Erin Maura Merlone

Charles Shipman is a financial advisor at Blue Keel Financial Planning in Westport, CT, with 20+ years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Blue Keel Financial Planning since 2014. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in a music royalty business, Lakshmi Puja Music Ltd, since 2006. Blue Keel Financial Planning serves small business owners in Fairfield County, CT, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and business consultation. The firm employs a Core + Satellite investment approach, combining low-cost indexed core holdings with actively managed satellite positions tailored to client goals and risk tolerance, and provides educational workshops and business consulting services alongside its investment offerings.

I’m Gabriel Kaplan, CFP®, CPA, and founder of Wealth Habits, an integrated financial planning and investment management firm. I help busy professionals, tech employees, founders, and business owners make better financial decisions across investments, taxes, equity compensation, retirement, cash flow, and estate planning. My work includes strategies for ISOs, NQSOs, RSUs, retirement plans, tax-efficient investing, business transitions, and major life decisions such as buying a home or preparing for retirement. Before founding Wealth Habits, I worked in asset management, tax, and consulting. I hold an MBA from NYU Stern, a Master’s in Business Taxation from USC, and a BSE from the University of Pennsylvania. As a fee-only advisor, I believe financial advice should be tailored, practical, and always aligned with the client’s best interests.

Deirdre Smith is a CFP® professional with experience at Capital Group, Elodie Wealth, and Sparrow Wealth Management, where she has worked since 2025. She is based in Mamaroneck, NY. Sparrow Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser serving individuals and high-net-worth clients with discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning. The firm’s approach combines asset allocation based on Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis, blending passive and active investments while incorporating tax considerations and ESG screens upon client request.

Brian Lasher is a financial advisor at Euclid Harding, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with six years of industry experience. Prior to joining Euclid Harding, he worked at CIG Capital Advisors, CIG Asset Management Inc., CIG Securities, and Rueone Investments. He also operates as a sole proprietor providing fixed insurance sales and service. Euclid Harding, LLC is a small independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other entities. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and pension consulting, focusing on strategic asset allocation and a broad range of investment instruments.

Fabian Degen is a CFP® and CFA® credentialed advisor with one year of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at FMD Wealth Advisors LLC, an independent firm located in White Plains, NY. Prior to founding his firm, he worked for 16 years at DWS Group. In addition to his advisory role, he performs seasonal tax preparation work with H&R Block. FMD Wealth Advisors is a fee-only independent registered investment adviser serving individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers wealth management, investment management, and financial planning services, typically utilizing low-cost mutual funds and ETFs within a process that combines fundamental and technical analysis for long-term portfolio construction.

Gabriel Nardi is a CFA® charterholder based in Stamford, CT, currently serving as the sole advisor at Tadpole Investments LLC. He has prior experience at Third Avenue Management and BlazeRidge LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is the founder of a software company developing a web-based application to assist book authors. Tadpole Investments LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs cyclical, fundamental, and quantitative analysis with a range of trading strategies, including performance-based fee arrangements for qualified clients.