Paul Michael Kato II

James Durso is a financial advisor at Blackridge Asset Management, LLC with 42 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. His prior work includes roles at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. and Invest Financial Corporation. Outside of advising, he operates a separate financial advisory business and serves as a notary public in New York. Blackridge Asset Management provides financial planning, investment management, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers tailored portfolio management through a network of advisers and utilizes affiliated platforms for portfolio management and trading.

Richard Lavoie is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth since 2014 and currently operates StillWater Planning Group. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in fixed insurance sales and owns several private entities related to securities and real estate management. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and comprehensive back-office support, allowing advisors discretion in portfolio construction alongside managed model portfolios and personalized investment solutions.

Austin Allen is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Eagle Insurance and Strategic Financial Solutions. Before entering the financial industry, he spent five years working in junior and high schools. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s approach includes point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions, integrating closely with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Joseph Hayes is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services and holds a Series 66 designation. He has two years of industry experience, with prior roles at Equitable Advisors, Starbridge Inc, and Principal Life Insurance Co. Outside of his advisory duties, he serves as a board member of Compeer Rochester, a nonprofit organization, and volunteers with The Dove Block Project, a community arts center in Geneva, NY. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third‑party money manager solutions through various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Pamela Tierney is a financial advisor with Guardian Life in Geneva, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and over 31 years of industry experience. She has been with Guardian Life since 1999 and also has a longstanding affiliation with Pony Express & Company since 1993. Beyond her advisory role, she serves as an estate administrator for her family and manages a cottage rental through Airbnb. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and offering access to insurance products, alternative investments, and various financial planning solutions.

Gregory Schmitter is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Seneca Falls, NY, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining the firm, he served with the New York State Police for 18 years. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.