Marcelo Ampie Zelaya is a CFP® with four years of industry experience currently serving at Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC. He has been with Commonwealth Retirement Advisors since 2021. Commonwealth Retirement Investments advises individuals and families, primarily those in or near retirement, providing personalized financial planning and discretionary portfolio management tailored to retirement goals. The firm manages approximately $377 million for around 337 households and employs strategies including dividend-growth equities, fixed income, tactical equity ETFs, annuities, and cash-management allocations.

Alvin Miller Jr. is a financial advisor with James River Asset Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 43 years of industry experience. He has been with James River Asset Management and its affiliated James River Wealth Advisors since 1995. Prior to this, he worked at Valmark Securities, Inc. and J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. James River Asset Management serves individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients, managing approximately $273.8 million across 411 clients with a team of five advisers. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, integrated financial planning, and pension consulting, utilizing proprietary model portfolios with a fundamental and long-term investment approach.

Keith Muth is a financial advisor at Watch Hill Financial Inc with a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms including Private Advisor Group, LLC, Mariner Independent Advisor Network, and Securian Financial Services. In addition to his advisory role, Muth is a co-founder of Muth Financial LLC, a tax planning and consulting business. Watch Hill Financial Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides wealth management, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, charitable organizations, and institutional investors. The firm employs a goals-based, long-term investment approach with discretionary portfolio management and may leverage independent managers and custodial relationships with major broker-dealers.

Christopher Harris is a financial advisor at ClearView Financial with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with ClearView Financial since 2016. ClearView Financial is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, estates, and trusts with discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm uses a blend of technical and fundamental analysis to construct portfolios guided by written Investment Policy Statements and emphasizes risk management focused on principal loss and behavioral risks.

Hi, I’m Lauren Zangardi Haynes, CFP®, CIMA® and founder of Spark Financial Advisors. At Spark Financial Advisors we are focused on helping high earning women, dual-career couples & business owners put an effective strategy in place to build wealth, manage taxes, and spend more time doing what they love. Our clients gain peace of mind knowing their finances are outsourced to a highly qualified team with expertise in building wealth and transitioning into retirement. I got my start in the financial services industry in 2005 with Bank of America. While working for U.S. Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management I attained my CFP® designation and became a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®). I transitioned to a smaller Fee-Only financial planning firm to get broader experience beyond investment management and haven’t looked back. I have been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report among others, and have written for Richmond Family Magazine. I previously served on the South Region Board for the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) the leading organization for fiduciary, Fee-Only financial planners. When I’m not geeking out on financial planning I like to spend time with my husband and 3 kids, read, watch stand-up comedy, and (attempt to) garden.

Jeremy Shipp is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving at RCPlanners in Midlothian, VA. His work history includes roles at Moneytrax North America Inc., Retirewise University, First Advisors National, LLC, Harbor Wealth Advisors, LLC, and others. He is licensed to sell insurance products and dedicates approximately 25% of his time to insurance-related activities. RCPlanners provides financial planning and discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis alongside a proprietary retirement income model that addresses multiple retirement risks, offering tailored portfolio management for individual and high-net-worth clients.

Maria Lavrentyeva is a financial advisor at BDC Capital Management, Inc. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been in the industry since 2023, including prior experience at Northwestern Mutual. BDC Capital Management provides personalized financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, family-owned businesses, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a top-down investment approach that integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, with ongoing portfolio monitoring and periodic rebalancing.

Michael O'Shaughnessy is a financial advisor at Ascent Financial Group with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Ascent Financial Group, he worked at Journey Health & Lifestyle, Stanley Black & Decker, and Capital One. He volunteers with CancerLINC, providing assistance with account organization and debt consolidation to individuals affected by cancer. Ascent Financial Group offers comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management services primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a mix of fundamental, technical, cyclical, and economic analysis to manage client portfolios on a discretionary basis and provides ongoing planner access and implementation.

Richard Vernon is a financial advisor with Vernon Management Group, Incorporated in Richmond, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 29 years of industry experience. He has worked at Vernon Management Group since 1996. Vernon Management Group serves primarily individual and high-net-worth clients through separately managed accounts, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs a proprietary, trend-focused investment approach that relies heavily on technical analysis and daily portfolio monitoring, offering a range of fee structures beyond traditional asset-based models.

Michael Ellis is a financial advisor with Steelhead Wealth Management in Glen Allen, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 22 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes sixteen years at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and related entities. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance sales on a limited basis. Steelhead Wealth Management serves employer plan sponsors, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities by providing discretionary investment management, financial consulting, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, modern portfolio theory, and charting to manage client portfolios, primarily focusing on institutional and business clients.

Michael Peasley is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Tone Capital, LLC and has worked at Sterling Capital Distributors, LLC since 2014 and Sterling Capital Management LLC since 2013. Tone Capital, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services to individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients. The firm uses a combination of quantitative models, modern portfolio theory, and fundamental and technical analysis to deliver customized investment strategies and offers additional services such as a goal-based digital platform and tactical global balanced strategies.

Gareth Mancini is a financial advisor at Z3 Capital Partners in Richmond, VA, holding a Series 66 designation with three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Raymond James Financial Services and Davenport & Company LLC. Z3 Capital Partners provides discretionary investment management and integrated financial planning to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as entities such as family offices, trusts, and businesses. The firm employs a structured framework called the Financial House to align income, growth, and higher-growth allocations, managing accounts primarily on a discretionary basis through a wrap fee program.

Tina Hall is a financial advisor with Bonwell Capital Management, LLC in Richmond, VA, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Bonwell Capital Management since 2006. Bonwell Capital Management advises individuals, trusts, foundations, retirement plans, and corporations, providing personalized financial planning, investment management, and occasional consulting. The firm develops client-specific asset allocation guidelines and manages portfolios using a range of investment vehicles, focusing on fundamental research and continuous oversight.

Cynthia Bowen is a CFP® professional with five years at Bowen Financial Services, LLC and prior experience at DuPont totaling five years. She has two years of industry experience as a financial advisor. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in a short-term rental real estate business. Bowen Financial Services serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, and small businesses, including many high-net-worth households, offering fee-only financial planning and discretionary investment management. The firm employs a strategic asset-allocation approach grounded in academic research and integrates tax compliance and consulting through an affiliated CPA practice.

Evan Moog is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license, with 10 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at Wills Financial Group, LLC since 2026, following prior roles at Truist and Davenport & Company. Wills Financial Group, LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and advisory services to individuals, families, and institutional clients. The firm employs fundamental security analysis with a focus on balanced allocations across equities, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs, and maintains an operational approach that excludes cryptocurrency purchases, wrap fee programs, and commissions.

Cory Nichols is a financial advisor at Yes Life Financial with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual in various wealth management and insurance roles. Yes Life Financial provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services to individual clients, focusing on passive investment management using low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs. The firm offers virtual financial planning and structured subscription-style coaching, emphasizing scalable, retail-oriented delivery through a small advisory team.

Dennis Tender is the sole advisor at DP Grow LLC in Richmond, VA, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses with 37 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at MML Investors Services, Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company, Oneamerica Securities, American United Life, and Waddell & Reed. He is also a licensed insurance agent engaged in commission-based insurance sales on a limited basis. DP Grow LLC advises individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, and retirement plans, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and retirement advisory services. The firm utilizes both fundamental and technical analysis to implement a range of strategies, provides participant education, and often allocates assets to third-party sub-advisers for management.

Mark Leimberger is a financial advisor at Alpha Advisors, LLC in Richmond, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 29 years of industry experience. He has been with Alpha Advisors since 2006. Alpha Advisors serves primarily individuals and families across various ages and wealth levels, overseeing approximately $256 million in assets for about 115 clients. The firm focuses on discretionary portfolio management, emphasizing asset allocation and diversification, and offers services including cash flow analysis, financial planning, and retirement plan rollover consulting.

Christopher Lee is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC since 2017 and previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation from 2014 to 2017. Commonwealth Retirement Advisors serves individual clients and families, primarily those nearing retirement, offering personalized financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm manages approximately $306 million in assets across about 314 households and employs a process that includes comprehensive retirement planning, customized asset allocation, and tailored investment strategies.

Bailey Thornton is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Kinloch Capital, LLC since 2023, following five years at Davenport & Company and two years at Harris Williams & Company. Kinloch Capital, LLC advises individuals, trusts, non-profits, pensions, and businesses, offering discretionary asset management, financial planning, and divorce planning services. The firm employs a technically driven allocation process using proprietary model portfolios and emphasizes tax-efficient, low-cost investment vehicles.