Savvy Senior: Empower Your Financial Wellness Journey-Blue Ridge

Moderator, Award Winning Journalist

Donna Lowry is an award-winning journalist who combines a passion for storytelling and a desire to empower others with communication and critical thinking skills surrounding political, educational, and financial issues.

Through her firm, Donna Lowry Communications, she provides consulting, writing, and producing services for educational, media, professional, and business outlets.

Donna serves as host/producer for several programs, including Lawmakers on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Donna is an eight-time Emmy award winner, a three-time national Gabriel Award recipient, and has garnered honors from countless organizations, including the National Association of Black Journalists, Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, Georgia Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists, Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE).

Her media peers inducted Donna into the prestigious NATAS Southeast Silver Circle to recognize her lasting contributions to the broadcast industry.

Donna has a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University and a Bachelor's in Mass Communications and Administration and Management from Chatham University.

Her professional affiliations include the Atlanta Press Club, the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Southeastern Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS SE).

In her 15th year as a Girl Scout Leader, Donna has led girls ranging in age from kindergarten through 12th grade. Her community service affiliations also include Magnolia (GA) Chapter of Links, Inc., and Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. 

Donna and her husband, Army Major (Ret) Bennet W. Reid, Jr., are the parents of three daughters.

Founder & Principal, Ages Legacy Advisors

Shardéa Ages is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and the Founder of Ages Legacy Advisors, a wealth management firm built to serve women who aren't just building wealth — they're building legacy.

With 17 years in financial services, Shardéa has advised affluent individuals, business owners, and executives across investment management, retirement planning, tax strategy, and estate coordination. Her career began in 2008 during the Great Recession; a defining moment that shaped her commitment to disciplined, long-term financial stewardship.

Her work is also deeply personal. As a widow and the first high-income earner in her family, she brings lived experience to the intersections of grief, wealth, and generational mobility. She has built her practice around helping women create financial structures resilient enough to hold both success and uncertainty.

Prior to founding Ages Legacy Advisors, Shardéa co-founded Collective Wealth Partners and Bridging Financial Gaps, a nonprofit focused on financial literacy access. Her earlier career includes roles at JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, and Merrill Lynch.

She has been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager, an InvestmentNews 2024 Rising Star, and a Marquis Who's Who honoree. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the CFP® Board's Ethics and Disciplinary Commission and has collaborated with the Georgia Secretary of State and the North American Securities Administrators Association on investor education initiatives.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

Georgia Team Lead, Community Outreach Specialist, Senior Medicare Patrol, AdviseWell Inc.

Nathan Coflin is a graduate of Old Dominion University and has been a fierce advocate for older adults and other vulnerable populations for over ten years. Currently, Nathan serves as Lead Outreach Specialist for the federally funded Senior Medicare Patrol program in the state of Georgia, where he and his team seek to empower Medicare beneficiaries fight the over $60 billion in Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse that occurs nationwide each year.

Communications and Outreach Coordinator, Office of the Attorney General Chris Carr, Consumer Protection Division

Shawn Conroy has been serving the public at the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, formerly the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection, for over 25 years. Currently, he acts as Communications and Outreach Coordinator and is involved in the enforcement of numerous civil statutes. Shawn provides educational presentations to consumers, is a media spokesperson for the Division, tracks legislation impacting consumers at the General Assembly and serves as a resource for its members. He holds an undergraduate degree from Kennesaw State University.

Forensic Liaison Specialist, Forensic Special Initiatives Unit (FSIU), GBI Crimes Against Disabled Adults and Elderly Task Force (CADE)

Morgan Alexander is the Forensic Liaison Specialist with the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Aging Services Forensic Special Initiatives Unit (FSIU), which is part of the GBI CADE Task Force. Morgan brings more than 15 years of experience with Adult Protective Services (APS), including seven years as an APS supervisor. With a bachelor’s degree in social work, Morgan has dedicated her career to protecting vulnerable adults and strengthening collaborative responses to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Morgan is an instructor for Certified At-Risk Adult Crime Tactics Specialist (CACTS) Training, and the principal instructor in the specialized Facility At-Risk Adult Crimes Training (FACT) training.

Retired Private Wealth Advisor, CKM Wealth 

Robert has over 20 years of prior experience in the corporate world building business and running organizations. In his past, he was a CEO & Fortune 500 Senior Executive and has Private Equity and M&A Experience. Furthermore, he has been involved with Corporate and Non-Profit Board of Directors. Robert is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal. 

Assistant Commissioner of Securities/Director Securities & Charities Division Georgia Secretary of State

Noula Zaharis is the Assistant Commissioner of Securities and the Director of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Securities & Charities Division. Her experience includes regulatory compliance analyst at Ekonomou, Atkisson & Lambros, which served as the Investigative Agent for the Georgia Securities Division.  She served as Director of Compliance at Investment Law Group managing the registrations and compliance support for state and federal investment advisers and private investment funds.  She held the position of Vice-President of Compliance at a publicly traded oil and gas company located in Texas.  Ms. Zaharis is a former English and Latin teacher with Atlanta Public Schools and was an associate professor of English at Georgia State University. She serves on the Board of Directors of the NASAA Investor Protection and Education Foundation and on the board of the National Association on State Charities Officials (NASCO). She received her undergraduate degree (BA) in English Language and Literature/Letters from Furman University and Master of Arts, English/Language Arts Teacher Education from Emory University. She holds the Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional (IACCP) designation.