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.

Tannaz Sadeghi is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and currently based in Fairfax, VA. She has experience working within multiple Truist entities since 2018, including Truist Bank and its advisory and investment services divisions. Prior to joining Truist, she worked at Helzberg Diamonds for four years. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services including asset allocation, fiduciary support, and third-party manager selection through its AMC Advantage program, integrating discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by AI-enabled research tools and inter-affiliate operating arrangements.

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. in Arlington, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. He has been with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in TRIADVISE, a firm engaged in insurance and investment product sales and financial planning. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial that provides a range of financial planning and portfolio management services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm combines in-house and external strategists with technology-enabled tools to deliver investment solutions and operates under both advisory and broker-dealer registrations.

Luther Wiles is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Alexandria, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 46 years of industry experience. His career includes positions at Truist Investment Services, Bb&T Securities, Scott & Stringfellow, UBS Financial Services, and Deutsche Bank Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a mix of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

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 with Citigroup Global Markets and holds a Series 66 designation. He has four years of industry experience, including roles at Equitable Advisors and Evolution Capital Group. Prior to his advisory career, he worked in the hospitality sector at Copper Canyon Grill. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering multi-asset, multi-manager investment strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs. The firm combines large institutional scale with unique market roles, including in-house research, swap dealing, and futures commission merchant services.

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® professional with 25 years of industry experience. She currently serves as a financial advisor at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd and has previously worked with firms including Financial Engines Advisors, Edelman Financial Service, and Fidelity. In addition to her advisory role, she provides divorce financial counseling through an unrelated business focused on helping clients understand the financial implications of divorce settlements. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd is an SEC-registered enterprise adviser with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and institutions, employing an open-architecture investment approach that integrates multiple third-party platforms and managers.

Jason Pan is a CFP® with 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently associated with Mariner Wealth Advisors and has held prior roles at Mason Investment Advisory Services, The Mather Group, Facet Wealth, Sullivan, Bruyette, Spero & Blayney LLC, EF Legacy Securities, and Edelman Financial. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering a broad range of services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and tax and accounting integration. The firm employs customized discretionary portfolio strategies supported by internal research and third-party managers, alongside operational capabilities like administrative CFO services and a Financial Wellness Platform for employers.

John Garstka is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, based in Alexandria, VA, and has four years of industry experience. He has worked at The Harvey Group and Commonwealth Financial Network since 2021. In addition to his advisory role, he spends part of his time selling fixed insurance products. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients, providing a range of advisory programs and services, including wealth management and retirement plan consulting. The firm supports affiliated advisors with operations, trading, technology, investment management, compliance, and practice-management resources.

Ryan Malaeb is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc., based in Tysons Corner, VA. He has seven years of industry experience and previously worked at T. Rowe Price and PwC. Outside of his advisory role, he manages rental properties on a part-time basis. 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 tailored to each client’s goals and risk tolerance. The firm employs standard asset-allocation models and internal research tools, and its advice includes guidance on mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and alternative investments.

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.

Jennifer Baick is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 20 years of industry experience. She is currently with Mercer Global Advisors Inc., where she has worked since 2017. Prior to Mercer, she held positions at Freestone Capital Management, Positive Delta Asset Management, Cetera Investment Services, Citicorp Investment Services, and PRUCO Securities. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing comprehensive investment advisory and financial planning services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, using diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios implemented through a mix of low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds.

Mitchell Lerner is a financial advisor at Janney Montgomery Scott with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked in the financial services sector since 2000, including tenures at UBS Financial Services and Wells Fargo Clearing before joining Janney Montgomery Scott in 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 with brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and multiple advisory programs, employing both in-house and third-party portfolio management solutions.