Kumar Bhandari is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors holding the PFS™ credential. He has recently entered the financial services industry and has experience with firms including WFGIA and Avantax. His background also includes accounting and consulting roles, and he has been involved with Brenau University and several accounting and tax service businesses. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a wide range of clients including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers a combination of advisory and broker-dealer services with proprietary and third-party investment models, serving both discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Avery Rodts is a financial advisor with Janney Montgomery Scott in Atlanta, GA, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. His prior positions include roles at Gratus Capital LLC, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup Global Markets. Janney Montgomery Scott is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $110 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base through brokerage services, financial planning, consulting, and various advisory programs, combining in-house and third-party portfolio management.

Luis Kim is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. and FSC Securities Corporation. Luis is based in Buford, GA. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies and integrates third-party platforms and AI-enabled tools to support its investment processes.

Adam Lee is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2020. Prior to joining Mercer, he worked at Kays Financial Advisory Corp and TD Ameritrade, Inc. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach with globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios and offers a range of implementation options alongside financial planning, retirement consulting, and estate-planning coordination.

Jared Kale is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. He worked at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC for 14 years before joining Mariner in 2023. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm combines in-house research with third-party managers and provides integrated tax and accounting services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Evan Harbot is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience. He is currently with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC and previously worked at Russell Investments and CNL Securities Corp. His background includes roles at Fs2 Capital Partners, LLC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans, through a large network of advisors. The firm employs a strategic investment process combining passive and active management, supported by an internal Investment Committee and a range of specialized financial planning and consulting services.

Chelsea Nalley is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with 12 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. She has worked at Creative Planning, Inc. since 2020 and previously spent six years at Truewealth, LLC (FNA Windham Brannon). She is based in Atlanta, GA. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, foundations, 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, complemented by selective private market exposure and managed account services.

Dana Merritt is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. She has been with SunTrust Advisory Services and affiliated entities since 2016. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, businesses, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary manager relationships, supported by AI-enabled research tools and a structured supervisory oversight process.

Alan Kasser is a financial advisor at J. W. Cole Advisors, Inc. in Roswell, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 42 years of industry experience. He has worked at J. W. Cole Advisors since 2013 and previously held positions at Financial Advisers of America and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Kasser Investment Advisors, LLC, which focuses on brokerage and insurance products. J. W. Cole Advisors operates a large network of independent Investment Adviser Representatives and offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan services, and access to digital advice platforms for a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions.

Alexander Herman is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Atlanta, GA, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Securities, J.P. Morgan Bank, and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory work, he is also active as a real estate agent with Virtual Properties Realty.biz. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and corporate entities, often serving clients with existing employer retirement plan relationships. The firm provides a range of advisory services, including model-based and customized portfolio management, and acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group that uses affiliated funds.

Jill Asrael is a financial advisor at Cresset Asset Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Berman Capital Advisors, LLC and Grapevine Partners, LLC. She serves as President of the Epstein Foundation, which supports the Epstein School in Atlanta, GA. Cresset Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $71.9 billion in client assets for a diverse range of clients. The firm focuses on diversified, asset-allocation-driven portfolio construction using both active and passive strategies, supported by a structured due-diligence program and private fund management across various asset classes.

Susan Lewis is a CFP® with 29 years of experience in the financial industry. She has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2010, following positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Located in Alpharetta, GA, she holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through over 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan consulting, employing both proprietary and third-party strategies in discretionary and non-discretionary managed solutions.

Christopher Kowal is a CFP® professional with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving at HB Wealth in Atlanta, GA. He previously worked for 15 years at Homrich Berg. Outside of his advisory role, Kowal participates in an AICPA Task Force conducting technical reviews of fiduciary handbooks and serves as Board Chair and Trustee of the Cherokee Employee Scholarship Foundation. HB Wealth Management provides wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services to individuals, families, trusts, retirement plans, corporate entities, foundations, and family offices. The firm also offers outsourced chief investment officer and institutional advisory services, combining quantitative and qualitative due diligence across a range of public and private investment strategies.

Mariana Battista is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. She previously worked at Atlanta Financial Associates, LLC, Patton Albertson Miller Group, LLC, and Anthony Smith Advisors, Inc. Mariana also has work experience at the University of Georgia. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, providing investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, estate planning, and family office services. The firm employs a globally diversified, risk-appropriate investment approach using low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other strategies, and offers various specialized programs and educational initiatives.

Roger Shaffer is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with Hightower Securities and Hightower Advisors since 2013. Shaffer serves on the Board of Directors at Signature Banks of Georgia. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions using affiliated and third-party managers, with services that include discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting.

Rajen Chokshi is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Hightower Advisors since 2021 and previously held roles at Bluerock Wealth Management, Redwood Wealth Management, and BlueRock Financial Advisors. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing proprietary research and a range of investment strategies across mutual funds, ETFs, alternatives, and customized indexing.

Laurie Schaeffer is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 23 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at LPL Financial, Independent Financial Partners, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and MetLife Securities Inc. She is also a commissioned notary in New York. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering services such as asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines a network of independent advisory representatives with technology-driven portfolio management and planning solutions, including access to third-party managers and estate-planning platforms.

Robert Szymanski is a CFP® and ChFC® financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is currently with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Duluth, GA. His prior experience includes roles at Horter Investment Management, Harrisdirect LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC, and BNY Mellon Advisors, Inc. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales and Medicare referral services. 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 employs strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and offers discretionary portfolio management through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee programs.

Aleece Kardon is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Alpharetta, GA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. She also maintains an active legal practice as an attorney specializing in trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and residential real estate closings. Kardon has worked at multiple legal and financial firms, including WealthWave and Shafritz & Dean, Attorneys at Law. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a broad client base ranging from individual investors to institutional entities and offers both advisory and broker-dealer services. The firm delivers investment advice through proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Ronald Kibbe is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Atlanta, GA, holding the CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 designations with 27 years of industry experience. He has worked with Mercer and its related firms since 1999. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering investment advisory services alongside financial, tax, retirement, estate planning, and family office services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and emphasizes globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios utilizing low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and other investment vehicles.