William Scheel is the sole advisor at William R. Scheel, Investment Adviser, an independent firm based in Houston, TX. He holds 12 years of industry experience and has been managing his own advisory firm since 1984. The firm provides personalized, fee-only investment management to a small number of individual and institutional clients, including pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. Its investment approach focuses on strategic asset allocation with diversified portfolios built from stocks, bonds, no-load mutual funds, and passively managed index and exchange-traded funds.

Stephen Read is a financial advisor at H.I.T. Capital, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at his current firm since 2015. In addition to his advisory role, he is a full-time engineer at ConocoPhillips. H.I.T. Capital, LLC is a state-registered independent investment adviser serving primarily high-net-worth individuals and investors in a private pooled vehicle. The firm employs a long-term, long-biased approach focused on structurally inefficient exchange-traded products and undervalued securities, combining proprietary fundamental analysis with trading models and institutional-style fund operations.

Jeffrey Franco is a financial advisor at JV Global Capital, Inc. in Houston, TX, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. His background includes education roles at the University of Houston and DeBakey High School for Health Professions. JV Global Capital, Inc. serves high-net-worth individuals, families, institutions, corporations, trusts, and asset protection entities domestically and internationally. The firm employs a goals-based investment approach with tailored asset allocation and risk analysis, providing primarily non-discretionary proposals and offering institutional retirement plan consulting including fiduciary services.

Brandon Lockwood is the sole advisor at Lockwood Wealth Strategies, LLC in Houston, TX, with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Investment Advisors LLC, Lifestyle Asset Management, Inc., First Allied Advisory Services, Inc., and First Allied Securities, Inc. Lockwood Wealth Strategies provides wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and businesses, managing approximately $80.6 million on a discretionary basis for about 70 clients. The firm constructs portfolios using exchange-traded funds, low-cost diversified mutual funds, and individual equities, applying both fundamental and technical analysis with a predominantly long-term focus while allowing shorter-term trades for rebalancing or client needs.

Donald Traylor is the sole advisor at Donald W. Traylor, an independent firm based in Houston, TX. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 14 years of experience in the financial industry. In addition to his advisory role, he is a practicing attorney providing legal services primarily to businesses. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and investment advice mainly to individual clients, focusing on customized portfolios developed through client questionnaires and agreements. Its investment approach combines fundamental analysis with a total-return philosophy, balancing capital appreciation and income across various strategies.

Thomas Till is a financial advisor with APPS Wealth Management, Inc. in Friendswood, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He has been with APPS Wealth Management since 2017 and also owns Compass Tax Solutions, a local tax preparation business. Till has a background that includes roles at Investment Advisors, Life Planning Solutions, Inc., Proequities, Inc., and APPS Financial Group, Inc. APPS Wealth Management is an independent advisory firm that provides financial planning and investment advice primarily to individual clients. The firm refers clients to third-party money managers for portfolio management and custody, assisting with onboarding and monitoring without exercising discretionary trading authority.

Theodore Koinis is a CFP® professional with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Helios Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2005. Based in Pearland, TX, he holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Koinis also manages the operations of Silver Pear 518 Business Park, Ltd., where he oversees budgeting and maintenance. Helios Wealth Advisors is an independent firm providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and pension plans. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation approach with actively managed mutual funds and diversified asset classes, reviewing accounts quarterly and tailoring portfolios to client objectives.

Sam Ghaly is a financial advisor at Santa Monica Wealth Management, LLC in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Santa Monica Wealth Management since 2018 and previously at Cambridge Investment Research advisors, Inc. from 2014 to 2018. Santa Monica Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a core-and-satellite investment approach with a multi-year market-cycle perspective, emphasizing long-term holdings and strategic use of cash, managing approximately $21.7 million across 35 client accounts.

John Hinrichs is a CFP® professional with 22 years of experience in financial advising, operating through Celtic Capital Corporation since 1997. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Houston, TX. In addition to his advisory work, Hinrichs maintains an active law practice providing arbitration and mediation services. Celtic Capital Corporation is an independent, fee-based registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, and small business owners. The firm combines comprehensive financial planning with investment supervisory services, employing a strategy that blends passive index and ETF exposures with selected active funds, dividend-paying stocks, and fixed income to build diversified portfolios.

David Tolson is a financial advisor with Arete Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. Prior to founding Arete Advisors, he operated as a sole proprietor and worked at LPL Financial LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he spends a significant portion of his time as an insurance agent at Arete Insurance Services, LLC. Arete Advisors offers discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, privately held businesses, and corporate retirement plans. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis with customized portfolio management and serves clients through wrap fee programs and managed platforms provided by LPL Financial.

Charles Adi is a CFP® professional with 15 years of experience in financial advising. He is the principal of Blueprint 360 LLC, an independent firm he has led since 2018. Prior to founding Blueprint 360, he worked at Wealth Development Strategies Investment Advisory, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co, and Hornor Townsend & Kent Inc. Outside of advising, he is involved in insurance brokerage and leads a digital platform focused on financial education. Blueprint 360 provides investment management, financial planning, and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes a customized, long-term investment approach using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, supplemented by educational seminars and a paid digital education platform.

Clayton Curley is a financial advisor at Ridgeback Financial LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones and New Benefits. Ridgeback Financial LLC provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers tailored portfolio management and consultation, using a variety of analysis methods and strategies, and provides specialized ERISA-plan services as a limited-scope 3(21) fiduciary.

Mamdouh Isak is a financial advisor at Optifolio with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked with Stubbs Overbeck & Associates since 1988, as well as Global Leverage & Investments Inc since 1985. Optifolio provides portfolio management, investment advisory, and financial consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business clients. The firm employs a tailored investment process that incorporates multiple analysis methods and uses strategies such as derivatives, short sales, and leverage, with a particular focus on charitable and corporate clients alongside individual accounts.

Raymond Hawkins is a CFA® charterholder and principal of RMH Capital Advisors, LLC in Houston, TX, with 24 years of industry experience. He has led RMH Capital Advisors since 2005. RMH Capital Advisors provides fee-only financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation and fundamental analysis, managing approximately $37.25 million across 73 accounts as of December 2024.

J. Pannell is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at DP Capital Management, Inc. in Houston, TX. He has been with the firm since 2008. DP Capital Management, Inc. provides discretionary investment management along with financial planning and consulting services to individuals, families, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term purchase strategy based on fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, managing diversified portfolios that may include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and other securities.

Ledell Johnson is a financial advisor at JI Financial Services, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at firms including Lincoln Financial Securities and USA Financial Securities. Outside of his advisory role, he operates as an independent insurance agent and is involved in mineral leasing and real estate activities. JI Financial Services, LLC is an independent investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients through portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs fundamental analysis with a combination of long- and short-term strategies, primarily managing client assets on a non-discretionary basis.

John Gray is a financial advisor at Hamilton Gray Wealth Management LLC in Houston, TX, with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with his independent firm since 2016. Hamilton Gray Wealth Management provides wealth management, investment advisory, and financial planning services primarily for high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, and related entities. The firm acts as a family CFO, coordinating with attorneys, accountants, and insurance advisers, and uses a top-down, asset-allocation approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory.

Dean Alexander is the principal of Alexander, Dean D., an investment management firm based in Houston, TX. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license, with 8 years of experience in investment advising. Dean has an extensive background in financial services, including roles at American Express Financial Advisors Inc. and IDS Life Insurance Company, and he has been a CPA since 1982. In addition to his advisory work, he maintains a tax preparation and planning practice through Dean Alexander, CPA. Alexander, Dean D. provides equity-focused portfolio management and mutual fund selection for individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, and investment companies. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes diversification, valuation-driven stock selection, and sector-level asset allocation tailored to client preferences.

Guang Li is a financial advisor at Southmore Financial Advisory LLC in Houston, TX, holding a Series 65 credential with two years of industry experience. Prior to founding his advisory firm in 2023, he worked at Shell Oil from 2012 to 2020. He is also a member of the Houston Tsinghua Alumni Association, a nonprofit alumni group. Southmore Financial Advisory LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with fee-only investment management and financial planning. The firm uses fundamental analysis and a combination of passive and active strategies to create tailored portfolios based on clients’ goals, risk tolerance, and tax considerations.

Michael Schellinger is a financial advisor at Synergy Wealth Management in Houston, TX, with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has previously worked at William Joseph Capital Management LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he co-founded Basket Brigade Houston, a nonprofit organization. Synergy Wealth Management provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $12.5 million for nine clients, offering portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, consulting, and selection and oversight of third-party managers and TAMP platforms through a financial-planning-driven approach that integrates fundamental, technical, cyclical, and economic analysis.