Sien Vernyns is a CFP® certificant with one year of industry experience, currently affiliated with Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Vernyns worked at The Family Firm for a total of nine years, interspersed with brief periods outside the industry. Vernyns holds a minor ownership interest in a family paint business based in Belgium. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and retirement plans. The firm employs a manager-driven, asset-allocation approach using a proprietary “Focus List” and offers discretionary wealth management, fiduciary services, and outsourced CIO solutions.

John Utley is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with five years of industry experience, currently practicing at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC. Prior to joining Steward Partners, he worked at Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and has a background outside finance with four years at Baker Concrete. Utley also serves as an educator for the National Institute of Transitional Planning, providing retirement planning seminars to government employees. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale SEC-registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets for individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of investment advisory and financial planning services, utilizing both proprietary and third-party portfolio management solutions.

Grant Bartlett is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with 18 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including JPMorgan Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan Securities, First Republic, and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. Bartlett is based in Rockville, MD. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and managing around $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm offers a broad adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody and clearing services.

Craig Bennett is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 12 years of industry experience, all with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014. In addition to his advisory role, he is a partner at TRIADVISE, a firm involved in financial services and investment management, and operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products. VOYA Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and various program structures with a preference for non-discretionary, recommendation-based advisory relationships.

Jenny Kim is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Vienna, VA. She holds a Series 66 designation and has 19 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company, both since 2007, as well as Eagle Strategies LLC since 2017. She is also appointed with various outside insurance carriers for brokering non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated investment adviser representatives. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives and Plan Sponsor criteria, with a significant portion of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Nikolas Naymik is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Equitable Advisors and Evolution Capital Group. Outside of finance, he has work experience in the restaurant industry and education. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering multi-asset, multi-manager investment strategies through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs. The firm combines large institutional scale with unique market roles, including in-house research and operating as a swap dealer and futures commission merchant.

Kent Davis is a CFP® and PFS™ professional with 10 years of experience in financial advising. He currently works with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and has prior experience at Bernhardt Wealth Management, Advocacy Wealth Management, and Thompson Greenspon CPAs. Outside of his advising role, he operates a tax preparation service under his own business, Kent Davis, CPA. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing investment advisory, financial planning, tax, retirement, and estate services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, focusing on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using a range of investment vehicles and offers specialized programs alongside client education and integrated affiliated service platforms.

Bryan Keane is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors since 2021. His prior roles include positions at Alexandria Capital and Opus Advisory Group. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions through affiliated and third-party managers, using proprietary research and various portfolio construction techniques.

Peter Daniels is a CFP® with ten years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network since 2019. He has previously worked at Concentric Private Wealth and returned to Commonwealth in 2019 after an earlier tenure from 2015 to 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he is also a notary public. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $212 billion in client assets. The firm offers a comprehensive platform including managed-account programs, third-party asset manager access, and custody services, with portfolios implemented through in-house model portfolios or outsourced to third-party platforms.

Michelle Muhammed is a CFP® and ChFC® with 25 years of industry experience. She is currently a senior wealth advisor and managing partner at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd, joining the firm in 2024. Her prior roles include positions at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., EF Legacy Securities, LLC, and Edelman Financial Service, LLC. Additionally, she provides divorce financial counseling through her businesses, offering services that analyze the financial effects of divorce settlements and related planning. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC-registered enterprise wealth management firm serving over 24,000 clients with approximately $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of personalized portfolio management and financial planning services through a network of independent investment adviser representatives using an open-architecture platform.

Jared Ford is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience, currently affiliated with PlanMember Securities Corporation. He has worked at several firms since 2016, including Paladin Advisor Group and Securities USA. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Paladin Advisor Group in securities and insurance sales and services. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm employs a top-down strategic asset allocation framework and manages risk-based mutual-fund portfolios, alongside offering education and support services such as seminars and personalized retirement planning.

Jason Pan is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience. He currently works at Mariner Wealth Advisors and has previously been employed at firms including Mason Investment Advisory Services, The Mather Group, Facet Wealth, Sullivan, Bruyette, Spero & Blayney, EF Legacy Securities, and Edelman Financial. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs a discretionary, customized portfolio approach supported by an investment committee and offers a range of strategies across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and digital assets, with notable integration of tax and accounting services uncommon among large advisory firms.

Ryan Malaeb is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory. His prior experience includes roles at T. Rowe Price and PwC. Outside of his advisory work, he manages rental properties, handling tenant relationships and lease issues. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program. The firm uses Schwab’s standard asset allocation models and research tools to support clients with investment recommendations and conducts annual account reviews without discretionary trading authority.

Austin Sutphin is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior roles with Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Foundation, and CVS Health. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary management with third-party platforms and employs AI-enabled tools in its research and oversight processes.

Gary Lyons is a financial advisor with Creative Planning, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and bringing 19 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Creative Planning in 2021, he spent 17 years at Sullivan, Bruyette, Spero & Blayney, Inc./BMO Financial Group. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a range of supplemental portfolio management techniques and a large advisory team.

Anne Lurton is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 40 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Janney and its predecessor firms since 1990. 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, financial planning, consulting, and wrap/advisory programs.

Mitchell Lerner is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Janney Montgomery Scott since 2016. 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 through brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and various advisory programs, combining in-house portfolio management with third-party managers.

Seythe Leffall Mc Coy is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Thrivent Financial, Thrivent Investment Management Inc, Axon, Inc., Republic Services, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the Association for American Railroads. Outside of his advisory role, Mc Coy is involved in several community and alumni organizations, including serving as Immediate Past President and 2nd Vice President in chapters of the National Hampton Alumni Association, as well as participating in personal safety instruction and disaster relief volunteering. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an online discretionary model account available by invitation to employees. The firm utilizes algorithm-driven risk assessment and implements portfolios via approved model strategies using mutual funds and ETFs, with portfolio management delegated to third parties.

James Sinnott is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 66 credentials and has worked at firms including RBC Capital Markets, City National Bank, and Morgan Stanley. Sinnott serves as a finance council member for St. Monica parish, meeting monthly to review its financial standing. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to institutional and individual clients, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and advisor-managed accounts. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves a broad client base, including sovereign wealth funds.

Susan Cantus is a Series 65 licensed advisor at Hightower Advisors with 29 years of industry experience. She was previously with IA Farr, Miller & Washington, LLC for 25 years before joining Hightower Advisors in 2021. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, and offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services.