James Gioia is a CFP® with 34 years of industry experience, currently with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. He has previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 30 years, followed by roles at Bank of England, ProNvest, and LPL Financial. Stratos Wealth Partners serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm combines individualized asset allocation with access to proprietary and third-party strategies and supports a variety of fee arrangements and custodial platforms.

Richard Knudson is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Chattanooga, TN, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and four years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower Advisory Group, he worked at NYLIFE Securities LLC, New York Life, Advanced Sterilization Products, and Applied Medical Resources. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as certain retail brokerage account holders, delivering services through an integrated model tied to Empower’s administrative platforms.

Harrison Fisher is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding a Series 66 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Bank of America, Merrill, and Centerra-SRS. 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 employs a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by AI-enabled research tools and an integrated inter-affiliate operating structure.

Michael Ozburn is a CFP® with 27 years of industry experience, currently serving at Focus Advisor Solutions, LLC since 2018. He previously worked at Loring Ward from 2014 to 2018. Ozburn also acts as a divisional manager for Focus Partners Advisor Solutions, LLC, providing business and investment solutions to Buckingham advisors. Focus Advisor Solutions offers turnkey asset management and back-office services primarily to independent registered investment advisors and their clients. The firm emphasizes diversified, systematically invested mutual fund and ETF model portfolios and provides discretionary fixed-income management, retirement plan fiduciary services, and operational support.

Judith Harkleroad is a financial advisor at Truist Advisory Services with 30 years of industry experience. She has held positions at Truist Advisory Services since 2016 and has been with Truist Investment Services, Inc. since 1998. Her professional credentials include Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platform arrangements and AI-enabled research tools to assist in manager selection and oversight.

Jeffrey Flowers is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Gwfs Equities, Inc., FTB Advisors, Inc., and LPL Financial. 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 uses an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering both single “point-in-time” financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Brendan Hawks is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently with Truist Advisory Services. He has been with Truist and its affiliated entities since 2019. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, teaching entry-level personal finance courses. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by third-party platforms and uses AI-enabled tools to assist in manager selection and investment oversight.

Melissa Boyd is a financial advisor at Brookstone Capital Management LLC with 2 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. for three years and AmeriLife of Tennessee for over a decade. Brookstone Capital Management provides fee-based asset management and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management through a turnkey asset management platform, employing strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and a variety of investment strategies.

Herbert Frazier Jr. is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cetera Investment Services, Regions Bank, and Prudential Insurance Company of America. He is also appointed as an agent to sell non-securities insurance products for 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 investment advisors.

Emmett Law is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and eight years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at UBS Financial Services and Suntrust Robinson Humphrey. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing in its financial planning approach.

Joseph Parker is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Transamerica Investors Securities Corporation, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, New York Life Insurance Company, and FedEx Ground. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners, offering managed advice programs and investment education that emphasize asset allocation, contribution rates, and retirement age guidance. The firm relies on Morningstar Investment Management for portfolio construction and oversight, operating at scale with over 212,000 clients and 301 advisors.

Vernon Thornton is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Freedom Street Partners and Raymond James Financial Services. He is a board member of the nonprofit Ignite Living. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, corporations, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory, financial planning, and managed account services.

Kayla Fortanel is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, based in Rossville, GA, with five years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Ameriprise and is involved in nonprofit board service, including roles with the Chattanooga Medical Group Management Association as Treasurer and The Hope House as a board member. 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 financial planning and access to third-party money manager programs, with investment implementation typically conducted on a discretionary basis by these managers.

Celeste Friend is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience. She is currently with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., where she has worked since 2023. Prior to that, she spent 11 years at Valic Financial Advisors and one year at Agia. Outside of her advisory role, she is an independent insurance agent involved in fixed insurance sales. Voya Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, corporations, and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers services such as financial planning, portfolio management, and plan-sponsor consulting, delivering advice primarily through recommendation-based, non-discretionary arrangements.

Darius Gallaher is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and bringing six years of industry experience. He has worked with Bankers Life Securities since 2020 and has been associated with Bankers Life & Casualty since 2017, where he also serves as a unit field trainer. Gallaher is involved in insurance sales and training activities outside of his advisory role. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, non-discretionary consulting, and retirement plan services. The firm employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to develop tailored asset allocations and portfolio management strategies aligned with clients' goals and risk tolerances.

Kyle Hodnett is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 65 and 63 licenses, with six years of industry experience. He has worked at Bankers Life Securities, Inc. since 2018 and has been an insurance agent and unit sales manager at Bankers Life & Casualty, Inc. since 2016, where he manages a team of agents and is involved in training and recruiting. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals through discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to develop tailored portfolios aligned with clients' goals and risk tolerances.

Julie Wilson is a financial advisor at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. with 31 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations and has been with Benjamin F. Edwards since 2012. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and investment management with a broad range of strategies monitored by an Investment Strategy Committee.

Connor Presnell is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Butler Lexus of South Atlanta and 27 Baseball. 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. The firm delivers services through an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, focusing on long-term portfolio returns and regular rebalancing.

Joseph Pollak is a financial advisor with Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., holding a Series 63 designation and 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Benjamin F. Edwards & Co since 2011. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers a range of fee-based wrap programs, financial planning, and investment management services, utilizing strategies managed internally and by third-party managers.

Sandra Dittus is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and Personal Financial Specialist™ (PFS™) with 11 years of industry experience. She is currently with Principal Financial Services and has previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services and Pinnacle Financial Partners. Dittus serves on several local investment committees, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga and the Mizpah Congregation, and is Secretary/Treasurer of the Hamilton County Schools Fund for Excellence. 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, and access to third-party money managers through various advisory and promoter arrangements.