Ernest Kwong is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and holds a Series 66 designation. He has been with the firm since 2025 and has prior experience working in education and retail sectors, including roles at Towson University and CVS Pharmacy. Kwong also served on the Maryland Council on Economic Education in 2025. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and specialized retirement consulting, employing a strategic investment process that combines passive and active management guided by an internal Investment Committee.

Joseph Young is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience, currently with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in McLean, VA. He has been with Mercer in various roles since 2015. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering a range of advisory services including financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm’s investment approach utilizes Modern Portfolio Theory with globally diversified portfolios implemented through ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds.

Adam Deal is a financial advisor with Rockefeller Financial LLC in Bethesda, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at BB&T Bank and Securities, Truist Advisory Services, and Rockefeller Capital Management. He is also a member of DNA Holdings LLC, an investment holding company for personal passive investments. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting, and operates as a registered broker-dealer offering securities transactions, variable insurance products, and placement and investment banking services.

Elmira Tasharofi is a financial advisor at HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. with two years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Citizens Bank, HSBC Bank, Bank of America, and Nordstrom. Outside of financial services, she works as a freelance cosmetic brand representative for Estée Lauder. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. provides managed account programs for a diverse client base including individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers both client-directed and discretionary investment programs supported by a structured risk-profile framework and partnerships with global asset and fund management specialists.

Megan Hirsch is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with three years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has a background that includes roles in education at Academia Britania Cuscatleca, Escuela Americana, and multiple school districts prior to her financial career. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering services such as annual financial reviews, retirement planning, and investment recommendations based on Schwab’s asset allocation models and research tools.

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.

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. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 12 years of industry experience, all with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014. In addition to his advisory role, he is a partner at TRIADVISE, a firm involved in financial services and investment management, and operates as an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products. VOYA Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and various program structures with a preference for non-discretionary, recommendation-based advisory relationships.

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 at Citigroup Global Markets with a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Equitable Advisors and Evolution Capital Group. Outside of finance, he has work experience in the restaurant industry and education. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering multi-asset, multi-manager investment strategies through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs. The firm combines large institutional scale with unique market roles, including in-house research and operating as a swap dealer and futures commission merchant.

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® with 25 years of industry experience. She is currently a senior wealth advisor and managing partner at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd, joining the firm in 2024. Her prior roles include positions at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., EF Legacy Securities, LLC, and Edelman Financial Service, LLC. Additionally, she provides divorce financial counseling through her businesses, offering services that analyze the financial effects of divorce settlements and related planning. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC-registered enterprise wealth management firm serving over 24,000 clients with approximately $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of personalized portfolio management and financial planning services through a network of independent investment adviser representatives using an open-architecture platform.

Timothy Hughes is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Wealthspire Advisors since 2015. He holds a Series 65 license and is based in Reston, VA. Wealthspire Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and nonprofit organizations, offering wealth management, financial planning, and trustee services. The firm uses a relationship-driven, customized investment approach emphasizing diversified, institutional-style asset allocation and ongoing portfolio management.

Jason Pan is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience. He currently works at Mariner Wealth Advisors and has previously been employed at firms including Mason Investment Advisory Services, The Mather Group, Facet Wealth, Sullivan, Bruyette, Spero & Blayney, EF Legacy Securities, and Edelman Financial. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services. The firm employs a discretionary, customized portfolio approach supported by an investment committee and offers a range of strategies across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and digital assets, with notable integration of tax and accounting services uncommon among large advisory firms.

Ryan Malaeb is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory. His prior experience includes roles at T. Rowe Price and PwC. Outside of his advisory work, he manages rental properties, handling tenant relationships and lease issues. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program. The firm uses Schwab’s standard asset allocation models and research tools to support clients with investment recommendations and conducts annual account reviews without discretionary trading authority.

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.