Michael James Black

For Kurt, planning and investing are means to an end—after all, what’s the point of accumulating wealth for accumulation’s sake? His goal is for clients to fully enjoy their wealth both today and in the future. As such, he focuses first on helping clients map out their life, creating a detailed picture of their hopes, dreams, and wishes. Only after that big-picture plan is established does he dive into the details and identify prescriptive action steps. Then, and only then, does he discuss the best way to invest their money. This intentional order aims to ensure each strategy has a specific purpose, and that every decision the client makes is driving them closer to their long-term goals. Kurt enjoys working with young entrepreneurs and specialized professionals who are early in their careers. Many of his clients have never had a personalized financial plan, and they appreciate his fresh perspective. He challenges conventional wisdom, always seeking the “why” behind a strategy rather than simply accepting the status quo. In doing so, he often discovers additional avenues for growth, methods for clients to more efficiently achieve their goals, or ways to save on taxes. Kurt lives in Rochester, New York, with his wife Sarah and their two young children, Kai and Isla. They’re an active family that loves to be outside as much as possible, and when each of his kids turned three, Kurt taught them to ski—something he was very excited about, having started skiing himself at the age of two. They also enjoy cooking together, going on road trips, and watching movies.

Rajiv Dixit is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently the sole advisor at Serenity Capital Advisors Inc., a firm he joined in 2025 after working at Ralph Parks Investment Group LLC for 20 years. Serenity Capital Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm offers tailored investment strategies combining technical charting with fundamental, cyclical, and economic analysis, and also delivers ERISA-focused retirement plan services with direct asset management.

Ben has always been drawn to work where trust matters. Before entering financial planning, he studied pastoral ministry, a background that still shapes the way he listens, asks questions, and walks with people through important decisions. Over time, he became interested in business as a practical way to help families build stability, opportunity, and generosity. After transferring to Roberts Wesleyan University to study business and organizational management, Ben began working at ESL Federal Credit Union. There, he saw how personal financial decisions affect nearly every part of a family’s life—and how valuable clear guidance can be when people are trying to make wise choices. That experience led him to pursue deeper expertise early in his career, earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation and now serving on the board of the Rochester chapter of the Estate Planning Council. Ben later joined TIAA Wealth Management, where he worked closely with physicians, professors, administrators, and other healthcare professionals. The experience deepened his appreciation for clients whose financial lives often involve complex benefits, retirement plans, tax decisions, and significant responsibility. It also clarified the advisory model he wanted to be part of: one where clients are known personally, served consistently, and guided with care over many years. At Kickstand Wealth Advisors, Ben is a fee-only fiduciary for a limited number of families. Outside of work, Ben enjoys time with his wife, Ksenia, hiking in the Adirondacks, exploring Rochester’s live music scene, and serving at his church, where he is a board member and trustee.

H. Robert Bradley is a CFP® with 27 years of experience in the financial industry. He is currently with Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC and has previously worked at Mutual Securities, Inc. and Northlanding Financial Partners, LLC. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, nonprofits, and corporations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach with customized portfolios, utilizing fundamental analysis and strategies such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Karl Khuns is a financial advisor at Stone Oak Capital LLC in Rochester, NY, with 18 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Lord Abbett, ESL Investment Services, Boyd Capital, and Engleson and Associates. Stone Oak Capital LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, offering tailored investment policy statements and discretionary management across a broad range of investment types. The firm’s investment process integrates fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and technical analysis to create client-specific portfolios and employs both long- and short-term trading strategies.

John Howe is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Hamewith Wealth. His previous roles include positions at Generation Capital Management, St. John Fisher University, LPL Financial, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Hamewith Wealth is an independent registered investment adviser that offers discretionary portfolio management, wealth management, and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm’s investment approach combines passive and active fund strategies grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, with options for ESG or values-based investments, and includes monitoring of held-away accounts and K-12 retirement plan advisory services.