James Bruyette is a financial advisor with Creative Planning in Annandale, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked for IA Sullivan, Bruyette, Spero & Blayney and Sullivan, Bruyette, SperoS & Blayney, Inc. for 30 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member and youth coach for the First Tee of Greater Washington DC. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Lisa Gilland is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Financial Growth Partners and Grant Thornton. She works with Park Avenue Securities LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, which provides brokerage services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of investment advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios, and combines proprietary and third-party strategies.

Justin Graves is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Alexandria, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of finance, he has experience in the hospitality sector, including managing Tom's Watch Bar. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary account pilot that uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and invests via approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Daesung Ji is a financial advisor at Equity Services, Inc. with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Worthington Financial Partners and KP Stoneymill Inc. Ji serves as treasurer and board member for the Korean Community Service Center for Greater Washington. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms emphasizing long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and utilizes third-party asset managers.

Grayson Hurley is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Forge Financial Group, Potomac Financial Private Client Group, and Commonwealth Financial Network. His background includes roles outside finance, such as working at Hollywood Golf Course. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and hundreds of thousands of clients. The firm provides a broad adviser-support platform with discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody/clearing services.

Frances Arias is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) affiliated with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) and has 14 years of industry experience. She has been associated with New York Life Insurance Company and Nylife Securities LLC since 2012 and joined Eagle Strategies in 2022. Outside of her advisory role, Arias works as an independent contractor at St. Francis of Assisi Church and performs as a paid wedding musician. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and benefit plans, as well as charitable and corporate clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, emphasizing mostly non-discretionary asset management within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Shaun Germain is a financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Bridge Title, Inc. and Texas Roadhouse, where he continues to serve part time as a key manager and server. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services to individuals, families, pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a combination of evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation and actively managed strategies, supported by affiliated accounting, legal, and trust services.

Taylor Seiling is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Creative Planning since 2021 and previously spent 15 years at SBSB Financial Advisors. Based in McLean, VA, he is part of a large advisory firm serving a diverse client base. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Melissa Taro is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience. She is currently with Cerity Partners LLC, where she has worked since 2023. Her prior roles include positions at Lumina Financial Consultants, Virtual FP LLC, and FJY Financial. Cerity Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm offers a range of services such as investment management, financial planning, tax and insurance support, and access to alternative and private-market investments, tailoring portfolios through diversified asset allocation and proprietary quantitative screening.

Kirsty Peev is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience. She has worked at Halpern Financial, Inc. for 22 years before joining MAI Capital Management, LLC, where she has been since 2024. MAI Capital Management, LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diversified client base, including high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm customizes portfolio management across multiple strategies and combines these with financial planning, tax, and administrative services.

Bryan Trejo is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Citigroup Global Markets and TD Ameritrade before joining PNC in 2021. Based in Vienna, VA, Trejo currently provides advisory services within an enterprise firm setting. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a digital discretionary model account available by invitation to employees. The firm utilizes algorithm-driven risk assessment and approved model strategies executed with mutual funds and ETFs, focusing on automated portfolio management rather than standalone financial planning.

Clayton Castle is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Zoominfo and Aflac, as well as working in construction and hospitality industries. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets and serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various portfolio management and financial planning services through both proprietary and third-party solutions.

Nicholas Camel is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 14 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2018, following three years with Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank. Outside of his advisory role, he owns rental properties in Florida and Maryland. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA employer retirement plan relationships. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including model and customized portfolios, and acts as investment adviser to a donor-advised fund sponsored by Charityvest.

Richard Shu is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Tysons, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at HSBC Securities and its affiliate HSBC Bank (USA) N.A. since 2013, serving in dual roles as a registered representative and a bank officer selling bank-related products and services. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations through several models, including client-directed and fully discretionary options. The firm uses a structured investment process based on multiple risk profiles and collaborates with affiliated and third-party providers for advisory and fund selection services.

John Guidi is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill as well as multiple firms including Bouchard Wealth Advisors and Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in fixed insurance sales and serves as Managing Director of Guiding Wealth Financial Partners. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers diverse portfolio management and consulting services, utilizing multiple program structures and technology tools to support advisors and clients.

Chadwick Dickison is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He has worked at several firms including Golub Capital, Guidepoint Global, Bank of America, and Merrill. He also has experience in entrepreneurial ventures such as C&C Marine Ventures LLC. Mercer Global Advisors provides comprehensive investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments. The firm employs a globally diversified investment strategy based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing a range of low-cost investment vehicles and specialized programs.

Eunjoo Fenton is a CFP® professional with 39 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Truist Advisory Services in Fairfax, VA. She has worked at SunTrust Advisory Services and SunTrust Securities since 2001. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, integrating third-party platforms and manager relationships to support its AMC Advantage program and other investment solutions.

Cristina Lipson is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 18 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. Her career includes roles at Financial Engines Advisors, EF Legacy Securities, Edelman Financial Services, and Grove Point Investments. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and financial organizations. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection, multi-manager solutions, and access to a range of investment vehicles, supported by proprietary research and operational features such as monitoring and rebalancing.

Tristan Bliesner is a financial advisor at Osaic Advisory Services, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Arbor Point Advisors, Securities America, and Cetera Advisors. Outside of financial advisory, he owns Patriot Printing Services, a business involved in buying and selling printed materials. Osaic Advisory Services is an SEC-registered adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers comprehensive investment management and planning services delivered through multiple advisory program models, utilizing a combination of proprietary and third-party platforms.

Christine Cataldo is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor and Chief Technology Officer at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. She has held advisory roles at Heim, Young & Associates, Financial Engines Advisors, EF Legacy Securities, and Edelman Financial Services. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments with discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services, financial planning, and family office services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified portfolios implemented through low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other strategies, complemented by client education programs and integrated affiliated service lines.