Tessa Elrod is a CFP® and Series 66-licensed advisor with 15 years of industry experience. She is currently with Next Step Financial Transitions, where she has worked since 2020, following six years at Strategic Financial Advisors and Proequities Inc. Elrod also owns a divorce financial analysis firm, Next Step Divorce Solutions, which provides financial expertise to couples during divorce proceedings, and designs products sold through Amazon under her sole proprietorship. Next Step Financial Transitions serves individual and high-net-worth clients with tailored investment management and financial planning services, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis within a Modern Portfolio Theory framework. The firm also operates a specialized divorce financial services business and employs third-party manager programs along with client-specific investment policy statements.

Joe Allen is a financial advisor at Life Balance Financial in Houston, TX, with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company. In addition to his advisory role, he operates as an independent insurance agent. Life Balance Financial provides financial planning by recommending and monitoring third-party investment advisers rather than managing client assets directly. The firm emphasizes asset allocation, portfolio construction, and tax-aware strategies, delivering a written financial plan known as the "Portfolio MRI" as its primary client service.

I am Lance Elrod – co-owner of Next Step Financial Transitions. I believe that most financial planning concepts have become overcomplicated; my goal is to declassify these concepts into conversational terms and educate you enough so that you understand and feel comfortable with any decision you make. We founded our firm with a focus on helping families navigate financial transitions, no matter the stage of life. Most traditional advisors like to focus solely on your investments, we do things a little differently by taking a holistic approach to financial planning. This means the first thing we do is get to know you – your values, your goals, and your personality. It is not until we fully know you as an individual or family that we can begin to build out your financial plan to serve as a roadmap for your future, because you can’t take your next step until you know where you are going. I hold a BS in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University and am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner. Like many new graduates, I began the early part of my career trying to discover my place and passion within my industry. During that time, I worked short stints with United Capital Private Wealth Counseling, which now comes under Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management Umbrella, and May and Barnhard, P.C., which recently changed their name to Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, P.C… Although I enjoyed financial planning, I felt compelled to take a brief detour as a Mud Engineer because Oil & Gas is what you do when you move to Houston, right? In 2015 I rejoined the industry, where I dug into my career and recognized my desire to serve individuals and families in the under-served, early stage of life. Read Lance's blog here: https://nsfinancialtransitions.com/blog/

Michael Gault is a financial advisor at Redfish Capital with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Kempner Capital Management, Inc. for 24 years. Redfish Capital provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and ERISA 3(21) retirement plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis in portfolio management and offers integrated services including insurance and accounting through affiliated businesses.

Callen Campbell is a financial advisor at Advocates Wealth Planning in Houston, TX, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Sanctuary Advisors LLC and Concenture Wealth, and spent several years in education roles before entering the financial advisory field. Advocates Wealth Planning advises individual and high-net-worth clients by providing comprehensive financial planning alongside discretionary investment management. The firm uses an integrated asset-allocation approach with customized model portfolios and emphasizes tax-conscious implementation.

Steven Ruderman is a CFP® with 43 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Neal Financial Group, L.P. since 2009. His career includes prior roles at LPL Financial, LLC, and Osaic FA, Inc. He also acts as a FINRA arbitrator and sells fixed life insurance and annuities alongside his advisory work. Neal Financial Group L.P. provides financial planning and pension consulting services to employee benefit plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and individual clients. The firm focuses on advisory and consulting engagements supported by formal pension-consulting practices and uses investment analysis techniques such as Modern Portfolio Theory.

Andrew Huber is a financial advisor with Magnolia Wealth in Spring, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Teamwork Financial, Intrua Financial, LPL Financial, and First Command Advisory Services. He is also a licensed insurance agent and an enrolled agent accountant who provides tax preparation services without charge. Magnolia Wealth is a state-registered advisory firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs a range of analytical investment methods and incorporates tax services, insurance activities, and AI-enabled tools as part of its overall approach.

Cory Mizell is a financial advisor with Cove Wealth Management in Houston, TX, holding a Series 65 designation and 10 years of industry experience. He has worked at Valued Retirements, Inc. since 2016 and has a background with Solvay Chemicals dating back to 2014. Cove Wealth Management provides discretionary, fee-only investment management supported by financial planning and wealth coordination services to individuals, families, trusts, estates, and select institutional clients. The firm serves both high-net-worth and non-HNW clients, focusing on customized investment strategies that incorporate low-cost ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and independent managers.

Jean Casagrande is a financial advisor with Stability Partners Advisory Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 13 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Stability Partners in various capacities since 2010. Outside of advising, Casagrande serves as a director of HC MUD 383, an elected taxing agency responsible for local community services including water and sewage. Stability Partners Advisory Group provides fee-based financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals and businesses. The firm primarily implements client accounts through model portfolios selected in partnership with a third-party money manager and manages approximately $141 million in discretionary assets.

Amber Koenig is a financial advisor at Innova Wealth, LLC with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Accurate Wealth Management and Keller Williams Southwest prior to her current role. Innova Wealth, LLC provides ongoing portfolio management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory with a long-term trading orientation and a time-segmented approach to retirement income, offering discretionary portfolio management as well as hourly financial planning services.

Jared Tobin is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Olive Wealth Management in Houston, TX. He has been with Olive Wealth Management since 2021 and previously attended Texas Tech University. Olive Wealth Management is a small, supported registered investment adviser managing approximately $83.9 million across 54 clients. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, trusts, and retirement plans, providing discretionary portfolio management and integrated financial planning with a focus on tax efficiency, cost minimization, and diversified global asset-class portfolios.

James O Neill is a financial advisor at Magnolia Wealth with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Magnolia Wealth since 2026. His prior experience includes positions at Intrua Financial and Corda Investment Management. Magnolia Wealth serves individual and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods and integrates tax services alongside portfolio management.

Brian Koepp is a financial advisor with Sonnet, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Sonnet since 2016 and also serves as Chief Investment Officer at Revo Financial, where he is responsible for updating and maintaining money management models. Sonnet, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and retirement-planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, small businesses, and churches. The firm employs a combination of passive strategic allocations and actively managed quantitative and tactical models, offering multiple distinct money-management strategies including options-based approaches and maintaining oversight of approximately $148 million in assets across 269 client relationships.

Kathryn Prestwood is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Penney Financial in Houston, TX. Her prior experience includes roles at RMB Capital and Heart and Soul Tea Room, reflecting a diverse background. Penney Financial provides comprehensive financial planning and advisory services to individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm emphasizes a planning-first process supported by academic research, using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs within investment strategies that combine goal-based planning and discretionary portfolio management.

Douglas Murrill is a financial advisor at Redfish Capital with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Redfish Capital Management LLC since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an officer of the Joe Murrill Family Foundation. Redfish Capital provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and ERISA 3(21) retirement plan advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm employs a variety of investment strategies tailored to client goals and coordinates with other professional advisors, while also offering affiliated insurance and accounting services.

Michael Sweet is a financial advisor at McAlister, Sweet & Associates, Inc. in Houston, TX, with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he maintains a beekeeping activity for approximately 10 hours per month. McAlister, Sweet & Associates provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individuals, families, high net worth clients, and business entities, managing about $224 million in client assets. The firm employs a range of analytical methods and investment strategies, primarily managing assets on a discretionary basis, and integrates tax preparation services within its advisory offering.

Thomas Tracy is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Forth Capital (USA), LLC, where he has worked since 2022. He has over two years of industry experience and is also the CEO and founder of Forth Capital Group, a firm established in 2004 that manages client assets internationally. Outside of his advisory role, he owns the FC EDINBURGH soccer team, focusing on strategic activities. Forth Capital (USA), LLC primarily serves UK expatriates living in the United States who hold UK-based pensions, providing financial planning, pension transfer advice, and portfolio management. The firm operates on a non-discretionary basis, emphasizes transatlantic retirement solutions, and coordinates with UK-regulated pension-transfer specialists and affiliated entities across multiple jurisdictions.

Jacquelyn Girling is a CFP® with five years of industry experience. She has worked at Bannerman Wealth since 2019 and previously was with Westwood Wealth Management and Texas A&M University. Girling is also co-owner and co-host of a finance podcast. Bannerman Wealth serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, business entities, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a largely passive investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and Efficient Market Hypothesis, offering diversified model portfolios and comprehensive financial planning with ongoing client monitoring.

Evan Withner is a financial advisor with APM Wealth in Jersey Village, TX, holding a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining APM Wealth, he worked at Cypress Fairbanks ISD and operated a sole proprietorship focusing on music performance and education, including hosting saxophone summer camps through The Young Saxophonist's Institute, LLC. APM Wealth serves individual and high-net-worth clients, particularly physicians specializing in anesthesiology and pain management. The firm provides discretionary investment management, Personal CFO services, and business consulting, utilizing primarily ETFs and mutual funds with an emphasis on low-cost, broadly diversified, and tax-aware portfolio construction.

Tyler West is a CFP® professional with one year of industry experience, currently serving at C.L. Sheldon & Company, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Your Money Line and Upward Bound, as well as experience with Broome County Government and the United States Army Reserves. C.L. Sheldon & Company is a small, fee-only advisory firm focusing on individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers bundled financial planning, wealth management, standalone consulting, and financial coaching, with an emphasis on asset-allocation-driven portfolios managed on a non-discretionary basis.