Benjamin C. Forte

For Kurt, planning and investing are means to an end—after all, what’s the point of accumulating wealth for accumulation’s sake? His goal is for clients to fully enjoy their wealth both today and in the future. As such, he focuses first on helping clients map out their life, creating a detailed picture of their hopes, dreams, and wishes. Only after that big-picture plan is established does he dive into the details and identify prescriptive action steps. Then, and only then, does he discuss the best way to invest their money. This intentional order aims to ensure each strategy has a specific purpose, and that every decision the client makes is driving them closer to their long-term goals. Kurt enjoys working with young entrepreneurs and specialized professionals who are early in their careers. Many of his clients have never had a personalized financial plan, and they appreciate his fresh perspective. He challenges conventional wisdom, always seeking the “why” behind a strategy rather than simply accepting the status quo. In doing so, he often discovers additional avenues for growth, methods for clients to more efficiently achieve their goals, or ways to save on taxes. Kurt lives in Rochester, New York, with his wife Sarah and their two young children, Kai and Isla. They’re an active family that loves to be outside as much as possible, and when each of his kids turned three, Kurt taught them to ski—something he was very excited about, having started skiing himself at the age of two. They also enjoy cooking together, going on road trips, and watching movies.

Rajiv Dixit is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently the sole advisor at Serenity Capital Advisors Inc., a firm he joined in 2025 after working at Ralph Parks Investment Group LLC for 20 years. Serenity Capital Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers tailored investment strategies combining technical charting with fundamental, cyclical, and economic analysis, and also delivers ERISA-focused retirement plan services with direct asset management.

H. Robert Bradley is a CFP® with 27 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC and has previously worked at Mutual Securities, Inc. and Northlanding Financial Partners, LLC. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, nonprofits, and corporations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach with customized portfolios, utilizing fundamental analysis and strategies such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

John Howe is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Hamewith Wealth. His previous roles include positions at Generation Capital Management, St. John Fisher University, LPL Financial, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Hamewith Wealth is an independent registered investment adviser that offers discretionary portfolio management, wealth management, and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm’s investment approach combines passive and active fund strategies grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, with options for ESG or values-based investments, and includes monitoring of held-away accounts and K-12 retirement plan advisory services.

After 19 years of experience in the financial services industry across various roles, I founded LaBounty Financial Planning. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a Certified Investment Management Analyst® practitioner, I am committed to providing thoughtful, personalized guidance rooted in your goals and values. LaBounty Financial Planning is a fee-only financial planning firm based in Rochester, New York, founded to help mid-career professionals and business owners build a financial future they feel good about. I have built my career on the belief that good financial planning is about more than numbers; it's about giving people the confidence and clarity to plan for what matters most to them. Who We Serve Your finances can feel overwhelming, between student loans, buying a first home, starting a family, and continuing to build wealth. We work with mid-career professionals and business owners navigating growing income and growing complexity, helping clients optimize what they've built and plan for what's next. Mid-Career Professionals: Growing income, growing complexity. We help you optimize what you've built and plan for what's next. Business Owners: Your business shouldn't be your only financial plan. We help you navigate the unique challenges business owners face. High Earners, Not Rich Yet (HENRYs): Strong income, but not yet translating into lasting wealth? We can help close that gap. Facing Major Life Change: Divorce, loss of a spouse, career changes, inheritance, or a financial windfall. We help you find clarity and make confident decisions when it matters most. Not located in Western New York? We serve clients all over the state of New York and have the ability to work with you virtually.

Mark Paganelli is the principal of Mark Andrew Paganelli, an independent advisory firm based in Pittsford, NY. He holds the CFP® and ChFC® designations and has 43 years of industry experience. His prior work includes long tenures at HORNOR, TOWNSEND & KENT, Inc. and Commonwealth Financial Network. Paganelli is also co-owner of RFG Associates, LLC. His firm provides comprehensive financial planning and consulting services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporations, focusing on retirement, estate, tax, cash-flow, investment, and insurance planning. The firm emphasizes written financial plans based on fundamental, technical, and qualitative analysis, and does not take custody of client assets or manage portfolios on a discretionary basis.