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The F Word No One Wants to Talk About: Business Finances 

New year. Clean slate. Stronger business.
Join us for a candid, practical luncheon focused on the F word that impacts every business decision—finances.

This panel discussion will break down how to keep your business healthy from every angle: financial, operational, and personal. We’ll dive into smart financial planning for business owners, long-term wellbeing, and how to set yourself up for a successful 2026 and beyond—without the fluff.

Expect real talk, actionable insights, and a clear path forward as you plan for the year ahead. 

Hosted by: East Dallas Chamber of Commerce
Date: January 20
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: Lakewood Country Club

Registration for Members: $40

Registration for Non-Members: $65

Panelist: 

Alex Roe, CFA with Dedicated Books

Alex Roe is the Founder of Dedicated Books, where he provides CFO-level strategy, advanced financial reporting, and integrated bookkeeping for fast-growing businesses. A trusted strategic partner to his clients, Alex helps ensure financial operations run with precision while guiding leadership teams through critical business decisions with clarity and confidence.

Prior to launching Dedicated Books, Alex spent more than 15 years in global finance roles with Bank of America, Credit Suisse, and private capital platforms across New York and Singapore. His experience includes structuring complex debt solutions and advising management teams ranging from early-stage companies to publicly traded enterprises.

Alex holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and is a CFA® charterholder. He lives in Dallas with his wife and daughter and enjoys staying active, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Charles Pinion, City Credit Union

Charles Pinion is City Credit Union’s Community Outreach Coordinator—meaning he spends his days helping North Texans make sense of budgeting, credit, and all the financial topics most people would prefer to pretend don’t exist. With 40 years of experience in fraud analysis, collections, lending, underwriting, and commercial and personal loan sales, Charles has witnessed every financial mistake imaginable… and a few that defy explanation.

Alongside helping people straighten out their finances, Charles also pursued his longtime dream of working as a professional stand-up comedian. This explains why his money advice comes with the perfect blend of sarcasm, realism, and “seriously, this matters.” He’s known for turning confusing financial concepts into something people can laugh at—right before realizing they should probably rethink their budget.

Whether he’s speaking on a panel, leading a workshop, or surprising a room full of attendees who didn’t realize financial education could be funny, Charles delivers energy, clarity, and a refreshingly honest perspective on money.

Brian Bessner, Chisholm Trail Financial Group 

Brian Bessner, CFP® is a Certified Financial Planner™ Practitioner with more than 27 years of experience in the financial services industry, helping families and business owners plan for long-term financial security and financial freedom. His relationship-driven approach focuses on providing clear, practical strategies aligned with each client’s goals.

Brian’s areas of expertise include retirement planning, estate conservation strategies, charitable giving, education funding, insurance planning, and employer-sponsored benefit solutions. He is licensed to sell Life and Health Insurance in Texas and is a Registered Representative of Osaic Wealth, Inc.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree from East Central University and was recognized as New England Financial’s Rookie of the Year in 2006. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA–Dallas), and the Financial Planning Association.

A Dallas resident for over 43 years, Brian is deeply involved in the community, serving on the board of the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce and as a past president of the Exchange Club of East Dallas. Outside of work, he enjoys photography, fishing, and golf, and spending time with his wife and three children.

If finances have been on your mind—but not on your calendar—this is the luncheon you shouldn’t skip.