Rashi Poddar is a CFP® and CFA® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Creative Planning since 2023. Prior to this, she worked at Nylife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company from 2017 to 2023. Outside of financial advising, she is a board member of the Frisco Gifted Association and the CFA Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, and is involved in several nonprofit and entrepreneurial ventures including software consulting and franchise partnerships. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning–led investment approach with an emphasis on low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and centralized investment infrastructure.

Kylie Stevens is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Hightower Advisors, based in Dallas, TX. She has three years of industry experience, previously working at Dearborn and Creggs and H-E-B. Hightower Advisors offers investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers. The firm provides various portfolio management and financial planning services with an emphasis on manager selection and access to proprietary research.

Jonathan Johnson is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Dallas, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 23 years of industry experience. He has been associated with Eagle Strategies since 2007 and operates Johnson Financial Strategies, LLC. Outside of his financial advisory work, he is an officer supporting the East Texas triathlon community and is involved in recording and sound mixing of church services. Eagle Strategies serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm offers tailored advice across various program types and manages a significant portion of its assets on a non-discretionary basis, working with diverse client segments including retirement investors and institutional plan sponsors.

Jackson Lowe is a CFP® professional based in Dallas, TX, with three years of industry experience. He has been with Hightower Advisors since 2021, following prior roles at Highgate Hotels and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a wide range of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s approach focuses on manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers along with proprietary research to construct diversified portfolios.

Alan Grossman is a financial advisor at D.A. Davidson & Co. with 42 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has been with D.A. Davidson since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, Grossman owns and operates several consulting businesses and is a partner in an industrial recruiting firm. D.A. Davidson & Co. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including retirement plans, high-net-worth individuals, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of services such as ERISA retirement plan advisory, comprehensive financial planning, and a Private Wealth program for clients with significant net worth, and operates under fiduciary standards with specialized municipal advisory capabilities.

Kenneth Hodges is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2018. His prior experience includes roles at HD Vest Insurance Agency, HD Vest Advisory Services, Five Star Advisor Partners, LLC, and H.D. Vest Financial Services. Mariner Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and corporate entities, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and tax services. The firm’s approach combines discretionary, customized portfolio management with integrated tax and accounting services, supported by an in-house Investment Committee and access to third-party managers.

Dahlia Goldberg is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mariner. Her career includes roles at Mariner Wealth Advisors since 2017 and Briar Hall from 2016 to 2017. Mariner serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering services such as investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax services. The firm employs discretionary, customized portfolio strategies supported by an internal investment committee and integrates tax and accounting services uncommon for a firm of its size.

Jeremy Morgan is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Frisco, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and possessing 12 years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2018 and operates Inspired Wealth Solutions, LLC, through which he sells New York Life products and brokers non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple advisory programs and emphasizes tailored recommendations, managing most of its substantial assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Mark Ganter is a financial advisor at Integrity Alliance, LLC with 18 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with Brokers International Financial Services, LLC since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance-related activities, including wholesaling life insurance and annuities as well as acting as an independent insurance agent selling life, annuities, and other fixed products. Integrity Alliance serves a broad client base, including individual investors, corporations, and qualified retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and both wrap and non-wrap programs. The firm operates a large network of over 300 independent advisors managing approximately $5.4 billion in assets and provides investment advice through discretionary accounts, model portfolios, and third-party sub-advisers.

Daniel Solis is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Denton, TX, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Edward Jones, Citigroup, Citizens Securities Inc., and Deborah Wolfgram State Farm. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only online discretionary model account that uses algorithm-driven risk assessments and managed strategies with mutual funds and ETFs.

Christopher Messick is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving at Corient since 2025. Prior to joining Corient, he worked at firms including Northwestern Mutual Investment Management for 26 years and various entities under the Messick Peacock name. He is a board member of the Jesuit Foundation and the Ursuline Foundation, assisting with investment management decisions. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, employing a goals-based, team approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions. The firm offers specialized services through affiliates and emphasizes continuous portfolio monitoring and risk management.

Bob Van Erem is a Financial Consultant currently working at Fidelity Investments since 2021. He partners with individuals and families to design and implement personalized financial plans aimed at helping them work toward their long-term financial goals. Prior to his current role, Bob served as a Senior Vice President Financial Consultant at BBVA Securities from 2015 to 2021. His professional experience includes guiding clients through financial planning and investment strategies. Outside of his professional career, Bob has interests in fitness, golf, and running.

Ulysses Cervantes is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at Fisher Investments, Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE Capital Management, and TD Ameritrade. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected through employer retirement plans. The firm offers a range of advisory services, including discretionary portfolio management and donor-advised fund advisory, operating under a fiduciary standard with a vertically integrated investment approach.

Ethan Strickland is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at Equitable Advisors, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., and other firms. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC serves individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, providing financial planning and discretionary managed account programs with a fiduciary standard applied to its RIA services.

Juan Amador is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and TD Ameritrade. Outside of finance, he is the owner and partner of Amador Peppers LLC, a venture focused on buying and reselling pepper mash products. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and brokerage services primarily to individuals with ties to TIAA-administered retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm offers both model portfolio and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund through Charityvest.

Brian Neal is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at National Life Group, Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and Scottrade. Outside of his advisory work, Neal provides independent strengths-based coaching focused on personal development and leadership skills. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, offers financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs multiple advisory platforms, often utilizing third-party asset managers and model portfolios that combine long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading.

Michael Randazzo is a financial advisor with SPC in Dallas, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has been with Sigma Planning Corporation and Sigma Financial Corporation since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, he operates Randazzo Financial Group as an independent licensed insurance agent, providing financial services and insurance products. SPC serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, managing approximately $5.66 billion in assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and ERISA-related retirement plan services through a network of over 460 advisers.

William White is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Dallas, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. He has worked at Eagle Strategies since 2020 and is also owner of Forge & Link Financial Group, LLC. Outside of his advisory roles, he serves as a Worship Minister at Oak Gardens Church in Dallas. Eagle Strategies provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutional clients, and plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes tailored advice and manages a large portion of its assets on a non-discretionary basis through various program offerings.

Matthew Maresch is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked extensively with Equitable Advisors and has held roles including independent insurance agent and founder of Ashbury Boutique Wealth Management. Maresch is also involved in nonprofit educational activities through the Association of Financial Consultants and is founder of Senior Healthcare Planning LLC, an agency focused on Medicare agent development. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and retirement plans, providing investment supervisory services, portfolio management, and fiduciary services. The firm’s investment process emphasizes manager selection and monitoring using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, and it offers a direct-to-consumer digital program, Starlight Portfolios, with portfolio reviews and tactical adjustments.

Tommy Fincher is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has previously worked at WhiteStone Wealth Advisors, Institute for Wealth Partners, and Cherry Financial Partners. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisers. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and consulting services, emphasizing centralized due diligence and the use of technology to support advisors and clients.