David Morton is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at firms including JP Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services feature an integrated model aligned with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

James Carter is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Park Avenue Securities since 2021. Outside of his advisory role, he operates an e-commerce business selling goods online. Park Avenue Securities, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage services, financial planning, and investment advisory programs to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary advisory relationships using a combination of proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

Chad Burns is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes ownership of Burns Bail Bond and Burns Construction, as well as operating a BBQ food trailer business, Tweeders Smokehouse. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, offering asset allocation, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program administered through third-party platforms.

Steven Jefferis is a financial advisor at William Blair with 26 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Stifel for 28 years before joining William Blair in 2026. Outside of his advisory role, Jefferis manages Maplewing Farm LLC, which is involved in standardbred horse racing and operates an Airbnb at his farm in Delaware, Ohio. William Blair’s Private Wealth Management division offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and wealth services to individuals, foundations, pension, and corporate clients. The firm employs active, research-driven management across various asset classes and provides proprietary models and private fund access to its clients.

Nicholas Wychocki is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently associated with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. based in Fort Myers, FL. He has worked at Infinex Investments, Inc. since 2012 and Finemark Financial Services since 2010, where he also serves as a portfolio manager for Finemark National Bank & Trust’s trust clients. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure with a focus on customized advisory services and access to alternative investments and lending solutions.

Scott Zedeker is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Fort Myers, FL, holding a Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. He has worked at Park Avenue Securities since 2021 and Guardian Life Insurance since 2020. Outside of finance, he is involved in local businesses including a hair salon and a coffee shop in Fort Myers. Park Avenue Securities serves a broad retail client base with both brokerage and advisory services, offering proprietary and third-party investment programs along with financial and retirement planning. The firm manages accounts using various strategies and supports features such as securities-based lending and tax harvesting.

Gary Bell Jr Jr. is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank, as well as Evolution Retirement Services and Elavon. He is based in Cape Coral, FL. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and various business entities, through investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types via the Passageway Managed Account Program, utilizing third-party portfolio managers and providing a range of strategies including mutual funds, ETFs, SMAs, tax overlays, and direct indexing.

Arthur Lavallie is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 40 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 and Series 63 designations and has been with Kestra Advisory since 2016, also affiliated with Kestra Investment Services since 2004. Outside of his advisory work, he owns AJ Lavallie, an insurance business, and Tecla Partners LLC, a real estate company. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting services to a diverse client base, including institutional and individual investors. The firm offers fiduciary consulting, plan design, and investment advice supported by due diligence, serving clients that range from plan sponsors to sovereign wealth funds.

William Carlson is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Fort Myers, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2017 and is involved in multiple business activities including offering estate planning services through LegacyShield Solutions Inc and promoting financial literacy locally through The Financial Literacy Project. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a broad client base, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes model portfolios and third-party managers across multiple platforms, delivering services through a large network of advisors and managing approximately $1.7 billion in regulatory assets under management.

Casey Brock is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services and holds a Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience, including roles at Truist Advisory Services, Truist Investment Services, and previously as a Truist Banker for twelve years. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers asset allocation and investment policy analysis, fiduciary support, and a manager-selection program, using a combination of discretionary manager relationships and third-party platforms to deliver its services.

Brian Simon is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses, with 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Simon is involved in community activities including serving as Treasurer for the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties and as Vice President of Finance and Building for Temple Judea. He also owns Youth Sports Southwest Florida, a newsletter and website promoting youth sports in the region. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting, utilizing a variety of proprietary and third-party investment programs.

Larry Mccoy is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Lincoln Investment in 2017, he worked at Legend Advisory Corporation and Legend Equities Corporation. He is also involved in insurance sales, representing life insurance and fixed annuities, and engages with clients on Medicare health insurance products. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan advice, and a range of advisor- and firm-managed investment programs, using both strategic and dynamic approaches overseen by an Investment Management & Research team.

Rick Pearl is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He worked at LPL Financial for 17 years before joining Independent Financial Group in 2019. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an officer and director of an insurance agency and owns a marketing DBA, Pearl Financial Inc. 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 brokerage, portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services through a national network of Investment Adviser Representatives and employs multiple advisory platforms and third-party asset managers to implement client investment strategies.

Thomas Cash is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd in Fort Myers, FL, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Stratos Wealth Partners and affiliated LPL Financial since 2011. Stratos Wealth Partners provides advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers a Strategic Wealth Management platform with an open-architecture approach, utilizing multiple custodians and a range of affiliated and third-party sub-advisors to deliver tailored investment strategies.

Judith Shimota is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. She has worked with Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation and Transamerica Retirement Solutions since 2015. Outside of her advisory work, she owns and designs jewelry and accessories through her business, JWS Studio. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners, providing managed portfolio and non-discretionary advisory services focused on asset allocation, contribution guidance, and retirement planning. The firm leverages Morningstar Investment Management for portfolio construction and oversight, serving approximately 212,700 clients with a high client-to-advisor ratio.

William Hoffer is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Fort Myers, FL, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions, utilizing both adviser and promoter arrangements.

Mario Battistini is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Farther. His prior experience includes roles at JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch. Farther serves individual investors, trusts, and estates through a technology-driven advisory platform combined with direct client meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach using bespoke and algorithmic model portfolios, focusing primarily on ETFs, mutual funds, equities, and fixed income.

Luke Finchem is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Cape Coral, FL. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 20 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at New York Life Insurance Company and NYLife Securities LLC since 2005, as well as operating 2M Financial Group, LLC, which brokers non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, including individuals and institutions, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and operates primarily on a non-discretionary asset management basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Aaron Kowal is a CFP® professional with 21 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Creative Planning and has held prior roles at Mutual Securities, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, and has operated Kowal Investment Group, LLC since 2007. Kowal also serves as president and financial advisor of Kowal Investment Group, an independent registered investment advisory firm. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and offers a financial planning-led investment process focused on low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental portfolio approaches, supported by a broad advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Chelsea Carter is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with nine years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers through discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting.