Alex Mayes is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving at ValMark Advisers, Inc. since 2024. He has worked with several firms including Wealth Impact Advisors, LLC, where he is also involved in preparing retirement plan reviews. ValMark Advisers provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients. The firm employs a diversified, goal-based investment approach utilizing proprietary and third-party platforms and offers specialized products such as the TOPS® ETF Portfolios and related index licensing.

Matthew Garner is a financial advisor at The Huntington Investment Company with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior work includes positions at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, LPL Financial, and Firstmerit Bank NA. The Huntington Investment Company serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities with advisory and brokerage services. The firm sponsors multiple wrap-fee programs using an open-architecture model that combines third-party Sub-Managers and Wrap Strategists with proprietary Private Bank models.

Matthew Levine is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Partners holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 35 years of industry experience. He worked at key Investment Services LLC for 10 years before joining Independent Financial Partners in 2022. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm supports a decentralized advisory model with a multi-advisor platform, serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, and offers notable retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities.

Heather Pollack is a financial advisor with Osaic Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 63 designation and 33 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Beacon Financial Group, Inc. and a 20-year tenure with Lincoln National Life Insurance Company and Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and third-party manager oversight, utilizing multiple program models and partnerships with custodians like Schwab and Fidelity.

Matthew Kulla is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Stow, OH, holding a Series 63 designation and six years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Northwestern Mutual and Principal Life Insurance Company. Outside of advising, he owns Kulla Industries LLC, a business involved in buying and reselling clothing online. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers various advisory programs with direct financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to third-party money manager asset allocation and separately managed accounts.

Benjamin Schwarz is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has previously worked with ValMark Securities, Inc. and currently has additional roles in insurance strategy and production. Outside of finance, he engages in automotive photography as a hobby and occasional source of income. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on investment supervisory services and portfolio management using manager selection and Modern Portfolio Theory, and it offers a direct-to-consumer digital platform called Starlight Portfolios.

Brenda Johnson is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, with 11 years of industry experience. She is affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and BDS Financial Network, where she has worked since 2012 and 2014, respectively. Johnson is the sole owner of Brenda Johnson, LLC, a private entity established for tax purposes and securities business facilitation. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients, offering a variety of advisory programs and services. The firm provides operations, trading, technology, investment management, compliance, and practice-management support to affiliated advisors who deliver advice under Commonwealth’s supervision.

Lisa Gillen is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2001. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration and affiliation with Fifth Third Bank to provide a range of discretionary managed-account programs, including advisor-directed models, separately managed accounts, and unified portfolios with features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Eric Stockley is a financial advisor with The Huntington Investment Company, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked at The Huntington Investment Company since 2015 and was previously with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. The Huntington Investment Company serves individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities with advisory and brokerage services, offering multiple wrap-fee programs through an open-architecture model that incorporates third-party and affiliate investment strategies.

Smita Samant is a CFP® professional with 18 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network since 2012. She holds the Series 63 license and operates a private entity, Smita Samant, LLC, related to her securities 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 around $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm offers a broad platform including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, retirement consulting, and custody services.

David Ionno is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Akron, OH, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Bank since 2010 and has worked at PNC Investments since 2009. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only discretionary digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and implements investments via approved model strategies executed with mutual funds and ETFs.

Matthew Ruhl is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has been with PNC Investments since 2015. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through several model-based programs, including the Portfolio Solutions Strategist Digital Offering, an invitation-only online discretionary model account available to employees. The firm uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and approved model strategies managed by PNC or third-party strategists.

Kelly Marshall is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Kelly has been with Commonwealth Financial Network since 2024 and also has a decade of experience with BDS Financial Network. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and hundreds of thousands of clients. The firm offers a broad adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody/clearing services, managing roughly $212.7 billion in client assets.

Gavin Reaser is an advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at Portage Community Bank and Infinex Investments, Inc. since 2021. Prior to that, he was employed by Tarkett and UH Portage Medical Center. 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 customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments and lending solutions, operating with a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure.

Rose Beisner is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in Aurora, Ohio, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations with one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Fifth Third Bank, as well as positions at Mad Batter Bake Shop, Mission BBQ, and Caterology. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves individual and institutional clients through investment advisory and brokerage services, offering programs ranging from advisor-directed mutual fund and ETF models to separately managed accounts and tax-overlay options, supported by the Passageway Managed Account platform.

Deborah Anzelc is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC. She is also the owner of Anzelc & Associates, Inc., a CPA practice specializing in tax preparation, accounting, and consulting, which she has operated since 1995. Outside of finance, she is an officer of All 4 One Inc. LLC, which runs the Peninsula Coffee House and Market, and serves as a board member for the Zanes Foundation, Inc. Independent Financial Group provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate plans. The firm employs a mix of active and passive investment strategies through multiple platforms and third-party managers, focusing on personalized portfolio management aligned with client risk profiles.

Samuel Ramirez is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Fifth Third Securities and Fifth Third Bank since 2019. Prior to that, he was with Huntington Investment Company starting in 2014. Outside of his advisory role, Ramirez is involved in music performance and composition through his business, Samuel Ramirez Music. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm offers multiple discretionary managed-account programs through its Passageway Managed Account Platform, combining third-party portfolio managers, strategist portfolios, and advisor-managed sleeves, with features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Jason Rodgers is a CFA® charterholder with 26 years of industry experience. He is currently with Osaic Advisory Services, LLC and has previously worked at Beacon Financial Group, Lincoln Financial Advisors, Wellington Shields & Co. LLC, and Soleil Securities. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a variety of advisory services through multiple program models, utilizing proprietary and third-party platforms, and offers access to alternative investments and affiliated capabilities.

Karin Stifler is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wealthspire Advisors. She has been with True Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2005. Wealthspire Advisors provides wealth management, financial planning, and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and nonprofit entities, and retirement plans. The firm employs a diversified, institutional-style asset allocation approach and combines active and passive strategies to tailor portfolios according to client risk profiles.

Emily Sipes is a CFP® with six years of industry experience currently based in Akron, OH. She has been with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2023, following prior roles at Valmark Financial Group. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, nonprofits, and endowments, providing investment advisory services along with financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm’s investment approach uses Modern Portfolio Theory to build diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios implemented through ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds, with additional specialized services and client education offerings.