Aaron Schroeder

Robert Bleeck is the principal of Bleeck Financial Management, Inc. in Carmel, CA, with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the PFS™ designation and is also a Certified Public Accountant, maintaining an active accounting practice alongside his advisory work. Bleeck has been with his firm since 1982. Bleeck Financial Management, Inc. provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and pension plans. The firm combines CPA services with portfolio management, employing multiple analytical approaches and managing discretionary accounts primarily through Charles Schwab.

Joseph Padellaro is a financial advisor at Northmont Wealth Management LLC with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior experience at Citibank and J.P. Morgan. He is also involved with Northmont Capital Management Inc., an exempt reporting advisor managing two private 3(c)(1) vehicles. Northmont Wealth Management LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses fundamental analysis and predominantly passive investment strategies, offering customized investment policy statements and portfolio oversight as a solo advisory practice.

James Rice is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience and is the sole advisor at JQR Capital Management, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in West Hartford, CT. He has led JQR Capital Management since 2014. Outside of his advisory work, he coaches Alpine skiing on weekends during the season at Butternut Basin, Inc. in Great Barrington, MA. JQR Capital Management serves individual investors, employer plan sponsors, and institutional clients by providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, and employee benefit plan consulting. The firm uses a client-specific investment policy with a primarily passive asset-allocation approach supplemented by active fundamental research.

Hugo Soares is a CFA® charterholder affiliated with Navigator Financial LLC, with over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. His prior roles include positions at Talcott Financial Group and The Hartford. Outside of his advisory work, he manages several rental properties as a sole proprietor. Navigator Financial provides fee-only financial planning and investment management to individuals, trusts, and estates. The firm emphasizes individualized asset allocation and comprehensive planning, operating under a fiduciary standard without commissioned products.

James Russell is a financial advisor with Strategic Investment Planning LLC in West Hartford, CT, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. He is also a shareholder and CPA at Russell & Company CPA, P.C., where he performs management duties and serves as a trustee of client trusts. Prior to founding his advisory firm in 2016, he worked at Marcum Wealth Management and Osaic FS, Inc. Strategic Investment Planning LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and estates, offering customized portfolios that include mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, and alternative investments. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and simple, low-cost strategies matched to client goals and risk tolerance and often refers clients to other registered investment advisers for ongoing asset management.

Sam Shehu is the sole advisor at Shehu Asset Management, LLC in Southbury, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 25 years of industry experience. His prior positions include roles at LPL Financial LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Prudential Equity Group, LLC. Outside of advisory work, he manages a self-service laundry business in Thomaston, CT. Shehu Asset Management offers financial planning and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, small businesses, pensions, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs proprietary modeling tools to tailor investment strategies to client demographics and risk tolerance, with portfolios typically including equities, ETFs, and options.