John Gerold is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at RBC Capital Markets since 2008 and City National Bank since 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he actively runs a lacrosse program called LAX4LIFE and serves as a committee member advising the business school at Old Dominion University. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory programs with tailored investment strategies implemented through a combination of in-house and third-party managers.

James Garner is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience, currently with LPL Financial. His prior roles include positions at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., TIAA-CREF, and Morgan Stanley. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives, serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms with a broad range of investment strategies.

Charles Rucker Jr. is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and has previously worked at Woodbury Financial Services Inc. and SunTrust Advisory Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance planning and investment advisory services through his own LLC. OSAIC serves a broad mix of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisors, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers. The firm employs asset-allocation tools and automated rebalancing to construct diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes.

Stella Alaba is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 12 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Merrill for eight years before joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2022. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients, including pension and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing research and analytics alongside a mix of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Francis Hawkins IV is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Mass Mutual and its affiliates since 2025. Prior to entering the financial advisory field, he gained experience in various roles including at Earls Kitchen + Bar and Audio Visual Systems LLC. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and asset management services to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm structures financial planning as collaborative, ongoing relationships and offers specialized programs such as divorce planning and employer-sponsored planning.

Trinity Hammerschmidt is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with a Series 66 license and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Enterprise, she held roles at The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities LLC. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved in horse braiding in Montpelier, VA. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm’s investment approach is primarily model-driven, utilizing portfolios developed by internal and third-party strategists, and it offers a range of financial planning, consulting, and asset management services.

Carlos Ruiz is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at LPL Financial since 2021. Prior to this, he was with M&T Securities for eight years and has been affiliated with M&T Bank since 2000. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in residential property ownership. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, with advice and account management provided primarily by investment adviser representatives using a range of strategies.

Ann Taylor is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Gaithersburg, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. Her prior experience includes roles at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. She serves as the treasurer for the local unit of United Methodist Women, a nonprofit volunteer position. Charles Schwab serves a large client base primarily composed of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers a combined advisory, brokerage, custody, and cash-sweep platform with both non-discretionary and discretionary investment management options.

Jeffrey Schweighoffer is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving at UBS Financial Services since 2015. He holds a Series 66 license and is based in Bethesda, MD. Outside of his advisory role, he works as an adjunct professor with the Financial Educators Network. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a range of brokerage and advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services to tailor investment plans based on proprietary research and model-based asset allocations.

Theophilus Baidoo Jr. is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has one year of industry experience, including prior roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company. Before entering the financial sector, he worked at Waffle House, Inc. for four years. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, and institutional entities. The firm’s investment approach is primarily model-driven, utilizing portfolios developed by internal research and third-party strategists, and offers financial planning, access to external asset managers, and insurance product facilitation through affiliated entities.

Daniel Campos is a ChFC®-designated financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with OSAIC since 2024. His previous roles include positions at Securities America Advisors, RBC Capital Markets, and UBS Financial Services. Campos serves on several nonprofit boards, including De Profundis, Inc. and Child Justice, Inc., and volunteers with organizations focused on workforce diversification and professional networking. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual and institutional investors, offering integrated brokerage and advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors and multiple platforms. The firm utilizes asset-allocation tools and a variety of investment vehicles to construct portfolios managed on discretionary or non-discretionary bases.

Joseph Hemsley is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with Ameriprise, based in Bethesda, MD, with 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 1989. Outside of his advisory role, he oversees human resources and business expense management as president and treasurer of HH BMD Enterprises LLC. Ameriprise provides retirement-income planning services primarily for clients nearing or in retirement who meet specific asset thresholds. The firm uses a centralized consulting team to deliver non-discretionary, research-driven recommendations that integrate tax-efficient strategies and asset management, with a focus on Ameriprise-managed accounts.

Samuel Strasser is a Financial Advisor and Senior Portfolio Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in creating personalized financial strategies. He focuses on aligning his advice with each client's unique goals and simplifying complex financial concepts to provide clear, actionable guidance. His approach emphasizes understanding clients' financial situations and goals to deliver tailored advice that supports informed decision-making. With expertise in long-term wealth management and financial planning, Samuel serves individuals, families, and businesses. His client focus areas include Corporate Executive Services, Divorce Transition Planning, Education Planning, Family Wealth Management Strategies, Legacy Planning, Liquidity Management, Managing New Wealth, Personal Retirement Planning, Portfolio Management Services, and Tax Minimization. He holds professional designations such as Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Samuel earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Maryland and is a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. In his personal time, he enjoys boating, golfing, and spending time with his family.

Sean Kirby Smith is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Bethesda, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association. Outside of his advisory role, he is fully involved in an investment-related business, SKS72, LLC. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is a large broker-dealer and registered investment adviser affiliated with Wells Fargo that provides a broad range of investment and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored recommendations supported by proprietary research and planning tools, serving clients with diverse planning needs, including specialized areas such as business-owner transition and special-needs analysis.

Bernard Klein is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he currently assists clients in developing personalized financial plans to help them achieve their goals. He leverages Fidelity's resources and takes the time to understand each client's unique situation in order to provide tailored strategies and ongoing support. Bernard has been with Fidelity Investments since 2021, initially working as an Investment Consultant before transitioning to his current role. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked as a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones from 2018 to 2020. He holds a California Insurance License.

John Swart is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial plans tailored to their unique goals and priorities. His approach involves helping clients plan for key life milestones such as funding education, preparing for retirement, and managing long-term family objectives. John holds a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Georgia. His work emphasizes clear communication and simplifying the complexities involved in wealth management.

Nigel Smith is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Silver Spring, MD, with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones in 2024, he held roles in strategy and innovation consulting at Value Exchange Catalysts LLC and was involved with Zurena LLC, a beverage supply business. At Value Exchange Catalysts, he authored white papers on the impact of new technologies and regulations in medically underserved communities. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment solutions supported by a network of approximately 23,701 financial advisors.

Kenneth Greenwood is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Brookstone Capital Management, Cambridge Investment Research, and SunTrust Advisory Services. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing various portfolio strategies and advisor support tools, and oversees more than $819 billion in discretionary assets.

Brandon Williamson is a financial advisor with Merrill in North Bethesda, MD, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has been with Merrill since 2017 and concurrently with Bank of America since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he is the sole owner of a rental property business in Laurel, Maryland. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, and charitable organizations, with portfolio implementation tailored to various strategic approaches.

Jakob Arneson is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities LLC, and Monocacy Crossing. LPL Enterprise, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and charitable entities. The firm’s investment approach is model-driven, utilizing portfolios developed by internal research and third-party strategists, and it offers services such as financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and participation in wrap programs.