investment orientation.

Kenneth Murray III is a financial advisor with Robert W. Baird & Co. in Fairfax, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., EF Legacy Securities LLC, and Edelman Financial Services LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is a musician who plays guitar in a musical group. He is part of The DDK Group within Baird’s Private Wealth Management department, which serves individuals, corporate clients, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage services, utilizing both manager-traded and model-traded strategies, with ongoing research and monitoring by home-office professionals.

Yue Yang is a Financial Advisor specializing in personalized wealth management strategies for clients. Based in Virginia, Yue focuses on helping families fund college education, plan for retirement, and build a legacy. Affiliated with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Yue leverages the resources of Merrill and Bank of America to support clients in navigating the complexities of today's financial markets. Yue employs a consistent approach to asset management aimed at growing wealth over time and assisting clients in coping with market uncertainties. Yue holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from Syracuse University. Originally from Shenzhen, China, Yue has lived in several locations across the United States, including Delaware, New York City, Massachusetts, and Upstate New York. In addition to professional activities, Yue participates in community service as a high school volunteer math tutor. Personal interests include cooking, dancing, golfing, music, painting, spending time with family, swimming, tennis, traveling, and volleyball.

Torry Dell is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with three years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has previously worked at Bogart Wealth, Voya Financial, and Willis Towers Watson. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm combines a committee-driven modeling process with planner delivery and online tools, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary management options focused on diversified model portfolios and long-term investment strategies.

Aaron Kirkland is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Edelman Financial Engines since 2026, following four years at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. and twelve years at TD Ameritrade. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm uses a committee-driven modeling process combined with planner delivery and online tools, offering diversified portfolios with a long-term orientation and fiduciary oversight under ERISA and DOL guidelines.

Bronson Farr is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wegmans Food Markets for six years. Farr is based in Centreville, VA. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory services including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Cameron Blackwood is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Alexandria, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and UBS Financial Services. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and financial planning services, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options supported by extensive research and technology tools.

Joseph Castelli is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Manassas, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2002. 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 with approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management, supported by a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Rosa Gonzalez is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, a position she has held since 2021. She focuses on gaining a full understanding of her clients and their families to develop customized financial strategies. Rosa works closely with clients to connect various aspects of their financial lives and leverages Fidelity's resources and technology to create comprehensive financial plans. Her professional experience includes roles as an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2020 to 2021, a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones Investments from 2018 to 2019, and a Relationship Manager at Bank of America from 2014 to 2018. Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in financial consulting and investment advising. Outside of her professional work, Rosa is interested in fitness, social events with friends, caring for pets, reading, and volunteering.