Christopher Russell

Billy Mcgriff is a financial advisor with The McGriff Alliance, holding a Series 63 designation and over 21 years of industry experience. His career includes long-term roles with Manufactures Life Insurance Company, Sage Ventures, Inc., and Mcgriff Dowdy & Associates, P.C. He serves as a trustee of a charitable trust and is involved in real estate development and tax and accounting services. The McGriff Alliance provides advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and investment company clients. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, third-party money manager referrals, and insurance brokerage, employing both strategic and tactical asset allocation and sponsoring private pooled funds focused on life settlements.

Brian Degaetano is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Compass Bank and BBVA Wealth Solutions, where he worked for eight years. Outside of finance, he is a percussionist with the Gadsden Symphony Orchestra and owns a photography business, Brian Degaetano Imaging. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including a digital, discretionary model account offered as an invitation-only pilot for employees. The firm employs algorithmic risk assessment and delegates portfolio implementation to third parties, focusing on mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Krista Hill is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 15 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Foresters Financial Services, Global Atlantic, Cetera, and Agia. Outside of her advisory work, she is also an insurance agent for non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet UMA models to construct client portfolios.

James Houston is a ChFC® with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving as an investment advisor representative at TLG Advisors, Inc. He has previously worked at Concourse Financial Group Securities Inc and Southern Wealth Strategies LLC, where he is also the owner. Houston is licensed as an independent insurance agent and engages in addressing life insurance and fixed annuity needs. TLG Advisors, Inc. manages approximately $2.0 billion in discretionary client assets and serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and institutional investors. The firm offers investment supervisory and portfolio management, comprehensive financial and estate planning, ERISA fiduciary services, and a direct-to-consumer program called Starlight Portfolios, utilizing fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory in its investment approach.

John Akins is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Cetera, and Regions Bank. He is co-owner and finance director of Resolute Care Services, Inc., a home healthcare business in Fort Payne, AL. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser supporting a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors with advisory programs, wealth management, and retirement plan consulting. The firm provides operational, trading, technology, investment management, compliance, and practice-management support, while offering a range of discretionary and customized portfolio solutions.

Douglas Crowe is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 63 designation and 34 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at MetLife Securities, Prudential Insurance Company of America, and LPL Enterprise. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an election official in Dekalb County, Alabama. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients, providing a variety of advisory programs, operational support, and investment management services. The firm offers a range of portfolio construction options and discretionary model portfolios managed through a structured due diligence process.