Gary B Hessert

Richard Stebbins Jr. is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He operates as the sole advisor at Richard A. Stebbins CPA CFP, an independent firm based in The Villages, FL. The firm provides discretionary investment management primarily for individuals and trusts, managing approximately $13.1 million for about 20 clients. Its investment approach includes preferred stocks, closed-end funds, index ETFs, selected individual equities, MLPs, and occasional covered-call option writing, tailored to clients’ objectives and risk tolerance. The firm maintains a fee-only model, serves a deliberately small client base, and offers separate tax-planning reviews and limited-scope hourly planning engagements without providing comprehensive financial planning services.

Michael Barber is the principal of Barber & Associates, an independent advisory firm, with over 40 years of experience in the financial industry. He holds the ChFC® and Series 63 credentials. His career includes roles at Kissling Financial Services, Wealth Management Network, and ownership of Concierge Tax Preparation, LLC, which prepares income tax returns. He also spends time with an estate documentation firm and provides training to financial advisors through Wealth Management Network. Barber & Associates offers investment advisory services primarily by recommending and referring clients to third-party managed account programs and assisting with investment objectives and oversight. The firm manages approximately $50 million in discretionary assets and does not impose account minimums. It does not directly trade client portfolios but helps clients select third-party money managers, with custody and execution handled by independent custodians.

William Losey III is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience. He is the principal advisor at Bill Losey Retirement Solutions, LLC, an independent firm he has operated since 2005. Bill Losey Retirement Solutions, LLC provides investment supervisory services and financial planning to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm primarily uses the SEI Asset Management Program, focusing on mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, and operates predominantly on a non-discretionary basis, allowing clients to retain trade authority.

Mark Dushane is the principal of Dushane Management, Inc., an independent advisory firm, with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at Advance Capital Management Inc. Dushane is the author of the book "Beyond Folly," serves as president of the Lake County Chamber Alliance, and chairs the Lady Lake Economic Development Advisory Committee. Dushane Management, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities, employing a rules-based investment strategy that incorporates both long- and short-term trading. The firm offers institutional-style services including a quarterly client newsletter and formally documented policies on investment allocation and security selection.

Kathleen Laseter is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience in financial advising. She has been with Blueprint Wealth Management, LLC dba Parady Wealth Management since 2016 and has extensive experience managing multiple related entities, including her own CPA firm which she has operated since 1993. Outside of advising, she is the sole owner of Kathleen Laseter CPA, LLC, providing income tax return preparation and accounting services. Parady Wealth Management offers discretionary investment management and model-portfolio selection primarily for individual and high net worth clients, as well as charitable organizations. The firm employs a model-driven, sub-advised approach using portfolios managed by CreativeOne, with services that include portfolio management, sub-adviser selection, and retirement rollover analysis.

Todd Lietz is a financial advisor at Zenith Advisory Group, LLC in Ocala, FL, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Zenith, he worked at Northwestern Mutual and spent nine years at L2 Defense, alongside roles with the Florida State Fire College and Marion County Fire Rescue. Zenith Advisory Group provides advisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm applies modern portfolio theory with a long-term trading orientation, tailoring asset selection to client goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.