Branch Lawson Jr. is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mariner Independent. He is the CEO and founder of Branch Partners, providing investment advisory services through Mariner Platform Solutions since 2020. Prior to this, he worked at Truewealth, LLC (Fna Windham Brannon) from 2014 to 2020. Mariner Independent offers investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm’s platform supports both model portfolios and advisor-level discretionary management, supplemented by affiliate investment resources and third-party sub-advisory relationships, with a notable emphasis on integrated institutional and retirement plan capabilities.

Mark Christenson is a financial advisor at Kingswood Wealth Advisors, LLC with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and Freedom Street Partners. Outside of advising, he is involved in a financial services support company, Blueprint Wealth Solutions, where he serves as a partner and team advisor. Kingswood Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension plans, nonprofits, and institutional investors. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerance, providing portfolio management, consulting, and oversight of third-party managers.

James Gillis IV is a CFP® with 22 years of experience in financial advising, currently practicing at Northwest Asset Management since 2020. Prior to this, he worked at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. and Carson Advisory, Inc. from 2009 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, Gillis serves on the boards of the Georgia Forestry Association and the Athens Homeless Property Corporation, and is president of Soperton Naval Stores, Inc., overseeing timberland operations. Northwest Asset Management serves nearly 3,000 clients, including individuals, pension plans, charities, and corporations, managing approximately $3.6 billion in assets. The firm employs a fiduciary, customized investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, combining fundamental and technical analysis to build diversified portfolios and offering additional services such as retirement planning, tax preparation, and ERISA consulting.

Alexandra Wilson is a CFP® professional at Facet with six years of industry experience. She has worked at Facet Wealth since 2020 and previously held roles at SmartPath Advisors, SmartPath Financial, and 8 Degrees Financial Wellness. Facet serves individual members across a broad range of wealth levels, offering tiered, subscription-based financial planning and implementation services. The firm provides holistic financial planning through its Total Financial Life Resources framework and discretionary asset-allocation programs that primarily use ETFs, with a focus on fixed subscription fees rather than percentage-of-AUM charges.

Clayton Owen is a financial advisor at The Burney Company in Athens, GA, holding a Series 65 credential with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Burney-Campbell Investments, LLC, he held roles at AT&T, Inc., SAP Insider, ABI Research, Gartner, and Machina Research. The Burney Company serves individual investors, including high net worth clients, as well as small businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm manages discretionary equity portfolios using proprietary fundamental and quantitative models and offers customized account options alongside actively managed ETFs and OCIO services.

James Buckner is a financial advisor with Kingswood Wealth Advisors, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 14 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Eudaimonia Partners, LLC and B Riley Wealth Management, Inc. He is also a partner in University Planning Partners, a marketing name for Eudaimonia Partners. Kingswood Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension and ERISA-qualified plans, nonprofits, and institutional investors. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach, tailoring strategies to clients’ goals and risk tolerance while providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Richard Dawkins is a financial advisor at Kingswood Wealth Advisors, LLC with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Raymond James Financial Services and Freedom Street Partners. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in D & R Investment LLP and serves as executor for an estate. Kingswood Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension and ERISA-qualified plans, nonprofits, and institutional investors. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach tailored to each client’s goals and risk tolerance, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with advisory and consulting services.

Zachary Ellington is a Series 65-licensed advisor at The Burney Company with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Burney-Campbell Investments, he was self-employed for two years and worked at the University of Georgia and Kings Academy High School. The Burney Company manages approximately $3.59 billion in discretionary assets, serving individual investors, small businesses, pension plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a blend of proprietary fundamental and quantitative models in its investment approach and offers customized portfolio options alongside actively managed ETFs and OCIO services.

Amelia Ostenson is a CFP® professional with one year of experience at Mariner Independent. She previously worked at Soliant Health, LLC and Homrich Berg, and has experience balancing her career with periods as a stay-at-home mother. Mariner Independent provides investment advisory, financial planning, and consulting services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers a range of portfolio management options and retirement plan services, supported by institutional resources and affiliated investment managers.

Charles Strickland is a financial advisor with Arkadios Wealth Advisors in Watkinsville, GA. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 15 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Arkadios, he worked at Dempsey Lord Smith, LLC and Lincoln Financial Advisors. He also has experience running Strickland Insurance, a business he has been involved with since 2010. Arkadios Wealth Advisors serves individuals, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans with investment and wealth management services, offering various managed account options and financial planning. The firm supports advisors with an internal portfolio team that provides investment models and trade execution across multiple asset classes.

James Bowers III is a financial advisor at BFC Planning, Inc. in Athens, GA, with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Bay Financial Advisors, Inc. and LPL Financial, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Panoramic Wealth Strategies, providing financial advisory and insurance services. BFC Planning, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and trusts through a network of approximately 200 investment adviser representatives. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and access to various institutional platforms and sub-advisors, with investment strategies typically involving stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Neel Patel is a financial advisor at Strategic Blueprint, LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior experience at Elwood and Goetz. Patel also owns ABC123 Consulting, LLC, a personal tax entity generating residual income through financial advisory services. Strategic Blueprint, LLC serves individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers customized, goal-based investment strategies and a formal Subscription Advisory Services program, combining portfolio management with financial planning and client education through seminars and sponsorships.

Christopher Scarborough is a financial advisor with Kingswood Wealth Advisors, LLC in Watkinsville, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 30 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Eudaimonia Partners, LLC, M.S. Howells & Co., B. Riley, and AIG Retirement Advisors. Outside of finance, he is a guitarist and vocalist in a musical group called the Kinchafoonee Cowboys. Kingswood Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, pension and ERISA-qualified plans, nonprofits, and institutional investors. The firm offers customized portfolio management and advisory services through an open-architecture investment approach that adapts to client goals and risk tolerance.

Lamartine Hardman IV is a financial advisor at FourStar Wealth Advisors, LLC with 31 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Nobles & Richards, Inc. and Resurgent Financial Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a director for Northeast Georgia Boy Scouts, a nonprofit organization. FourStar Wealth Advisors serves individuals, retirement and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios, often on a discretionary basis and tailored to clients’ risk tolerance and time horizon.

Brian Moore is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and bringing 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Advisory Services Network, LLC, and Precision Capital Management. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in several non-investment business activities including ownership roles in insurance commissions and land ownership ventures. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in regulatory assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional clients such as pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory and financial planning services.

Charles Buffington is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with 36 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has worked at firms including Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance, Peachtree Planning Corporation, and State Mutual Companies. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in insurance services through Innovative Underwriters. Primerica Advisors serves a diverse retail client base with a range of brokerage and advisory services, including financial and retirement planning. The firm employs a mix of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and supports various account-level features such as lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

Daniel Bledsoe is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked in various roles within the Truist organization since 2017, including Truist Investment Services and BB&T Securities. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, supported by third-party platforms and an AI-enabled Equity Research team, with a focus on inter-affiliate integration and manager selection oversight.

Joseph Pitt is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience. He is currently with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC and has previously worked at Advisory Services Network, LLC, Precision Capital Management, and Moore's Wealth Management. Outside of his advisory work, he manages THE TRADING PITT LLC, where he trades in the Forex market. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

John Gholson is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He previously worked at LPL Financial and FinTrust Capital Partners, among other firms. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with GR Productions and has served on the board of The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and emphasizes diversified, risk-class based allocations using a blend of passive and active managers overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Elizabeth Carter is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. She previously worked at Edward Jones from 2018 to 2025 and was involved with Beca Designs for 18 years. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized consulting, utilizing a strategic investment approach that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.