Robert Fugate is a CFP® and ChFC® with 28 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Blue Ridge Wealth Planners in Knoxville, TN, and has held positions at Madison Avenue Securities and Global Financial Private Capital. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president and owner of Seven Islands Consulting Group, which supports marketing efforts for Blue Ridge Wealth Planners. Blue Ridge Wealth Planners provides discretionary asset management and goals-based financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses proprietary model strategies to guide investment decisions and offers integrated wealth management with services that include retirement planning and educational workshops.

James Proffitt Jr. is a financial advisor at Proffitt & Goodson Inc. with 22 years of industry experience. He has spent his entire career with Proffitt & Goodson Inc., which he joined in 1986. Proffitt & Goodson Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management, financial and wealth planning, and pension consulting to individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm uses an evidence-based investment process combined with fundamental analysis and model-based asset allocation, managing accounts primarily on a discretionary basis with automated rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting.

Shane Caldwell is a CFP® professional with 13 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with TVAMP, LLC, where he has worked since 2023, and has held positions at firms including LPL Financial LLC, Bank of America, Merrill, and Ronald Blue & Co. Outside of his advisory roles, he provides investment advisory services through Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners, LLC, an independent registered investment advisor. TVAMP, LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation approach using diversified portfolios, model portfolios, and third-party managers, and provides services such as retirement-plan advisory and sub-advisory relationships.

Lori Bishop is a CFP® with 36 years of industry experience, currently serving at Alliance Wealth Management Partners LLC since 2021. Her prior experience includes roles at Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. and LPL Financial. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved in life coaching through Emerald Coaching Company and serves as Executive Director on the board of the Caregiver Superhero Society. Alliance Wealth Management Partners LLC is a multi-advisor team managing approximately $234.6 million for about 559 clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services, constructing customized portfolios using diversified mutual funds, ETFs, and other securities with a generally long-term orientation.

Charles Sweat is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with TVAMP, LLC in Knoxville, TN. He has held roles at TVAMP since 2012 and also works with Tennessee Brokerage Agency and LPL Financial. TVAMP provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses a long-term, asset-allocation approach with diversified portfolios primarily consisting of mutual funds and ETFs and offers additional services such as sub-advisory relationships and retirement-plan advisory.

Bradley Bower is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience and is currently with Patriot Investment Management Group Inc in Knoxville, TN. He has been with the firm since 1993, serving in various capacities over three decades. Patriot Investment Management Group advises a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers personalized investment advice using fundamental and cyclical analysis, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside modular and ongoing financial planning services.

Katie Slate is a financial advisor at TVAMP, LLC in Knoxville, TN, holding a Series 66 designation with four years of industry experience. Her prior employment includes roles at LPL Financial LLC, Woodbury Financial Services Inc., and John Maloney III. She is also a notary, providing document notarization services for clients. TVAMP provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and to employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation strategy using diversified portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds and ETFs, and it offers a range of services including ongoing asset management, retirement-plan advisory, and sub-advisory relationships.

Benjamin Hoffman is a financial advisor at TVAMP, LLC with one year of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. His prior work includes roles at Spire Outsourcing, JLA Delivery, and Smith Steelworks, among others. TVAMP provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation approach, constructing diversified portfolios primarily using mutual funds and ETFs, and offers additional services such as sub-advisory relationships and retirement-plan advisory engagements.

Michael Cermak is a CFA® charterholder with 11 years of industry experience currently serving at Proffitt & Goodson Inc. in Knoxville, TN. He has been with Proffitt & Goodson since 2015. Proffitt & Goodson Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management, financial and wealth planning, and pension consulting services to individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach combined with fundamental analysis and model-based allocation, managing accounts mostly on a discretionary basis with automated rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting.

John Wortham is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Patriot Investment Management Group Inc since 2008. Patriot Investment Management Group serves individual clients across wealth levels, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers personalized portfolio management and financial planning, using fundamental and cyclical analysis to guide investment decisions, and frequently operates under discretionary authority.

Elizabeth Wheeler is a financial advisor with Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC in Knoxville, TN. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Leading Edge since 2021. Prior to her current role, she spent 11 years with University Surgeons Associates. Leading Edge Financial Planning LLC provides wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm employs a strategic, long-term investment approach focused on asset allocation and diversification, primarily using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, while supplementing portfolios with individual securities and independent managers when appropriate.

Benjamin Andrews is a financial advisor at Blue Ridge Wealth Planners in Knoxville, TN. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Blue Ridge Wealth Planners, he worked at 21st Mortgage for four years and attended the University of Tennessee. Blue Ridge Wealth Planners is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients. The seven-advisor team manages approximately $276 million across about 723 accounts, offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning through proprietary and third-party model portfolios tailored to clients' objectives and risk tolerance.

Paul Stout is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor at Financial & Tax Architects, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Financial & Tax Architects, Inc. since 2021 and has been associated with Rand A, Inc. since 1997, where he also serves as an insurance agent. Financial & Tax Architects provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on those nearing or in retirement. The firm employs proprietary “Private Wealth Strategies” using ETFs, individual securities, and trend-aware rebalancing, with accounts reviewed monthly and customizable strategies.

Vernon Henry is a financial advisor with CreativeOne Securities, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and GWN Securities Inc. Henry is also an independent insurance agent and is involved in multiple insurance-related activities. CreativeOne Securities, LLC is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities through a network of 127 advisors. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and access to third-party manager programs via its proprietary advisory platform.

Reese Marine is a Series 66 credentialed advisor with New Edge Wealth in Knoxville, TN, currently in the early stages of his financial advisory career. Prior to joining New Edge Wealth, he worked at the Garza Law Firm and was involved with the University of Tennessee Baseball program. New Edge Wealth primarily serves ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering a broad range of advisory services with a focus on asset allocation, investor behavior, and integrating technology tools alongside adviser judgment.

Christopher Brown is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Root Financial Partners since 2025 and previously worked at Clark Asset Management, Mariner Platform Solutions, and Patriot Investment Management Group. Root Financial Partners offers investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement-plan clients. The firm emphasizes broadly diversified, passive portfolios tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances, with specialized strategies available for clients with complex needs.

Adam Koson is a financial advisor with Silver Oak Securities, Inc. who holds a Series 66 designation and has seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Securities America Advisors, Inc., Securities America, Inc., and Securities Service Network. Outside of his advisory role, he also works as a rideshare and delivery driver on weekends. Silver Oak Securities serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and other business entities through a network of financial professionals managing approximately $2.4 billion in discretionary assets. The firm offers various advisory programs tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances, combining technology-driven model monitoring with both fee-based and commission services.

Matthew Canter is a financial advisor with Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC in Knoxville, TN, holding a Series 66 license and 17 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Center Street Securities, Cetera Investment Services, Regions Bank, EQIS Capital Management, Curian Capital, and Legacy Tax and Financial Planning. He is also involved as an agent with LeBlanc Financial Alliance. Arete Wealth Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pensions, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, retirement plan advisory, and access to proprietary and third-party investment models, while integrating affiliated financial businesses and product channels in its offerings.

Jonathan Moore is an investment advisor representative at IAMS Wealth Management, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with firms including Dunn Bailey Lamb & Moore and Legacy Tax & Wealth Management. Outside of advisory roles, he operates separate businesses providing tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll services, and QuickBooks coaching. IAMS Wealth Management, LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, corporations, retirement plans, trusts, and other business entities. The firm employs discretionary portfolio management with a diverse range of investment instruments and supports both model-based strategies and client-specific restrictions.

Christopher Demaria is a financial advisor at Kovack Advisors, Inc. with 27 years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and Raymond James & Associates prior to joining Kovack Advisors in 2008. He is involved in publishing non-research articles on managing money and the market environment, as well as a business technology venture as a partner and founder. Kovack Advisors, Inc. is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 260 advisors and over $6 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, banks, and government entities using a combination of internally created and third-party investment models supported by an Envestnet workflow.