Paula Cooley is a CFP® with 13 years of experience and is currently with Principal Financial Services. She has worked at Principal Securities Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Co. since 2013 and has been with Union Financial Inc. since 2021. Outside of her advisory work, she is the founder, board member, and CFO of LifeMusic, Inc., a company that produces specialty music for Alzheimer’s patients, and serves as president of her neighborhood homeowners association. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel stationed abroad. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Bassem Beaini is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Vienna, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Eagle Strategies since 2010 and operates several affiliated firms, including B & H Financial Services Inc. and Blueprint for Financial Success. He is also a shareholder in NYLARC Holding Company, Inc., which reinsures life insurance policies written with New York Life. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm delivers advice through various program types with an emphasis on tailoring recommendations and managing the majority of assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

John Utley Jr. is a CFP® with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services and Wells Fargo Clearing. He is also the owner of Utley LLC, a support company based in McLean, VA. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an enterprise-scale SEC‑registered RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in regulatory assets. The firm serves individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory and financial planning services through both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Marguerite Wiese is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with nine years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Herndon, VA. Her prior roles include positions at Eldenstreet Financial and New York Life, among others. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as a co-chair and precinct captain for the Braddock District Democratic Committee and is a director for the Park West Community Association. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, institutional investors, and plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes tailored advice delivered through multiple program types and manages a significant portion of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Brian Bourdon is a financial advisor at TD Private Client Wealth LLC with 21 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at firms including Wells Fargo and Truist Advisory Services. Outside of his advisory role, Bourdon hosts a podcast titled "Happy Hour at the End of the World," focusing on current events. TD Private Client Wealth LLC provides discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation with both affiliated and third-party managers, offering financial planning support and portfolio management through a technology-driven platform.

Joel Tabin is a financial advisor with SPC in Rockville, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Parkland Securities since 2014 and serves as a Regional Sales Director for Midland National Life Insurance Company. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement services through a large network of advisers. The firm’s integrated corporate structure and service offerings include both fiduciary and non-fiduciary retirement plan services, with formal succession and compliance protocols.

Panorea La Venuta is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Citigroup since 2013. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across multiple wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and brokerage services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies with rigorous manager selection and oversight and operates with significant institutional scale and market roles, including swap dealer and futures commission merchant activities.

Martin Hickey III is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has one year of industry experience, including recent roles at Private Advisor Group and LPL Financial, and previously worked for The Chem-Met Company for 19 years. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm provides managed account solutions through proprietary and third-party platforms and follows a fiduciary-based advisory model.

Zak Irizarry is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Prior to joining Schwab Wealth Advisory in 2023, he worked at Charles Schwab since 2017, including a role at Charles Schwab Bank, and has experience with Professional Group Plans, AXA Advisors LLC, and Retro Fitness. 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 based on Charles Schwab & Co.’s asset-allocation models and internal research tools.

Gerson D'souza is a financial advisor with TD Private Client Wealth LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. He has been with TD Private Client Wealth LLC since 2023 and has a total of 16 years at the broader TD Wealth organization. TD Private Client Wealth LLC offers discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional clients, high-net-worth individuals, and retail clients. The firm constructs portfolios through a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation using both affiliated and third-party sub-managers, providing ongoing portfolio management, financial planning support, and custodial services.

Michelle Aquino is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience. She currently works at Schwab Wealth Advisory and Charles Schwab, joining in 2024. Her previous roles include positions at Turning Point Financial and Team BeachBody. Additionally, she is active as an insurance agent. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s guidance is based on standard asset-allocation models and internal research tools, with client trades executed only upon authorization.

Ashley Iddings is a financial advisor with Wealthspire Advisors and holds a Series 65 designation. She has 23 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Highline Wealth Management, Convergent Wealth Advisors, and Lydian Wealth Management Company. Iddings has been with Wealthspire Advisors since 2015. Wealthspire Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $34.3 billion in assets and serving nearly 9,700 clients. The firm provides wealth management, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, corporations, nonprofits, and foundations, utilizing an institutional-style asset allocation framework overseen by a monthly investment committee.

Damien Laruffa is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. since 2019. He previously worked at Global Financial Private Capital, LLC and has operated LaRuffa Financial Group since 2008. Outside of advisory work, he serves as a youth basketball referee for the Southwestern Youth Association during the winter season. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a network of over 400 independent representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party managers, and multiple managed account solutions, with investment decisions implemented on discretionary or non-discretionary bases.

Jahleel Gordon is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked with TIAA and TIAA-CREF since 2000 and 2003, respectively. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of a real estate business, Striking Properties LLC. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm distinguishes between one-time planning services and ongoing portfolio management, offering model portfolios and customized management under a fiduciary standard.

Nathan Addo is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC and LPL Financial, having formerly worked at Wells Fargo and HSBC prior to his current roles. He volunteers with the Old Vandals Alumni Association of North America. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by providing portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to both proprietary and third-party managed account solutions. The firm employs a fiduciary advisory model, utilizing technology platforms and a range of investment strategies, often implementing advice through third-party managers and TAMPs.

Hesham Elshahed is a financial advisor with TD Private Client Wealth LLC in Vienna, VA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with four years of industry experience. He previously worked at H&R Block for 15 years before joining TD Bank in 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he co-manages a residential rental property with his wife. TD Private Client Wealth LLC provides discretionary wrap‑fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional and high-net-worth private clients. The firm constructs portfolios using a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation with investments from affiliated and third-party sub-managers, offering ongoing portfolio management and financial planning support.

Stephen Kreter is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and offering 30 years of industry experience. His career includes long-term roles at SunTrust Securities and its successor firms, Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services. Kreter owns a rental property in Bethany Beach, Delaware, which he rents seasonally. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enhanced research, and features integrated services across affiliated entities.

Bradford Coyle Jr. is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at several related entities within Steward Partners since 2018 and previously was employed at Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Wells Fargo Clearing, and Sterling Associates, LLC. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of portfolio management and financial planning services.

Yaya Wang is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Rockville, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. She has worked at New York Life Insurance Company since 2000 and has operated Yaya Wang Financial Associates since 2008. Her outside activities include insurance brokering through her own firm under a registered DBA. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, defined contribution and defined benefit plans, and charitable and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors, focusing on tailored recommendations and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Aaron Pearson is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Savant Wealth Management. His prior experience includes roles at Brighton Jones, Mountain America Credit Union, and KeyBank. Savant Wealth Management provides comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, families, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines evidence-based, model-driven asset allocation with actively managed strategies and sub-advised mandates, supported by affiliated accounting, legal, and trust services.