Charles Harris is a financial advisor with First Georgetown Securities, Inc. in Alexandria, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and over 45 years of industry experience. He has been with First Georgetown Securities since 1982. Outside of finance, he produced and stars in a YouTube TV pilot titled "Becoming Van Vlack," a project unrelated to his advisory work. First Georgetown Securities provides discretionary managed-account services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, using growth, growth-and-income, and income strategies. The firm emphasizes tactical asset allocation informed by fundamental and technical analysis and regularly monitors accounts to manage risk.

Tomasz Cymer is a CFP® and CFA® with 19 years of experience in financial advising. He is the principal of Opulen Financial Group, LLC, an independent advisory firm he has led since 2014, and has operated as a sole proprietor since 2009. In addition to his advisory work, Cymer holds a licensed insurance agent role, spending part of his time on life, disability, and long-term care insurance sales. He is also involved in educational seminars and teaching through a separate corporate entity. Opulen Financial Group serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporations with portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan services. The firm emphasizes documented investment policies, fundamental analysis, and combines direct management with third-party platform oversight, while offering ERISA 3(21) fiduciary services and participant education.

Farzana Sultana is a financial advisor at Crescent Meridian Capital LLC with over 23 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 credential and previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services from 2010 to 2026. Outside of advisory work, she is involved in business ownership of JaMaxwell Logistics and serves on the boards of the Bangladeshi American Network for Democracy and the Holy Cross S&C Dhaka Alumni. Crescent Meridian Capital offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individuals, families, and small businesses. The firm focuses on long-term growth, capital preservation, and risk management through diversified portfolios utilizing ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income, with an emphasis on direct management and tax-aware strategies.

Michael Shea is a CFA® charterholder with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with 8th Street Investments, LLC since 2008, serving as one of two advisors at the firm in Alexandria, VA. 8th Street Investments provides discretionary portfolio management and standalone financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm manages approximately $171.7 million for about 55 clients, employing a fundamental analysis-based investment process with tailored asset-allocation strategies and incorporating active trading tools and derivatives within discretionary mandates.

Patrick Knowles is a Series 65-licensed advisor at The Knowles Company, LLC with over 26 years of prior experience at CGI before joining his current firm in 2026. He is based in Oakton, VA and has one year of experience with The Knowles Company. The Knowles Company is a fee-only, state-registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm focuses on comprehensive financial planning and primarily manages portfolios on a non-discretionary basis using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, while providing detailed monitoring, tax-loss harvesting, and client reporting.

Christopher Lane is a financial advisor at McGinn Penninger Investment Management Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at the University of Maryland and Bullis School. McGinn Penninger Investment Management provides discretionary portfolio management primarily for high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, focusing on a long-term, large-cap value equity strategy with fundamental analysis and contrarian purchases. The firm also serves as sub-adviser to the Union Street Partners Value Fund and offers tailored portfolio management across individual accounts and the fund.

Ed Leads a team revolutionizing financial planning for federal employees. Valor Wealth Partners is a veteran-owned business with an office in Washington, D.C. and serving clients virtually in 19 states. With over 25 years of experience providing financial planning guidance, Ed has helped hundreds of families navigate complex and emotional dilemmas. He combines decades of experience with personalized strategies to help clients meet their needs. By simplifying his comprehensive analysis into down-to-earth terms, he is able to help clients understand their situation and take positive actions. Helping people with their financial goals is a deeply personal mission for Ed. Early struggles with money led him to pursue a meaningful career guiding people through the financial planning process. As a Certified Financial Planner, Ed follows the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. The complex knowledge required to obtain and maintain this professional designation helps Ed develop extensive financial plans that hardworking people deserve. Ed’s devotion to the community is evident in the numerous charitable associations where he volunteers his time. He’s currently a captain for a team of cyclists in the annual Pan-Mass Challenge and is a two-time marathoner for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He attributes his core values of integrity and attention to detail to his service with the U.S. Marines. We invite you to see our passion and knowledge on how your federal benefits can be maximized at our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/FinancialPlanning4Feds

Scott James is a CFP® with 39 years of experience in the financial industry. He is president of The Scott S. James Company and has been with the firm since its founding in 1996. Prior to that, he has also led the Scott James Group, Inc. since 2001. The Scott S. James Company manages approximately $139 million for about 139 clients, including high-net-worth individuals, small businesses, charities, trusts, and estates. The firm offers tailored financial planning, portfolio management, and trustee services using fundamental and technical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory, with account reviews conducted at least annually.

Davis Gardner is a CFP® professional at Omega Wealth Management LLC with six years of industry experience. He has worked at Omega Wealth Management since 2018, following prior roles at Northwestern Mutual and Virginia Tech Services. Omega Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, and business entities, managing approximately $310 million for around 121 clients through a team of four advisors. The firm offers goals-based, tax-aware investment management combined with life and wealth planning, using both discretionary and non-discretionary account arrangements, and emphasizes client education through seminars and webinars.

Edwin Knowles Jr. is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, serving as a principal at The Knowles Company, LLC since 2002. Located in Oakton, VA, he is one of two advisors at the firm. The Knowles Company is a fee-only, state-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes a high-touch, consultative approach with primarily non-discretionary portfolio management using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, alongside comprehensive financial planning and project-based consulting.

Frank Ficadenti is a financial advisor at Ficadenti Tandon Asset Management, Inc. in Springfield, VA, with 25 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Ficadenti Tandon Asset Management since 2000. Additionally, he has been associated with the Department of Navy since 1976. Ficadenti Tandon Asset Management, Inc. provides discretionary investment management and consulting services to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers tailored portfolios using fundamental, technical, and charting analysis, implementing various strategies with regular reviews and detailed reporting.

Daniel Messeca is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Craftwork Capital LLC since 2020. Prior to this, he worked at Motley Fool Wealth Management, LLC for six years. He is also the co-founder and Director of Finance at Blue Crab Brewing Company, Inc., a manufacturing business he has been involved with since 2015. Craftwork Capital primarily serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning and discretionary portfolio management, utilizing model portfolios, separately managed accounts, and digital wealth platforms while employing borrowing, derivatives, and AI tools in its investment approach.

Hi! I'm Sefa, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a fiduciary advisor who helps people with cross-border ties (e.g. international families, globally mobile professionals and cross-border entrepreneurs) live their best lives without worrying about money. I also have extensive experience working with globally-mobile professionals and executives who receive equity compensation (RSUs and employer stock options). My practice approach is hands-on and ongoing. I essentially act as a personal CFO: helping my clients to manage their overall financial life and life events - beyond just investments. Together, we tackle: -Cash flow and budgeting -Saving for goals and major purchases -Investments -Tax strategy -Insurance planning -Estate planning -Financial independence and retirement planning ...and the various life events that come up. Typical client questions for me: How do I manage/plan for cash flow and savings when international travel is central to my family values? How do I manage cash flow and accounts in different currencies? How do I plan for retirement when I’m not sure where I’ll retire? How do I manage my equity when some of it was granted while I worked overseas? How do I think about real estate (overseas and here in the US)? How do I minimize taxes when I have tax obligations in different countries? How do I save for my children’s college when I’m not sure where in the world they will go to college? How do I support family here and abroad? If you’re seeking a long-term partnership with a comprehensive financial planner who can guide you through all aspects of your financial life in the US and wherever life may take you, please send me a note and we can figure out if we’re a mutual fit.

Brittany Chapman is a CFP® professional with experience spanning roles at District Capital Management, Amara Financial, North Financial Advising, and Artemis Consulting, as well as service in the U.S. Navy. She began her financial advising career in 2023 and is currently with District Capital Management in Arlington, VA. Prior to entering financial advising, she worked at Starbucks Coffee Company and served eight years in the U.S. Navy. District Capital Management is a fee-only financial planning firm based in Washington, D.C., serving clients across the DMV area and nationwide. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management focused on professionals in their 30s and 40s, including federal employees and tech professionals, with an emphasis on transparent, commission-free advice and virtual client service.

Kayla Welte is a CFP® and ChFC® with five years of experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at District Capital Management, LLC. Her background includes roles at Colorado State University, Commander Navy Installations, and ZEIDERS Enterprises. District Capital Management is a fee-only financial planning firm based in Washington, D.C., serving clients in the DMV area and nationwide. The firm focuses on providing comprehensive, independent financial advice to professionals in their 30s and 40s, emphasizing wealth building, tax efficiency, and retirement planning.

Matthew Trogdon is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) with seven years of industry experience. He currently works at Craftwork Capital LLC and has previously been employed at Motley Fool Asset Management and Capital Investment Advisors, among others. In addition to his advisory role, he teaches financial literacy workshops through the Babson Financial Literacy Project and writes articles on financial planning for The Humble Dollar website. Craftwork Capital primarily serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and access to digital wealth platforms, using model portfolios and separately managed accounts with continuous monitoring and rebalancing.

Coe Magruder is a financial advisor at Washington Growth Strategies LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Washington Growth Strategies since 2014. Washington Growth Strategies LLC provides personalized investment management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, including trusts, foundations, pensions, and corporations. The firm uses fundamental research and a variety of investment instruments to create tailored asset allocation strategies, and also serves as manager of a private pooled vehicle, Washington Growth Fund, LP.

Juliana O'Neill is a Series 65–licensed financial advisor at Tesfaye O'Neill Financial with four years of industry experience. She is also an attorney at Tesfaye O'Neill Law, where she provides estate planning services. Tesfaye O’Neill Financial serves individual clients by offering financial coaching, account reviews, and educational seminars, acting as a co-adviser on Matson Money-managed accounts. The firm emphasizes Modern Portfolio Theory and long-term investing with periodic portfolio reviews, while Matson Money retains trading discretion and execution.

Fred Krause is a financial advisor at Empire Advisors Wealth Management LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Miller Consulting Group LLC for 19 years. Krause is also a partner in MCG CPA LLC, where he is involved in tax preparation and consulting. Empire Advisors Wealth Management LLC provides portfolio management and investment consulting primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, offering customized Investment Policy Statements and ongoing portfolio monitoring. The firm employs a multi-method analytical investment process and emphasizes a long-term trading approach.

Girum Tesfaye is a financial advisor at Tesfaye O'Neill Financial with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. He is also a partner and attorney at Tesfaye O'Neill Law, an estate planning law firm where he has worked since 2015. Tesfaye O’Neill Financial serves individual clients through financial coaching, educational seminars, and co-advisory investment services using a third-party platform. The firm focuses on risk profiling, investment horizons, and financial objectives, employing Modern Portfolio Theory and a long-term investment approach while collaborating with a discretionary third-party manager for trade execution and fee billing.