Nancy Markelz Gatens

John Wessels is a financial advisor with Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC, holding Series 63, 66, and 65 licenses and with 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fusion Capital Management since 2020 and operates Wessels Financial Services independently. His other business activities include life and annuity insurance sales. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC operates under the Fusion Investment Advisors brand, offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charities, and business entities. The firm employs an open-architecture investment platform using internally and externally developed asset allocation models and a wide range of investment tools, with continuous monitoring and periodic rebalancing.

I began in this industry in 2010 in the aftermath of the financial crisis, working in a largely transactional, commission-based role during my first year. My employer at the time focused heavily on investments and placed little emphasis on financial advice. My following employer was fee-based - favoring the AUM business model - and focused much more on financial planning. At face value, this was a great change for me. However, as my career progressed and I learned more about our industry, my feelings on the AUM business model began to evolve. Over time, I became disenchanted with the notion that an advisor should be entitled to a cut of a client’s portfolio. It also began to dawn on me that – in this industry – most employers would value me based on how much money I brought in each year, and not necessarily on how much I was helping my clients. This ultimately is what led me to breakaway, become fully independent, and establish Fair Asset Management. I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. Back in 2010 when I got my start, this was considered the “gold standard” credential of the financial planning profession. This designation - while important & valuable - represents minimum, baseline knowledge, and serves as a starting point to furthering your expertise through continuing education. I went on to become a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® professional. The CPWA® curriculum focuses on serving the needs of clients with a minimum net worth of $5 million and goes far deeper than the CFP® into areas like high-net-worth estate planning strategies, and planning for corporate executives. My experience as a CPWA® professional uniquely qualifies me to develop specific strategies to minimize taxes, monetize & protect assets, maximize growth, and transfer wealth. I then became admitted to practice before the Internal Revenue Service as an Enrolled Agent (EA). Enrolled Agent status is the highest credential the IRS awards. As taxes are intertwined with virtually every aspect of financial planning, having such a broad base of knowledge & expertise allows me to help clients navigate an ever-changing tax landscape. Enrolled Agents, like tax attorneys & CPAs, are unrestricted as to what types of tax matters they can handle. In addition to the above credentials, I am also a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®).

Jian Kong is a financial advisor at Amerina International Capital Management LLC in Dallas, TX, with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Amerina since 2012, also working at Alphabetwise Capital LLC since 2022. Kong serves as the managing member of Amerina, overseeing daily operations and investment management. Amerina International Capital Management LLC provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporations. The firm employs a blend of fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis, utilizing both long- and short-term trading strategies with discretionary authority to execute transactions on behalf of clients.

David Weber is the sole advisor at Uniplan Financial Investments Inc. in Dallas, TX, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 17 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Uniplan Financial Investments since 2013 and has a long-standing career dating back to 1986 through his ownership and presidency of Uniplan Financial Services, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, Weber serves as treasurer for the Dallas Association of Health Underwriters. Uniplan Financial Investments provides financial planning and consulting services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, referring assets to third-party money managers. The firm offers customized advice through documented investment objectives and ongoing support but does not exercise discretionary trading authority or custody client assets.

James Browne is a financial advisor at Coleman River Capital LLC in Dallas, TX, with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Coleman River Capital since 2003. Coleman River Capital LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and pension plans. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to construct concentrated long and short portfolios using U.S. equities, ETFs, and listed options, including strategies such as short sales and margin trading tailored to client risk profiles.

Collin Lafollette is a financial advisor at Bent Tree Trust Advisors, LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked with Bent Tree Trust Advisors since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, Lafollette is a partner and investor in KDL Medical Inc., a non-investment-related business. Bent Tree Trust Advisors is a single-adviser independent firm serving individual clients with financial planning, investment advisory, and portfolio oversight services, integrating insurance and annuity solutions alongside advisory work.