Melanie Schwartz is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked at Steward Partners and its affiliated entities since 2021 and previously at Raymond James Financial Services and Wells Fargo Clearing. 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 that includes individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a range of advisory and portfolio management services.

Malka Alzayani is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with four years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments, New York Life Insurance Company, and Bloomberg LLP. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients, providing non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations. The firm’s advice is based on Charles Schwab & Co.’s asset-allocation models and internal research tools, offering tailored recommendations with trades executed only upon client authorization.

Jennifer Kellett is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with six years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has worked at Truist-related firms since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she operates a small photography business. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platform arrangements.

Austin Chester is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at various First Command entities since 2019, as well as at Avalara from 2014 to 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Team Chester LLC, a pass-through entity for First Command commissions. First Command Advisory Services 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 provides financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, using a centralized Investment Management Team and Wealth Portfolio Managers to design and manage portfolios through approved third-party managers and preselected model portfolios.

Jeffrey Upchurch is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 39 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for eight years before joining &PARTNERS in 2024. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers investment management, financial and tax planning, and ERISA consulting, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis through both proprietary and third-party strategies.

Bradford Avery is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Investments since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he is an owner of rental properties. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account. The firm’s approach combines algorithm-driven risk assessment with implementation via approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Zachary Jenkins is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Vienna, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 10 years of industry experience. He has worked with New York Life Insurance Co. and NYLIFE Securities LLC since 2016 and currently operates Jenkins Wealth Strategies Group, LLC and is affiliated with Blueprint for Financial Success. Jenkins serves as a director of the Norwegian Society of Washington DC, an organization focused on promoting cultural and educational ties related to Norway. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers multiple advisory program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, managing the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Eric Schoener is a CFP® with 31 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cresset Asset Management, LLC since 2020. Prior to joining Cresset, he worked at Pagnato Karp Partners, LLC from 2016 to 2020. Cresset Asset Management, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $71.9 billion in client assets for a diverse clientele including individuals, high-net-worth families, trusts, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm focuses on diversified, asset-allocation-driven portfolio construction using both active and passive strategies, supported by a structured due-diligence process and private fund management across public equities, fixed income, alternatives, real estate, and private markets.

Roseal Stewart is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently advising at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. She has worked across various roles within Charles Schwab, including Schwab Wealth Advisory and Charles Schwab Bank. Outside of her financial career, she provides rideshare services using the Lyft app. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients by offering non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations. The firm’s advice is based on proprietary asset-allocation models and internal research, with services tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Caroline Morris is a CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 holder with 14 years of industry experience. She is currently with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, where she has worked since 2022. Morris previously worked at MML Investors Services LLC and MassMutual Life Insurance Company for ten years. In addition to her advisory role, she teaches for the College Funding Coach. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides a range of financial planning and consulting services, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and access to proprietary programs and third-party solutions.

Jerome Prentice is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) and holds a Series 63 designation. He has 44 years of industry experience and has been affiliated with New York Life and its related entities since 1973. He also owns Prentice Farms, a wheat farm in Pennsylvania. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional investors, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated representatives. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Douglas French is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Truist and its predecessor entities since 2008, including roles at BB&T and Truist Investment Services. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a board member and treasurer of the Northern Virginia Bonsai Society, a club dedicated to the art and education of bonsai. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program implemented through third-party managers and platforms.

William Schroen is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Simplicity, PNC Investments LLC, Bank of America, Merrill, LPL Financial, Amazon, CUNA Brokerage Services, Morgan Stanley, and J.P. Morgan Securities. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and select retail brokerage clients. The firm delivers integrated services linked to Empower’s recordkeeping platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups chosen by plan sponsors.

Myka Koenen is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Wealthspire Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. She has been with Wealthspire Advisors since 2015. Wealthspire Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and nonprofit organizations. The firm offers wealth management, investment advisory, financial planning, and family office support using a relationship-driven process and institutional-style asset allocation.

Mohamad Ali Atwi is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Vienna, VA, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked for HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and HSBC Bank USA, N.A. for 15 years before joining his current firm. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Glenville Grove Rentals LLC, a residential rental business. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, as well as charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors, with a focus on tailored recommendations and primarily non-discretionary assets under management.

Jeanette Lehner is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. Prior to her advisory role, she worked for over a decade at Victoria's Secret in sales support. Outside of her advisory duties, she serves as secretary at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals with discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to tailor asset allocations aligned with clients’ goals and risk tolerances.

Dang Thanh Nguyen is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Transamerica, he worked in various roles including positions at HDBank, TTC Land, Hoa Lam and Dong Duong Corporation, and Vietbank. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services featuring proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary options.

Daniel Clements is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Principal Securities and Principal Life Insurance Company for eight years. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies supplemented by tax-loss harvesting, direct indexing, and selective private market exposure.

Lavonna Mason is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 17 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing for six years before joining Truist in 2022. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a mix of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships. The firm integrates AI-enabled research tools and operates with multiple inter-affiliate service arrangements to support its investment and manager selection processes.

Kyle Brady Lusk is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc., where he has worked since 2024. His prior experience includes roles at Pruco Securities, LLC and Fidelity Investments. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory (SWA) program and certain Charles Schwab & Co. referred clients. The firm’s approach is based on standard asset-allocation models and internal research tools, offering tailored recommendations with client authorization required for trades.