Tara Brummell is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience currently advising at Truist Advisory Services. She previously worked at T. Rowe Price and Bank of America, among other firms. Brummell serves on the Community Leadership Board for the Y in Central Maryland and is a prospective board member of the Maryland chapter of the Exit Planning Exchange. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, utilizing a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management approaches supported by third-party platforms and dedicated oversight teams.

Suzanne Mchugh is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Laurel, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Gwfs Equities, Inc., Rcm&D, Lockton Companies, LLC, and Lockton Financial Advisors, LLC, where she has served for over a decade. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with services for Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage accounts. The firm delivers integrated financial planning and managed account solutions aligned with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Matthew Main is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He has worked across various Truist entities since 2015, including Truist Investment Services and SunTrust Advisory Services. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, combining discretionary and non-discretionary approaches supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Ida Cacanindin is a financial advisor at Mariner with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Mariner, she worked with The Washington Ballet. She has also spent time in full-time education and as a student. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and private funds, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs customized discretionary portfolios supported by an internal research team and third-party managers, and provides integrated tax and accounting services along with specialized financial wellness and family office capabilities.

Adrita Prova is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with eight years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms, including TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, Wells Fargo, Citizens Bank, and JPMorgan Chase. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a broad array of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies with oversight committees and operates unique market roles such as swap dealing and futures commission merchant activities.

Jennifer Mac Lennan is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience. She has worked at Creative Planning since 2025 and spent the prior 10 years at Burt Wealth Advisors. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies for long-term goals, alongside access to private market investments and various institutional services.

Ross Anderson is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. and previously spent 11 years at Eaton Vance Management and Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering investment advisory services along with financial, tax, retirement, estate planning, and family office services. The firm employs a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach using a mix of low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other strategies, supported by educational content and integrated affiliated service lines.

Rupal Jhaveri is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 24 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, Citigroup, and Capital One Advisors. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a digital, discretionary model account pilot accessible to employees via online banking credentials. The firm utilizes approved model strategies with mutual funds and ETFs, employing algorithmic questionnaires for risk assessment and portfolio construction.

Melvin Morris Jr. is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Principal Securities Inc. since 2016 and with Principal Life Insurance Co. since 2004. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel abroad. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed account solutions.

Craig Pernick is a financial advisor at Chevy Chase Trust Company with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Chevy Chase Trust since 2005 and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. Chevy Chase Trust Company advises high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients, providing investment management alongside personal trust and wealth planning services. The firm employs a thematic investment approach focused on macroeconomic trends and diversified portfolio construction, serving primarily multi-million dollar client relationships.

Louise Mercer is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with one year of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Amegy Bank and Truist Investment Services. Outside of finance, she was involved with Mamaka Smoothie Bowls in 2022. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation analysis, fiduciary support, and manager-selection programs, integrating third-party platforms and a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary investment management.

Robert Schneider is a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Washington Wealth Advisors and the Special Olympics, Inc. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets, employing a diversified, risk-class based investment process that blends passive and active management overseen by an internal Investment Committee.

Lei Shi is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 28 years of industry experience. Lei has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and is also involved with Financial Training Inc. and Insurance Marketing Center in roles outside of direct investment advisory. Lei previously worked with the Chinese Friendship Affairs Association, Inc. from 2018 to 2021. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm primarily employs model portfolios and third-party managers to implement its advisory services through multiple platforms such as Transamerica ONE and the TFA365 Advisory Program.

Gloria Makino is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC with two years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network. Prior to her financial career, she worked as a performing artist for nearly three decades. Independent Financial Group, LLC is a dual-registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm offers a range of advisory programs through its AccessPoint platform and third-party asset managers, managing approximately $11.3 billion in regulatory assets.

Ryan Torguson is a CFA charterholder with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors. His prior experience includes roles at RBC Capital Markets and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. He is involved with the CFA Society of Washington as chair of the External Relations Committee. 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, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, and offers a range of strategies including mutual funds, ETFs, alternatives, and custom indexing.

Brian Keeney is a CFP®-certified financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC with two years of industry experience. He has worked at Beacon Pointe Advisors since 2024 and previously operated Keeney Financial Group. Outside of finance, he has experience in the hospitality industry and education. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides wealth advisory, financial planning, retirement-plan platform services, and outsourced chief investment officer solutions to individual and institutional clients. The firm employs a combination of active and passive investment strategies, utilizing third-party independent managers and proprietary private funds as part of its comprehensive portfolio management approach.

Garrett Scranton is a financial advisor at Wealthspire Advisors with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has previously worked at Sagevest Wealth Management, Olio Financial Planning, and served in educational roles including at Virginia Tech and in middle and high schools. Wealthspire Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and nonprofit organizations, providing wealth management, financial planning, and trustee services. The firm employs a relationship-driven, customized investment approach emphasizing diversified, institutional-style asset allocation and uses both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management strategies.

Hui Zhu is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license, with five years of experience in the financial industry. Zhu is currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and has also worked at firms including Quantis Wealth Management and Oppenheimer. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and services, including wealth management and retirement plan consulting, and supports affiliated advisors with operations, trading, technology, compliance, and practice management.

Bryan Slovon is a Series 65 licensed advisor with 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. since 2019 and previously spent nine years at Global Financial Private Capital, LLC. He is also the owner of Stuart Financial Group, an insurance agency based in Greenbelt, MD, which he has operated since 1990. Additionally, Slovon serves as vice president of SFG Marketing, Inc., where he oversees branding and marketing activities. J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. operates a large network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives and offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and access to third-party manager platforms and digital advice. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional accounts using both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies that combine fundamental and technical analysis.

Michael Depirri is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 34 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and previously worked at PNC Investments for 11 years before joining Citigroup in 2022. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering investment advisory programs, execution, and custody services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs and provides specialized services including derivatives and futures.