James Blassingham III is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Norfolk, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2005 and previously worked at Mony Securities Corporation from 1992 to 2005. In addition to his advisory role, he is president and owner of Capstone Benefit Services, Inc., a business providing employee benefits services to clients. Equitable Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs. The firm uses a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and offers both proprietary and third-party investment solutions.

Carrie Riordan is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management based in Norfolk, VA. She has been a part of the financial services industry since 2017 and joined Merrill Lynch in 2019. Carrie holds the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation, the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation, and the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. She received her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management from Christopher Newport University. As a Senior Portfolio Advisor, Carrie curates investment portfolios tailored to her clients' specific objectives, utilizing a range of managed portfolio options including ETFs, mutual funds, separately managed accounts, market-linked investments, and alternatives. She provides comprehensive financial planning services covering banking, lending, investments, retirement and savings, insurance, and wealth planning for individuals, families, and business owners. Carrie also leads a team of specialists to support her clients' additional financial needs. Carrie is involved in several professional and community organizations including the National Association for Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Christopher Newport Alumni Association, and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. Her personal interests include billiards, golfing, interior decorating, photography, reading, soccer, spending time with family, woodworking, and writing.

Michael Murphy is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities for seven years before joining Cambridge Investment Research in 2014. Outside of his advisory role, Murphy serves as a race director for a community event and is involved in intellectual property development through a holding company he operates. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm that provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes multiple portfolio management platforms and offers both proprietary and third-party strategies tailored to client objectives, supported by a network of independent financial professionals.

Lisa Dieter is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she joined in 2026. She has been in the financial services industry since 2011, bringing 15 years of experience in helping clients accomplish their financial goals through personalized planning and investment guidance. Lisa's expertise encompasses family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, socially responsible investing, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Lisa spent 10 years working with non-profits and their leaders. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Mary Baldwin College and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Lisa focuses on understanding clients' unique financial objectives to develop tailored wealth management solutions aimed at managing investment risk and achieving long-term goals. Lisa lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with her husband Patrick and their four children. She is involved with the Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation and incorporates community participation as part of her professional philosophy.

Thomas Dickson is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Norfolk, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining UBS in 2019, he worked at Bank of America, Merrill, and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the board and finance committee of the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation, which focuses on education and preservation of American heritage. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with brokerage and advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services, utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor investment plans to clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Francis Mclennan is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016, following seven years at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both non-discretionary and discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a notable inclusion of insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options among its investment offerings.

Peter Trotman is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and no prior advisory industry experience. His career includes roles at Bank of America, Dawn Covington State Farm, ITW CCNA, Fastenal, Lowes, and Southern Virginia University. Merrill, along 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.

Michelle Mccoy is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Bank of America NA, Merrill Lynch, Signature Financial Management/Brown Investment Advisory, and Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including pension plans, corporate clients, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Alexander Werth is a financial advisor at Merrill with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill since 2014. 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. The firm offers model-based and discretionary strategies developed by internal Chief Investment Office teams and third-party managers, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

David Whitney is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His career includes multiple roles at Wells Fargo Bank and service in the Virginia and Nevada Army National Guards from 2018 to 2024. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages substantial assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions, utilizing research and analytics grounded in diversification principles and modern portfolio theory.

Andre Dawkins is a financial advisor with OSAIC in Virginia Beach, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and over 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms including Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation and METLIFE Securities Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he coaches a middle school basketball team. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services using a range of portfolio construction tools and offers access to third-party money managers and wrap programs.

Michael Estrada is a financial advisor with LPL Financial based in Chesapeake, VA. He holds a Series 66 license and has two years of industry experience. Estrada has held roles at LPL Financial since 2023 and is the managing member of ACME Consulting and Marketing LLC. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by technology tools and a network of over 22,800 advisors.

Dale White is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Virginia Beach, VA, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and having 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliates since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, White serves on the Board of Directors for Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and is involved with a professional networking group as well as church activities. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, providing tailored recommendations on income sources, Social Security options, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and algorithmic tools to deliver these services, primarily within Ameriprise-managed accounts.

Vicki Soyars is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Virginia Beach, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 23 years of industry experience. She has worked at Ameriprise and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. since 2013. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written recommendation reports and ongoing retirement planning focused on income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies. The firm utilizes an investment approach influenced by its affiliated products and employs a centralized service team for retirement income planning.

Kelsie Smith is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Portsmouth, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to Edward Jones, she worked at Member Advantage and Geico. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with a wide range of investment strategies and affiliated capabilities, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and proprietary mutual funds. The firm operates with a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices and manages over $1 trillion in assets.

Melissa Briley is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Virginia Beach, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Her career includes prior roles at Raymond James Financial Services and earlier tenure with Ameriprise Financial Services. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on individuals approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, providing written Recommendation Reports that cover income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to deliver tailored, non-discretionary recommendations through a centralized consulting team.

Patrick Franklin Jr. is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2006 and concurrently associated with Bank of America since 2006, currently serving since 2025 with Bank of America, N.A. Outside of his advisory role, he manages a personal trust for which he acts as grantor and trustee. 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. The firm serves a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering both model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Patrick Kelley is a financial advisor at Merrill with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Bank of America and Merrill Lynch since 2012. 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.

Jonathan Woods is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors based in Virginia Beach, VA. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Cambridge Investment Research firms since 2024. His background includes various roles outside the industry, including work at educational institutions and local businesses. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered adviser serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and trusts. The firm provides financial planning, investment management, retirement plan advisory, and financial-wellness services through independent Financial Professionals, offering a range of portfolio management options and access to both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Brian Hennessy is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo in various capacities since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an assistant baseball coach at Norfolk Academy. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven and grounded in modern portfolio theory, with a broader investment menu that includes insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.