Erik Eklof is a financial advisor at Retirement Planners of America with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at MCGowan Group Asset Management, GuideStone Financial Resources, and USAA in various financial planning and advisory roles. Retirement Planners of America provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily through a wrap-fee investment program, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and retirement plan participants. The firm uses an “Invest and Protect” approach focused on capital preservation and tactical rebalancing, employing model portfolios mainly composed of ETFs and mutual funds.

Steven Harlass is a financial advisor with Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked with Thrivent Investment Management Inc and Thrivent Financial since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an elder at Soulthirst Church, a Lutheran congregation in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, where he participates in leadership, worship, and community support activities. Thrivent Advisor Network serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans by offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes customized long-term investment strategies using diversified mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and alternative investments, managing approximately $6.8 billion in client assets.

Brian Heider is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at True North Advisors, LLC since 2014. He is based in Dallas, TX. True North Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, endowments, and other institutions with comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, and consulting services. The firm employs a fundamentally driven, bottom-up investment approach with a focus on value-oriented strategies and organizes portfolios using four Functional Asset Classes.

Shirley Ogden is a CFA® charterholder with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving at Lee Financial Company, LLC since 1993. She also works part-time at Timothy Carmody CPA, focusing on income tax preparation, research, and consulting. Lee Financial Company provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals and high net worth clients, utilizing a team-based model and an integrated planning framework. The firm also sponsors private funds and offers specialized services for complex family capital and estate coordination.

John Hamiter Jr. is a financial advisor with Level Four Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Level Four Advisory Services since 2021 and Harbor Financial Services, LLC since 2005. Outside of advising, he is a partner in GHMYS Group, LLP, which provides office support services. Level Four Advisory Services is an SEC-registered enterprise investment adviser managing over $5 billion across a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and nonprofits. The firm offers fee-only financial planning, asset management, and retirement plan advisory services, using model portfolios and a combination of direct management, affiliated sub-advisers, and third-party managers.

Nicholas Trevino is a financial advisor at Global View Capital Management LLC with three years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. Prior to joining Global View, he worked at Fidelity Investments and has been involved in entrepreneurial ventures, including founding and leading Trident Sailing Academy as owner and lead instructor. Global View Capital Management provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a quantitative, algorithm-driven approach to portfolio management and offers customized model strategies alongside a variety of account options.

Ryan Coxe is a financial advisor at Lee Financial Company, LLC in Dallas, TX, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at RETC, Strong Capital, Dominus Commercial, and the Dallas Cowboys. Lee Financial Company provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals and high net worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and corporate entities. The firm employs a team-based model with an Investment Committee overseeing asset allocation and manager selection, and uses a WholeVision™ planning framework to integrate various aspects of clients’ financial and personal goals.

Carolyn Sterling is a CFP® with 28 years of industry experience, currently serving at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. since 2022. She previously worked at Hd Vest Advisory and H.D. Vest Investment Securities, Inc. for over 25 years. Carolyn is also a board member and served as secretary for the Young Men's Service League in Plano, Texas. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporate and charitable entities, and retirement plans, managing approximately $12.4 billion through about 207 advisors. The firm offers investment advisory and financial planning services across multiple platforms, constructing portfolios using a combination of firm and third-party models with discretionary or non-discretionary management.

Alexander Nickerson is a CFP® with five years of industry experience. He has worked at Lee Financial Company, LLC since 2021 and was previously with Cypress Point Wealth Management from 2015 to 2020. He is based in Dallas, TX. Lee Financial Company provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals and high net worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and corporate entities. The firm uses a team-based model and an integrated planning framework to construct portfolios that address liquidity, income, growth, and tax considerations.

Christopher Steinsholt is a financial advisor with Csenge Advisory Group, LLC in Dallas, TX, holding a Series 66 credential and 12 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ameriprise Financial Services and Edward Jones. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Rockwall and holds leadership roles with the Texas Valor Project and Rockwall County Republican Men’s Club. Csenge Advisory Group provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high net worth clients, charities, and corporate/business clients. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis with a relative strength methodology and a top-down market approach, offering customized portfolio management through discretionary and model-based strategies.

Lenny Martinez is a financial advisor at Simplicity Wealth with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked previously at Brokers International Financial Services, Secure Investment Management, JD Mellberg Financial, and ArmOne Insurance. Outside of his advisory role, Martinez serves as president of Futurenvest Consulting and is involved in financial wellness education as a workshop presenter for the Association of Financial Educators. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutional investors. The firm uses a fund-of-funds approach with ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, offering model portfolios and managed account platforms for advisers, along with technology and operational support services.

Dhruv Maniktala is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at True North Advisors, LLC since 2015. He is based in Dallas, TX and holds the Series 63 license. True North Advisors provides comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, endowments, and other institutions. The firm employs a fundamentally driven, bottom-up investment approach focused on value-oriented strategies, while incorporating passive indexed ETFs, SMAs, and alternative or private investments as appropriate.

Sean Kernan is a financial advisor with Advisor Resource Council, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Advisor Resource Council since 2012 and also maintains a long-standing relationship with LPL Financial since 2009. Outside of advising, he operates a blog titled "How To Find A Financial Advisor." Advisor Resource Council serves individuals, families, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and business enterprises by providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm employs actively managed strategies that combine artificial intelligence tools with traditional fundamental analysis across diversified portfolios.

Alvin Walk is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab. Outside of his advisory role, Alvin is a musician who plays trumpet and performs with church groups. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is an enterprise-scale firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, corporate and charitable entities, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $12.4 billion through 207 advisors and offers a range of investment advisory and financial planning services using various platforms and customizable portfolio solutions.

Anthony Gibson is a financial advisor with Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. based in Dallas, TX. He holds a Series 65 credential and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Avantax, he worked at Cetera and owns a virtual tax practice, MMG Tax Group LLC, which focuses on tax resolution, planning, and preparation. He also manages Gibson Wealth Management, providing advisory services and insurance products through Avantax and Cetera. Avantax Planning Partners, Inc. offers portfolio management, financial planning, and managed retirement plan services primarily through a network of CPA firms and registered advisors. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, managing approximately $7.57 billion in assets with an investment approach centered on firm-designed style allocation models and tax-intelligent strategies.

Kevin Mc Gohan is a financial advisor with The Patriot Financial Group, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. He has held roles at firms including CETERA Financial Specialists LLC and Champion Financial Group. Outside of advising, he leads a chapter of Professional Connectors, a networking group, and is involved with local business networking organizations. The Patriot Financial Group serves individuals, small businesses, and retirement plans, offering investment management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm creates tailored portfolios using a mix of charting, fundamental, and technical analysis, with ongoing supervision and rebalancing to meet client needs.

Petia Moutaftchieva is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Hilltop Securities Inc. in Dallas, TX, with 12 years of industry experience. She has been with Hilltop Securities since 2016. Hilltop Securities Inc. provides brokerage, execution, clearing, custody, investment advisory, and retirement-plan consulting services to individuals, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $2.25 billion in assets and offers a range of portfolio management programs through an open-architecture platform that includes advisor-managed and model-based solutions, along with specialized municipal bond strategies and custody capabilities.

Cody Stansell is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Victory Financial Group and has previously worked at SageSpring Wealth Partners, Waterworth Wealth Advisors, and High Ground Advisors. Victory Financial Group provides financial planning, consulting, and discretionary investment and wealth management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm manages client assets through in-house teams and third-party managers using diversified, asset-allocation model portfolios guided by fundamental, cyclical, and behavioral analysis within a Modern Portfolio Theory framework.

Tyler Nace is a CFP® professional with 18 years of experience, currently serving at SageSpring Wealth Partners. His prior roles include positions at Raymond James Financial and Ken Zahn Inc, as well as involvement with the Financial Planning Association. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and partners in residential real estate rental properties. SageSpring Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $6.5 billion in discretionary assets across a team of about 75 advisors. The firm provides personalized investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services to a diverse client base that includes high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations.

Stewart Scothorn is a financial advisor at Advisor Share Wealth Management, LLC with a Series 65 designation. He has one year of industry experience and has been employed at Advisor Share Wealth Management since 2026. He also has a longstanding role at The Benefit Link, Inc., where he has worked since 2010. Advisor Share Wealth Management, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, professional investment advisers, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm offers portfolio management, retirement-plan services, and a web-based asset management platform used by independent advisers, implementing client strategies through third-party sub-advisers and model portfolios.