Allan Katz

Kyle Medric is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 7, 63 and Series 65 licenses and having two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he worked as an independent contractor and held various roles including tech support for a Swiss manufacturing company and working for Verizon. Inside of financial advising, he is available for in-home visit services as well as virtual and office meetings. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement plan support, and asset management through LPL programs and third-party managers. The firm operates a hybrid referral and implementation model, combining advisory and brokerage channels to tailor services based on clients’ goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Damian Mbadugha is the sole advisor at Hillgate Financial, LLC, a New Jersey-registered investment adviser. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, he is registered as a commodities trading advisor, and works as an insurance agent and tax preparer, focusing on research during weekends. Hillgate Financial provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, and estates, applying modern portfolio theory to build diversified portfolios primarily using passively managed funds and ETFs. The firm emphasizes tax-aware strategies and manages a historically significant asset base with a focus on individualized client portfolios.

Phillip Defranco is a Series 65-licensed advisor and managing member of Heartland Northeast LLC with one year of industry experience. He previously worked at Kornett, Inc. for 12 years and is the owner of Northeast Advocacy Network Inc., where he also serves as a licensed insurance agent. Heartland Northeast LLC serves individuals and high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio management, retirement and financial planning, including tax mitigation and Roth conversion strategies. The firm employs various analytical methods and provides coordinated Roth conversion management alongside clients’ tax professionals.

Chirag Surti is a financial advisor at CNIV Financial Planning LLC with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. He is also an Associate Professor at Rider University, where he teaches business courses and conducts research. In addition to his advisory role, he offers educational seminars and consulting services related to financial planning through his business, IV Educational Ventures. CNIV Financial Planning LLC provides hourly, fee-only investment advice to individuals, families, retirement plan sponsors, nonprofit trustees, and other advisers. The firm follows a passive, long-term investment approach focused on low-cost index funds and ETFs, offering advice without managing or holding client assets.

Matthew Wright is the principal of WRIGHT Investment Partners LLC and holds a Series 65 designation with nine years of industry experience. He has led Wright Investment Partners since 2016. Outside of advisory work, he is involved as a principal in a business that owns a small class C office building. Wright Investment Partners LLC provides portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, typically operating under discretionary authority. The firm uses a blend of fundamental and quantitative analysis to guide investment decisions, focusing on equities and diversified through mutual funds, fixed-income securities, ETFs, annuities, and non-U.S. securities.

Michael Godeanu is a financial advisor at Luxe Capital Management Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Singer Wealth Advisors LLC, Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, Mass Mutual Investors Services, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of finance, he is the owner of Berzerk Fitness LLC, an e-commerce retail business, and has served as an on-ice hockey official for USA Hockey since 2004. Luxe Capital Management, founded in 2024, provides portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and adviser selection services to individual and institutional clients. The firm employs a multi-method investment approach combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and manages accounts using long-term, short-term, and trading strategies, typically on a discretionary basis.