Charles Stermetz

James Ward is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with four years of experience in financial advising. He is the principal of J Ward Financial, an independent firm based in Morgan Hill, CA. In addition to his financial advisory work, Ward is an attorney specializing in estate planning and elder law and owns businesses in real estate and insurance. J Ward Financial provides discretionary investment management and financial planning primarily to high-net-worth individuals, families, and their trusts. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes asset allocation based on a comprehensive risk analysis and employs third-party platforms and advisers to manage client portfolios.

Edward Rodden is a financial advisor at Disciplined Growth Capital, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Central Coast Partners, 3 Factor Indexing, and Silicon Valley Consulting. Rodden is also the owner of Central Coast Partners, a business consulting firm. Disciplined Growth Capital provides ongoing portfolio management primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients, tailoring Investment Policy Statements to client goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The firm uses a combination of fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory with a long-term trading orientation across a variety of asset classes.

Brenda Friederich is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She is the sole advisor at Abundit Wealth in San Jose, CA, and has worked previously with Mariner Independent Advisor Network and RNP Advisory Services. In addition to her advisory work, she is a licensed insurance agent in California and has been involved in insurance sales since 2003. Abundit Wealth provides financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and wealth management services primarily to individual clients and pension or employee benefit plans. The firm constructs broadly diversified, long-term portfolios using institutional mutual funds and ETFs, employing a small- and value-tilt approach, and offers pension consulting and participant-level advice under ERISA.

Michael Garber is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience and the principal of Michael Garber Financial Planning, an independent advisory firm. He has worked at Keysight Technologies, Inc. since 2014 in an internal organizational consultant role focused on sales skills development. Michael Garber Financial Planning serves individuals and families through a fee-only, independent model offering comprehensive financial planning, investment consulting, tax preparation, estate-plan review, risk management, and small-business planning. The firm emphasizes a long-term, cost-minimizing investment approach using passive vehicles and operates on a retainer- and project-based fee structure without discretionary trading authority or acceptance of commissions.

Michael Zaplitny is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience, serving as the sole advisor at Fireside Financial Planning, Inc. in San Jose, CA since 1997. He is also the president and sole employee of Fireside Tax Consulting, Inc., where he prepares tax returns and provides tax-related services. Fireside Financial Planning offers written financial plans and both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management for individuals, trusts, small businesses, and institutional clients such as corporate pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm emphasizes long-term investment strategies using mutual funds, ETFs/ETNs, and also provides pension consulting services.

Todd Smith is a financial advisor at Silicon Valley Wealth Management Solutions, Inc. in San Jose, CA, with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with his current firm since 2012. In addition to advisory services, he works as an insurance agent, assisting clients with life and health insurance as well as annuities. Silicon Valley Wealth Management Solutions is an independent registered investment adviser that provides asset management, pension consulting, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate entities. The firm focuses on non-discretionary portfolio supervision and pension consulting, serving a broad client base including high-net-worth individuals and plan sponsors.