Lauren Christine Ashley Smith

I started in the advice business in 2012 as an intern at First Allied Securities. Lucky for me, I got to see the inside of a lot of classic wealth management firms - how the sausage was made. Fast forward to 2016, I've worked a few years in the industry, but I'm not happy with my trajectory; I want to write my own story. A couple of industry guys create a platform called XY Planning Network, seemingly tailor-made for me & my dreams. I want to serve the next generation of clients in a fair & transparent way, and I'd like to do it on my own terms. XYPN's little push, their "Yes, you can do this" at the September 2016 conference in San Diego, was the catalyst for launching my firm, Montebello Avenue Limited Company, which went live in February 2017. Today, my firm serves 50+ clients locally & throughout the country. I couldn't be more proud of our clientele or more hopeful about the future of the firm. Some more personal quick-hits: BS, Computational Mathematical Sciences, Arizona State University CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and the Alpha Architect blog Mississippi native Youngest of 4 siblings I love basketball, baseball, sushi, and my dog's underbite Married on 10/10/2020 to the love of my life

Bryan Wisda is the President of Almega Wealth Management, a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and investment advisory firm with offices in Arizona, Kentucky, and North Carolina. With more than three decades of experience in financial services, investment management, and financial planning, Bryan helps families coordinate their wealth, taxes, retirement planning, and long-term legacy goals. Bryan has been a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional since 2006 and is also an Enrolled Agent, a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor, a Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro, and a member of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group. His path into financial services began in high school, when he worked as a bank teller and discovered an early interest in helping people navigate financial decisions. After college, he worked in the insurance industry before being recruited by PaineWebber. His first day as a financial advisor was September 10, 2001. The events of September 11th, and the questions clients asked in the days following, shaped his belief that financial advice is ultimately about helping families make wise decisions in uncertain times. That belief became more personal after Bryan watched inherited wealth create strain within his own extended family. Today, much of his work centers on helping families build multi-generational wealth without allowing money to damage the relationships it was meant to support. Like a well-built bridge, good planning should help one generation cross safely while leaving the next generation on firmer ground. Prior to founding Almega, Bryan held roles with Bank of America, Farmers Insurance, UBS PaineWebber, and Summit Wealth Management. He also served as a Deputy Sheriff and received the Purple Heart after being wounded in the line of duty. Bryan studied Economic Philosophy at the University of Arizona and Financial Planning through Boston University, and he has completed additional coursework in Adult Education through Rio Salado College. He lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife, Sarah. Their youngest son attends Notre Dame Preparatory, and their oldest son attends High Point University.

Hi, I’m Ekenna Anya-Gafu, CFP, AAMS, AIF and the founder of Pacific Canyon Investments. I started this firm because growing up, I saw too many people make the wrong financial decisions, not because they didn’t care, but because no one ever showed them how. I decided to change that. After years in the industry helping build a firm from $200K to over $483M in assets, I launched PCI to bring honest, strategic, and empowering financial guidance to people from all walks of life. Whether you’re managing an IPO, a new or experienced healthcare worker, or want a better plan, I’m here to help.

Andrew Rafal is a financial advisor at Bayntree Wealth Advisors, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Strategy Financial Services and Redwood Investment Management, LLC. Rafal is also involved as a member or manager in several holding companies. Bayntree Wealth Advisors serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations by providing discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, retirement plan consulting, and comprehensive financial planning. The firm emphasizes long-term total return while limiting downside risk and employs a selective approach to third-party manager delegation.

Creighton Hardy is a CFP® and ChFC® with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of Guardian Life, and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual for several years. Hardy is also licensed as an insurance broker outside of Guardian Life. Park Avenue Securities, doing business as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, serves individual and institutional clients with brokerage, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm offers a combination of proprietary and third-party investment advisory programs and provides both discretionary and non-discretionary advisory relationships.

Scott Cadieux is a CFP® with 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Fidelity Brokerage Services, Strategic Advisers LLC, and Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors before founding Echelon Private Wealth LLC, where he has been since 2020. Outside of his advisory work, he owns and operates a vending machine business and works as an independent insurance agent. Echelon Private Wealth provides discretionary portfolio management, asset allocation advice, and goal-based financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside modern portfolio theory, offering customized investment strategies including options programs managed on a discretionary basis.