Carmen Stanford

Benjamin Simiskey is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience and serves as the sole advisor at Lakes Wealth Advisory, LLC. He previously worked at Cornelius, Stegent & Price, LLP and Stegent Equity Advisors Inc., and has been an adjunct instructor at Rice University since 2017. Lakes Wealth Advisory provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, nonprofit organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a long-term investment approach using mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks and bonds, and offers customized solutions with ongoing portfolio monitoring and oversight.

Jose Manstretta Cardozo is a CFA® charterholder and financial advisor with four years of industry experience. He has worked at Open Wealth Management LLC since 2021 and previously held roles at Proman US and Royal Dutch Shell. Open Wealth Management LLC is a Texas-registered independent advisory firm serving individuals and families, including senior corporate executives and owners of closely held businesses. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation driven investment approach, managing portfolios that include mutual funds, ETFs, ETNs, and individual securities, primarily on a discretionary basis.

Pratik Shah is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Amijag Investment Managers LLC since 2012 and is also involved as a business research analyst and director at related entities Amijag Inc. and Amijag USA Inc. Amijag Investment Managers LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment supervisory services primarily to institutional and business clients, including hedge funds, corporations, retirement plans, foundations, and endowments. The firm also offers financial planning, bookkeeping, and tax advisory services to individuals and families, managing a private hedge fund and employing active portfolio management with model strategies and alternative investment allocations.

Neal Carlson is a financial advisor at Forthright Family Wealth Advisory LLC in Houston, TX, with 19 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors. Forthright Family Wealth Advisory provides fee-only, discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, families, and institutional clients. The firm uses an IPS-driven, continuously monitored investment process that incorporates diverse analytical methods and tailored asset allocation, managing over $200 million in discretionary assets with a small advisory team.

David Lee is a financial advisor with NET Financial, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 credentials and 26 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Clearing, among others. Outside of investment advisory, he is president of All-Star Franchise Development, a franchise consulting company. NET Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing discretionary portfolio management and investment policy statements for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional-type investments. The firm employs a multi-method investment approach emphasizing long-term trading aligned with client-specific risk tolerances and offers access to a broad range of investment instruments.

James Bishop is the sole advisor at Dark Horse LLC, an independent firm based in Katy, TX. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 14 years of industry experience, having led Dark Horse LLC since 2011. Dark Horse LLC provides discretionary investment management and tailored financial consulting primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on customized, long-term portfolios emphasizing exchange-listed equities, using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis while generally avoiding high-risk strategies.