Matthew Orth is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services based in Houston, TX. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 16 years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at Comerica Securities, Inc. and Comerica Bank. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program that combines discretionary and non-discretionary approaches, supported by integrated inter-affiliate resources and AI-enabled equity research tools.

Youhong Wang is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked in accounting and tax consulting through his firm, YH Wang CPA LLC, since 2017. Wang also has involvement with the GT Wang Family Foundation, a private family charity, which he established but no longer manages. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm provides both advisory and broker-dealer services, featuring proprietary and third-party model portfolios, with options for discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Justin Kibler is a financial advisor at First Command Advisory Services with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Morgan Stanley, Merrill, JPMorgan Securities LLC, and Citibank. First Command Advisory Services is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporate, and charitable clients, with a particular focus on active-duty service members and their families. The firm offers financial planning and multiple wrap-fee asset management programs, using a centralized Investment Management Team to design and manage model portfolios and select approved third-party managers.

Jared Sandlin is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2017 and also holds a position as an agent with Agia, where he is involved in non-securities insurance products. Prior to Valic, he was employed with NCSA Next College Student Athlete. 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 offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models and operating with approximately $26.4 billion in discretionary assets under management.

Matthew Crouch is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 11 years of industry experience. He has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2014 and is also associated with Agia as an agent for non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors 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 offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet UMA models to construct client portfolios.

Jared Waldrup is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Sequoia Financial Group, L.L.C. since 2024. He previously worked at AltruVista, LLC for five years and at Texas A&M University for five years. Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC provides wealth planning, investment management, and retirement-plan and business-consulting services to a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, trusts, family offices, and institutional clients. The firm employs a combination of in-house model portfolios, custom accounts, and third-party manager selection, supported by ongoing research and an Investment Policy Committee.

Meredith Rice is a CFP® professional with 19 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2019 and previously spent 12 years at Patriot Wealth Management, Inc. She is based in Houston, TX. Mariner serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds. The firm offers customized investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services, combining in-house research with third-party managers across a range of asset classes and strategies.

Stanley Tan is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Houston, TX, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and eight years of industry experience. He is also the owner of Stanley T Tan PLLC, providing tax compliance, bookkeeping, and CPA-related services, and he conducts financial education workshops through Canyon Lake PWM LLC. Additionally, he is active as a real estate sales agent with Sprout Realty, LLC. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a wide range of clients, including individual investors, pension plans, and charitable organizations, offering advisory and broker-dealer services with proprietary and third-party model portfolios. The firm operates as both an RIA and a broker-dealer, providing discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

Douglas White is a financial advisor at Farther with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and previously worked at NEXT Financial, TCG (HUB International), and Family Houston. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through a combination of digital platforms and in-person meetings. The firm applies Modern Portfolio Theory using proprietary model portfolios and algorithmic rebalancing, employing a range of investment vehicles including ETFs, mutual funds, individual equities, and fixed income.

Braxton Bartlett is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving at Hightower Advisors. He has previously worked at STA Wealth Management, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, and LPL Financial. Bartlett is based in Houston, TX. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and institutional investors such as pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and trusts. The firm employs a manager selection approach with multi-manager solutions, offering access to affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and a range of investment vehicles.

Candace Whitaker is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and having entered the industry in 2025. Her prior work experience includes positions at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and service in the US Army from 1999 to 2020. She is involved in charitable work through Honduran Hearts, Inc. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services with proprietary and third-party investment models, supporting individual and institutional investors.

Derek Thorp is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Houston, TX, holding the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Meservey Financial Group, LPL Financial, and Wells Fargo Advisors. He 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 supporting a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $212 billion in client assets. The firm provides a comprehensive adviser-support platform that includes managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody services.

Travis Smith is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Houston, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Eagle Strategies since 2018 and has been affiliated with New York Life and related entities since 2011. In addition to his advisory role, he is also involved in insurance brokering with various outside carriers. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals and institutions, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Emily Allen is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 13 years of industry experience. She is currently an advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC, having joined the firm in 2024 after nine years at Buckingham Asset Management, LLC. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth advisory and investment management services to individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, retirement plans, institutions, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term investment approach that emphasizes tax- and fee-sensitivity within an enhanced open architecture framework, combining active and passive strategies along with various specialized offerings.

Christopher Sarofim is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Sarofim Trust Co. in Houston, TX, with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked with Fayez Sarofim & Co., Sarofim International Management Company, Sarofim Trust Co., and Sarofim Advisors Group, Inc. since 2010. Sarofim Trust Co. is a Texas-chartered trust company and SEC-registered investment adviser serving institutional and private clients such as pension and profit-sharing plans, endowments, foundations, corporations, charitable organizations, banks, trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm employs a predominantly bottom-up, fundamental research process with a focus on high-quality large-capitalization companies and offers discretionary investment management, trustee, custodial services, and access to private placements.

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 12 years of industry experience. She is currently with Empower Advisory Group and Empower Financial Services, Inc., having joined in 2023. Prior to that, she worked at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill from 2014 to 2023. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage account holders. The firm uses an integrated service model linked to its recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

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.