Melanie Lauren Powell

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.

Richard Dragotta is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 34 years of industry experience. multiple securities licenses and industry designations and has worked at LPL Financial since 2003, Dragotta serves as a FINRA arbitrator in a non-public capacity. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers financial planning, advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research, model portfolios, and technology-driven strategies.

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.

John Wieder is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license. He is the sole advisor at Wieder Financial Corp. with one year of industry experience. Wieder is also a licensed attorney in New York and owns a title insurance business. He has worked at Nationwide Settlements Solutions since 2008. Wieder Financial Corp. is an independent, state-registered advisory firm serving individual clients through a co-advisory arrangement with a third-party money manager. The firm focuses on broad-based asset categories using funds-of-funds, mutual funds, and ETFs, while portfolio management and trading are handled by the selected money manager.

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.

Stephanie Burke is the owner of Stargazer Financial Planning and holds a Series 65 designation. She has seven years of experience at Brigade Capital Management and currently works in an operations role at HIGHLAND Financial Advisors, LLC while pursuing CFP certification. Stargazer Financial Planning is a fee-only, advice-only practice providing hourly financial planning services to individuals, families, and small business owners. The firm follows a passive, indexing-oriented investment approach and emphasizes client education, behavioral finance, and on-demand planning without taking custody of client assets.