Griffin Kick

Damian Mbadugha is the sole advisor at Hillgate Financial, LLC, a New Jersey-registered investment adviser. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 13 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, he is registered as a commodities trading advisor, and works as an insurance agent and tax preparer, focusing on research during weekends. Hillgate Financial provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, and estates, applying modern portfolio theory to build diversified portfolios primarily using passively managed funds and ETFs. The firm emphasizes tax-aware strategies and manages a historically significant asset base with a focus on individualized client portfolios.

Phillip Defranco is the Managing Member and Chief Compliance Officer of Heartland Northeast LLC, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. He has prior experience at Kornett, Inc. and is the owner of Northeast Advocacy Network, Inc., where he also serves as a licensed insurance agent. Heartland Northeast LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a combination of analytical methods focused on long-term trading and tailored model allocations. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management and sponsors a wrap fee program.

Matthew Wright is the principal and sole advisor at WRIGHT Investment Partners LLC, with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked as a private investor for five years before founding his firm in 2016. Outside of advisory work, he is a principal in a business that owns a small Class C office building. WRIGHT Investment Partners LLC provides portfolio management services to individual and high net worth clients, focusing on personalized Investment Policy Statements and discretionary management. The firm uses a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis with a long-term trading approach, offering a range of investment products and conducting at least monthly account reviews.

Michael Godeanu is a financial advisor at Luxe Capital Management Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Singer Wealth Advisors LLC, Prudential Insurance Company of America, Pruco Securities, LLC, Mass Mutual Investors Services, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and AXA Advisors, LLC. Outside of finance, he is the owner of Berzerk Fitness LLC, an e-commerce retail business, and has served as an on-ice hockey official for USA Hockey since 2004. Luxe Capital Management, founded in 2024, provides portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and adviser selection services to individual and institutional clients. The firm employs a multi-method investment approach combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and manages accounts using long-term, short-term, and trading strategies, typically on a discretionary basis.

Joseph Kelly is the principal of Joseph C. Kelly & Associates, Inc., an independent advisory firm based in Middletown, NJ. He holds a Series 66 designation and has 21 years of experience in the financial industry. In addition to his advisory role, he has operated a certified public accounting practice, Kelly & Co., CPA, since 1989. Joseph C. Kelly & Associates, Inc. provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and hourly consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to manage portfolios and offers standalone financial planning engagements.

Samuel McPherson is a CFP® professional and the sole advisor at McPherson Financial Advisors, Inc. in Jersey City, NJ, with 17 years at his independent firm and a total of 4 years of industry experience. McPherson Financial Advisors provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and retirement plan clients. The firm operates as a fee-only fiduciary, using a strategic asset allocation framework with a core-and-satellite approach focused on low-cost index funds and ETFs, and offers pension consulting services and ancillary business management to select clients.