Derek Thorp is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. His career includes prior roles at LPL Financial LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Chase Investment Services Corp. Thorp is also the owner of MFG Wealth, LLC, a private entity facilitating securities, advisory, and insurance business. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of nearly 2,900 advisors and managing over $210 billion in client assets. The firm provides a broad adviser-support platform that includes managed-account programs and access to third-party asset managers, offering a range of investment options and back-office services.

Travis Smith is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Houston, TX. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 15 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Eagle Strategies, Nylife Securities LLC, The Menard Financial Group, and New York Life Insurance Company. He is also involved in insurance brokering with various outside carriers. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers tailored advisory solutions through multiple program types and manages a significant portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis, with a focus on fiduciary responsibilities to retirement investors.

Emily Allen is a CFP® with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC since 2024. She previously worked at Buckingham Asset Management for nine years and held positions at Posey Capital, Brennan Wealth Advisors, FSC Securities Corporation, and Oppenheimer. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with comprehensive wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Christopher Sarofim is a financial advisor at Fayez Sarofim & Co. with 29 years of industry experience and holds a Series 65 designation. He has been with Fayez Sarofim & Co. and its affiliated entities since 2010, including Sarofim International Management Company and Sarofim Trust Co. Fayez Sarofim & Co. provides discretionary investment management to a diverse group of institutional and individual clients, including pension plans, endowments, foundations, and registered investment companies. The firm employs a bottom-up research process with a focus on large-cap, high-quality companies and offers a range of equity and fixed-income strategies while generally avoiding derivatives, leverage, short selling, and market timing.

Tharindu Wanigatunga is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Houston, TX. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Valic Financial Advisors, he worked in various roles across multiple industries, including medical technology and laboratory services. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and discretionary unified managed accounts, leveraging centralized technology and model solutions to support its large client base.

Robert Hodgkiss Jr. is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Eagle Strategies since 2012 and has longstanding ties to New York Life Insurance Company and its related entities since 2000. Outside of his advisory work, Hodgkiss serves as a board member for the American College Alumni Board and participates on the Greens Committee at Medinah Country Club. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, managing most assets on a non-discretionary basis and maintaining relationships with a broad range of institutional sponsors.

John Lytle is a financial advisor at Corient in Houston, TX, holding a Series 66 designation with 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Avalon Wealth Management LLC and Avalon Investment & Advisory for 10 years. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach integrating in-house strategies, third-party managers, and risk management tools, with capabilities in private funds and affiliated trust services.

Megan Assenmacher is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 13 years of industry experience. She is currently with Empower Advisory Group and has previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain retail brokerage clients, using an integrated service model connected to Empower’s administrative platforms.

Ryan Griswold is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at firms including Invesco and Axa Advisors, LLC. His background also includes roles outside the financial industry at Samuels Jewelers and Texas Christian University. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a mix of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients that include large institutional investors such as sovereign wealth funds.

Gregory Kallus is a financial advisor with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, Calderwood Financial Strategies, and several other firms. In addition to his advisory work, he is active as an insurance agent, focusing on insurance sales and service, including Penn Mutual life products. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans by offering advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm operates as both an SEC-registered adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer, supporting a range of investment strategies with discretionary and non-discretionary account options.

Marlon Scott is a financial advisor at Carson Wealth with 21 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. His career includes roles at firms such as Merrill, Ameriprise Financial Services, and LPL Financial. He serves as President of the UNT Alumni Association and Vice President of the INROADS Houston Alumni Association. Carson Wealth is an SEC-registered investment adviser with more than 650 advisors and oversees approximately $50.6 billion in assets. The firm provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing model portfolios guided by an Investment Committee and offering tailored solutions including custom indexing and alternative investments.

Patrick Reilly is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 66, 63, and 65 licenses and bringing five years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Foundation Automotive and Manvel Automotive, among others. He is also involved as an agent for non-securities insurance products through AGIA. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and discretionary unified managed accounts through a large network of advisors. The firm manages assets at scale, supporting nearly 300,000 clients with a significant reliance on technology and model solutions.

Hugh Hamilton is a financial advisor at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the CFA® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Concurrent, he worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney for a combined 15 years, as well as RBC Capital Markets and Wells Fargo Clearing. He is also involved with Hamilton Capital Partners LLC, an entity created to hold a share of a vacation property. Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers wealth and investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services, emphasizing customized, primarily long-term portfolios utilizing ETFs, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles.

William Poindexter is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 63 designation and 32 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Ameritas Advisory Services since 2021 and has extensive experience in insurance sales, including fixed insurance products and disability insurance through M.D. Financial Services and Mddisabilityquotes.com. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory, utilizing multiple program platforms and a mix of investment products including model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities.

Juan Campos Ortiz is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 14 years of industry experience. He has worked in various capacities within BBVA-affiliated firms from 2014 to 2021 before joining PNC Investments in 2021. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital discretionary model account for employees that utilizes algorithm-driven risk assessment and implements approved model strategies via mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Michelle Wilburn is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Valic Financial Advisors for eight years and has been with Empower-related firms since 2023. Wilburn is also involved with Catbirds, a business she has been connected to for over a decade. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to select IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm offers integrated services tied to its recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Quan Nguyen is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies, affiliated with New York Life, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing two years of industry experience. His background includes roles at NYLife Securities LLC and ExxonMobil Chemical Company, as well as involvement with QL Housing LLC. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individuals and institutions, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers a range of program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, with most assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Jacob Leon is a CFP® and PFS™ professional with 28 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently affiliated with Kestra Advisory and has held positions at TLC Wealth Management and Kestra Investment Services, among others. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a tax and accounting practice and has held leadership roles in community organizations, including serving as past president of Jewish Family Service and as vice president of the Houston Jewish Community Foundation. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including plan sponsors and institutional investors. The firm offers fiduciary services and accesses multiple management platforms and third-party solutions, serving clients with over $79 billion in assets under management.

Jason Davis is a CFP® and ChFC® with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Truist Advisory Services and has prior experience at SunTrust Advisor Services, BB&T, Community Trust Bank, and LPL Financial. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate and business clients, retirement plan sponsors and participants, and charitable organizations. The firm combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches and utilizes third-party platform and manager arrangements to support its AMC Advantage manager-selection program.

Bernice Castaneda is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and USAA. She is also involved as an agent offering non-securities insurance products through Agia. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm provides discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.