Derrick Merck is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Augusta, GA, holding the ChFC® and Series 66 designations and bringing 22 years of industry experience. His career includes positions at Agia, where he also works as an insurance agent, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., and Axa Advisors, LLC. Valic Financial Advisors serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Kristin Cruz is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Augusta, GA, and has 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2015 and holds a position at Agia since 2022. Outside of her advisory role, she operates as a notary, providing services related to payroll form notarization for the Richmond County Board of Education. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-based individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, wrap programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Kathryn Hartnett is a CFP® and Series 66 credentialed advisor with 15 years of industry experience. She is currently with &PARTNERS, having joined in 2025, and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors and Morgan Stanley in various capacities. Hartnett serves on the board of trustees for Mead Hall Episcopal School, where she reviews budgets and financial statements. &PARTNERS serves a broad range of individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations. The firm provides investment management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis across proprietary and third-party strategies.

Eric Swierski is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Augusta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 1998 and also serves as an Operations Stewardship Team member at the First Presbyterian Church of Augusta, overseeing the church’s financial budgeting and expense monitoring. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, wrap programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction and management.

David Barnett is a financial advisor at CWM, LLC in Augusta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with one year of industry experience. He previously worked at Strategic Financial Management and First Citizens Securities Corp. Outside of his advisory role, Barnett is the owner and founder of DPH Technologies, LLC, a company specializing in professional golf data and statistics software. CWM, LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, foundations, endowments, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm manages accounts primarily on a discretionary basis using model portfolios and combines fundamental and technical analysis, third-party sub-advisors, and customization tools to offer portfolio management, financial planning, and a range of retirement-plan services.

Andrew Helmich is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked in diving instruction and related roles before joining First Command. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a specialization in active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and wrap-fee asset management programs featuring model portfolios managed by a centralized Investment Management Team.

Brian Campbell is a financial advisor with First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at First Citizens Investor Services since 2022 and previously held roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. First Citizens Investor Services serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities, providing advisory and brokerage services through a range of portfolio management options and financial planning. The firm emphasizes IAR-led assessments and utilizes fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis to guide investment allocations.

Stephen Dorsey is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Bank of America and Kelly Services before joining First Command. Outside of advising, he owns a business entity, Dorsey's First Command Advising LLC, which manages his commissions and related billing. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered firm that serves individuals, corporations, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and various wrap-fee asset management programs using model portfolios and third-party managers, with investment selections made centrally through an internal Investment Management Team.

Bonnie Roberts is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2012. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage, financial planning, consulting, and advisory programs with a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Broadus Cleveland III is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Personal Financial Specialist™ (PFS™) with 22 years of industry experience. He currently works at HB Wealth Management, LLC, where he has been since 2023, following a 19-year tenure at Calvary Wealth, LLC. HB Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, retirement plans, corporate entities, foundations, family offices, institutional clients, and investment companies. The firm offers discretionary wealth management and financial planning, combining quantitative and qualitative due diligence across public and private strategies, and manages portfolios aligned with clients’ objectives and risk tolerance.

Kristen Wilson is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Independent Financial Group since 2017 and previously at Truist Investment Services, Inc. from 2005 to 2007. Outside of her advisory role, Wilson volunteers in fundraising activities for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional accounts. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and utilizes a combination of firm- and third-party investment models across multiple platforms.

Jeffrey Anderson is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with First Command in various roles since 2011. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of JNAnderson, LLC. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and wrap-fee asset management programs managed by a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers, utilizing model portfolios from approved funds and third-party managers.

Peter Sampson is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Aiken, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 45 years of industry experience. He has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as Finance Committee Chair and Fundraising Chair at the First Baptist Church of Aiken. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporate and retirement plans, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage services, financial planning, and advisory programs that combine in-house management with third-party managers.

Benjamin Lowe is a financial advisor with First Command Advisory Services in Evans, GA, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked across multiple affiliates of the First Command organization since 2017. Outside of finance, he is a professional musician involved in occasional recording sessions and live performances. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporations, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed by a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers.

James Foley is a CFP® with 35 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott since 2011. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and is based in Aiken, SC. Foley is Vice Chairman of the board for Our Community Salutes in Midland, SC, a charitable organization, and serves on the Diocese of Charleston Finance Committee, advising on investment matters. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering a range of brokerage, financial planning, and advisory services.

Sherleen Udasco is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at various First Command entities since 2016, with additional experience at Aston Carter Inc. from 2022 to 2022. Sherleen is based in Evans, GA. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs managed by a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers.

Edwin May is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at several firms, including Morgan Stanley and Pruco Securities LLC. Outside of finance, he has been involved with May Brothers Firewood for nine years. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, families, trusts, estates, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and municipal clients, offering brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs.

Ross Douglas is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Augusta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2000 and has also worked with Agia since 2022. Outside of advisory work, he owns rental properties managed by a third-party company. Valic Financial Advisors serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Kenneth Poole is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Augusta, GA. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience, including previous roles at Edward Jones and Northwestern Mutual. His background also includes work in logistics and education. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and select retail brokerage clients. The firm’s approach integrates proprietary and third-party planning methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing, delivered within Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Sunara Anderson is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining First Command, she served in various roles within the Department of Defense and worked briefly at Edward Jones. First Command Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, utilizing a centralized Investment Management Team to design and manage model portfolios.