Bret Contreras

Patrick Donnelly is a financial advisor at Donnelly Financial Services with five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Third Bridge Group and PNC Bank. Donnelly Financial Services is an independent advisory firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary asset management and financial planning. The firm offers client-focused investment programs that incorporate both fundamental and technical analysis, as well as educational seminars available to the public.

David Sterman is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently operating as the sole advisor at Huguenot Financial Planning in New Paltz, NY. He has been associated with LPL Financial since 2016. In addition to his advisory work, Sterman contributes written content to industry publications and leads educational workshops and real-time planning sessions. Huguenot Financial Planning provides fee-only financial planning and periodic investment consultations to individuals, families, trusts, small businesses, pension, and charitable clients. The firm emphasizes a broadly diversified, long-term investment approach using Modern Portfolio Theory and Core + Satellite strategies, primarily with low-cost indexed vehicles tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Takuya Arai is a financial advisor at Benkei Asset Management with 3 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been associated with Benkei Asset Management since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, Arai is the CEO of an online newsletter focused on U.S. stocks for Japanese investors. Benkei Asset Management is an independent registered adviser serving affluent individual and business clients in the U.S. and abroad, particularly in Japan. The firm employs a combination of fundamental valuation and quantitative analysis to construct concentrated portfolios aimed at long-term capital appreciation.

Shawn Erickson is a financial advisor at TruNorth Financial LLC with eight years of industry experience. Before founding TruNorth Financial in 2024, he worked at Northwestern Mutual for six years and held roles at Regeneron and EY. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. TruNorth Financial serves individual and high-net-worth clients through discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, focusing on creating tailored Investment Policy Statements and ongoing portfolio monitoring. The firm typically uses ETFs alongside mutual funds, equities, fixed income, and insurance products, employing fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis within a long-term trading framework.

Thomas Brotanek is a financial advisor at Aviles Capital Management LLC in Middletown, NY, holding a Series 65 credential with 5 years of industry experience. He has worked at Aviles Capital Management since 2014 and is also involved with ABS Jets, a.s. since 2007. Brotanek’s work outside of investment management includes non-investment business activities that represent a significant source of income and time. Aviles Capital Management LLC offers fee-based portfolio management through its “Comprehensive Value Portfolio Management” program, focusing on small-, mid-, and large-cap equities alongside U.S. Treasury securities. The firm uses a value-oriented, fundamental analysis approach with selective use of equity options, margin, ETFs, and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities to manage risk and capital preservation.

Peter Banta is a financial advisor at Beyond Wealth Management Group, LLC in New Paltz, NY, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at KC Engineering and Land Surveying and RBT CPA's, LLP. Beyond Wealth Management Group provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, endowments, and businesses. The firm develops customized Investment Policy Statements, employs a variety of analytical methods, and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management tailored to client objectives.