Desiree Trader is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at both Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Citigroup Global Markets, where she has been since 2007. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering investment advisory programs alongside broker-dealer execution and custody services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and operates with a combination of large institutional scale and specialized market roles, including swap dealing and futures commission merchant activities.

Jared Wilson is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC in Tampa, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Paychex, Transamerica, Fisher Investments, and ADP. Ameritas Advisory Services provides fee-based investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, corporations, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary programs utilizing in-house model portfolios, third-party managers, and integrated solutions with Ameritas affiliates.

Laura Akins is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. She has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2016 and currently holds an agent position with Agia, where she is involved in non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through a large network of advisors, utilizing discretionary unified managed accounts and an emphasis on technology and model solutions.

Jonathan Sarquis is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Truist Advisory Services since 2016 and has also worked at Truist Investment Services, Inc. since 2011. Sarquis holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Tampa, FL. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform and manager arrangements, to deliver its investment solutions.

Max Valavanis is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. since 2020. His prior experience includes roles at Valic Financial Advisors and Florida State University, as well as operating his own financial services businesses. Outside of advisory work, he manages a self-directed IRA through Fyrefly, LLC. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered firm that serves individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a network of over 400 independent representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, and access to multiple managed account solutions, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary investment approaches.

Elson Christian is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Ameriprise Financial Services. He also serves as a Successor Trustee for his parents’ trust. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a wide range of services, including portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting, and employs multiple program structures supported by centralized due diligence and technology tools.

Richard Waters Jr. is a CFP® professional with 27 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. and previously worked at Infinex Investments, Inc., Ameriprise Financial Services, and Centennial Bank. Waters contributes written financial advice for a book section focused on life planning for NFL players and provides financial counseling to military personnel and their families through Magellan Financial. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments, operating with a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure and a platform that includes lending solutions and third-party asset manager referrals.

Edilberto Cancel is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA since 2005, based in Tampa, FL. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides a range of advisory services including model and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard within a vertically integrated structure.

Todd Woodard is a CFP® with 31 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. since 2017. Prior to that, he worked at G. A. Repple & Company for 24 years. Outside of his advisory role, Woodard is president of Mosaic Wealth Management Group, a financial planning firm. J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a national network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party investment managers, and various managed account solutions with both discretionary and non-discretionary investment options.

Chery Victoria is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 11 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Gwfs Equities, Inc. since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she is an independent business owner involved in direct sales of travel memberships and operates as an Amazon seller. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as certain IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Paul Mcaneny is a financial advisor with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC in Tampa, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Hornor, Townsend & Kent since 2019 and also has experience with Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company beginning in 2018. In addition to his advisory work, he serves as the Transition Committee Chairman for the Tampa Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, organizing seminars for transitioning military members and their spouses. Hornor, Townsend & Kent provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a range of investment programs and financial planning solutions, leveraging third-party asset manager relationships and operating as both an SEC-registered adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer.

Richard Looney is a financial advisor at Davenport & Company LLC in Tampa, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Davenport since 2002. Looney is a minority shareholder in Gibian & Gibian, a family investment partnership. Davenport & Company serves individual and institutional clients, offering asset management, retail brokerage, fixed income, public finance, and investment banking and advisory services. The firm’s investment approach involves dedicated portfolio manager teams and a Manager Research group overseeing various strategies, including separately managed accounts and mutual funds.

Reed Puzzitiello is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience and has worked at Guardian Life, Park Avenue Securities, and Raymond James & Associates. Park Avenue Securities LLC, doing business as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients with brokerage services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various investment advisory programs.

Jennifer Jack is a financial advisor at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. in Tampa, FL, with seven years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, MassMutual, and ADP prior to joining J.W. Cole Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she owns LWR Pillars of Wealth LLC, doing business as J&J Wealth Advisors, and works as an agent providing life insurance, disability, long-term care, and fixed annuity products. J.W. Cole Advisors operates through a large network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives and offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and access to third-party manager platforms and digital advice. The firm serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients using a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Sara Castano is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Tampa, FL. She holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Truist, her background includes roles at the University of Florida and experience in customer service and education. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary manager relationships with non-discretionary consulting and utilizes AI-enabled tools and third-party platforms to support investment decisions.

Nazley Wilson is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor and director at Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. in Tampa, FL. Prior to joining Sequoia in 2021, Wilson worked at TD Ameritrade, Inc. for seven years. Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC offers wealth planning, investment management, and retirement-plan and business-consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm employs a combination of in-house and third-party investment strategies, supported by an Investment Policy Committee and extensive research resources.

Kevin Donahue is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners in Tampa, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Financial Partners since 2016 and previously worked at LPL Financial from 2016 to 2019. Outside of his advisory role, Donahue is involved with Divergent Advisors, focusing on insurance sales. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent representatives. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, offering both decentralized investment strategies and formal retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

Steven Kurland is a CFP® professional with 20 years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. since 2017 and previously spent five years with SII Investments Inc. He is also the owner and manager of 360 Financial Firm LLC, a financial services business, and serves as a trustee and executor for family trusts. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a network of over 400 independent advisers. The firm provides portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party managers, and multiple managed account solutions, implementing investment decisions through discretionary and non-discretionary approaches.

Adam Banks is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2019, following prior roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account options combining third-party portfolio managers, strategist portfolios, and advisor-managed sleeves, with features including direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Brent Litchfield is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Tampa, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at GWFS Equities, Inc/AAG since 2019 and previously at T. Rowe Price from 2016 to 2019. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated services through Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm’s approach combines proprietary and third-party methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.