Elizabeth Varela

Lance Howard is the principal advisor at Howard Financial with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has operated his own insurance services firm since 1995. He manages an independent financial advisory practice based in Bakersfield, CA. Howard Financial provides fee-based financial planning, consulting, and portfolio advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm follows a non-discretionary approach with documented client goals and uses third-party money managers alongside multi-tier planning services.

Jack Fawcett is the principal advisor at Visionary Wealth Planners LLC in Bakersfield, CA, with 8 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has operated Fawcett Financial and Insurance Services Inc. since 1988, where he serves as president and insurance agent. Visionary Wealth Planners LLC serves individual clients, including high-net-worth households, and provides advisory services to employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm utilizes a combination of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis in portfolio construction and offers discretionary management, written financial planning, and ERISA 3(21) plan advisory services.

Victoria Gomez is the sole advisor at Gomez Financial Planning in Bakersfield, CA. She holds a Series 65 registration and has recently entered the financial advisory field, with no prior industry experience. Gomez is employed full-time as a high school math teacher and provides investment advisory services outside of her teaching hours. Gomez Financial Planning offers non-discretionary, fee-only financial planning and investment advice to individuals, families, educators, retirees, young professionals, and small business owners. The firm follows an evidence-based, passive investment approach focused on broad diversification, low-cost index funds and ETFs, and client-aligned asset allocation, providing advice without managing or custodying client assets.

Stanley Garrison is a financial advisor at Sierra Capital Management in Bakersfield, CA, with 37 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Sierra Capital Management since 1999. Sierra Capital Management provides comprehensive financial planning and consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, corporations, and other business entities. The firm focuses on fundamental analysis and a long-term, asset-allocation approach, offering customized investment plans without managing client assets or accepting custody.

Laurence Menna is a CFP® professional with 23 years of experience in financial advising. He has been with WealthTarget Investment Advisors, LLC since 2003, serving clients from Bakersfield, CA. WealthTarget Investment Advisors, LLC serves individual investors as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm provides customized portfolio allocations focused on strategic asset allocation, combining actively managed and lower-cost funds, and offers specialized plan-level services including ERISA-focused 401(k) consulting and technology integrations.

Daniel Petrey is a financial advisor at Mestmaker & Petrey Wealth Advisors with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with the firm since 2009. Outside of advisory work, he is a co-owner of a real estate holding company. Mestmaker & Petrey Wealth Advisors provides asset management, pension consulting, and 401(k) participant services to individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer retirement plans, offering tailored portfolio reviews and educational resources for clients and plan sponsors.