Rafael Melendez

> I got my start in money the strange way. I was a bank teller at 15 in Spring Hill, Kansas, and I'm told the age requirement went up after me. > Since then: eight years at Fidelity learning how big firms care for clients, a wealth management chapter, a CFO seat at a startup. And in 2025 I went advice-only, because I kept meeting families who'd been offered plenty of products and percentages, when all they really wanted was someone on their side of the table to hand them the plan. > That's what advice-only means. You pay one flat fee for advice. I don't sell products, I don't take a percentage of your money, and nothing I recommend pays me a commission. The advice is the whole business. > I work with couples and families like my own, people who love what they do and want to know their family is taken care of. We map the whole picture, cash flow, investments, taxes, protection, and you leave with a plan you actually understand and own. > Away from the desk I'm a husband and a dad of three. Whatever time is left goes to guitar, piano, and singing and a long audiobook queue. > If you've been wanting real advice without wondering who's earning what off the recommendation, message me here. That's the easiest way to start!

Thanks for checking out my profile! Here's a little about me: I'm happily married to the love of my life who somehow hasn't realized how far out of my league she is (so please don't tell her). When not working, I’m probably chasing after our two amazing kids who keep life loud and full in the best ways, or experimenting with new vegan curry recipes, or injuring myself trying to get back into a workout routine since I refuse to accept that I’m no longer a 20-something Marine. I'm often asked how I got into financial planning. After the military, I headed to San Diego State University not knowing what my next steps would be, but knowing that I 1) wanted to do meaningful work that could genuinely help people, 2) had a strong interest in finance, and 3) was compelled to continue my lifelong string of side projects and small businesses I kept finding myself in. Smashing those together led to becoming a CFP® and founding Next Gen Financial Planning to serve clients often overlooked by our profession, giving me the chance to help hundreds of people navigate their financial and life journeys. Along the way, I did my best to learn from every financial planner in San Diego or elsewhere who would answer my calls or emails. Jim taught me the importance of truly listening to clients before offering solutions. Michael showed me how to think like a business owner, not just an advisor. Nancy taught me that sales can be ethical and fun. Taylor showed me the power of community and supporting each other as we grow. I'm deeply grateful to them, and to the many others who helped me get here. Next Gen grew up to be bigger than just me, and I passed the torch over to the team in 2024. Now I'm excited to set my sights on a new mission with AdviceOnly because it's time for change, not just for me but in how our profession treats both financial advisors and the clients we serve. I’m building a new model to help advisors focus on giving advice, not sales pitches. Too many are overwhelmed by compliance/tech/admin, or feel lonely, or pressured to put the firm's financial performance over their sense of what’s right. Quick note: I'm not currently taking on new ongoing financial planning clients while focusing on building the AdviceOnly platform to support other advisors, so please consider checking out www.adviceonly.com or another credible place. I do still take on an occasional small hourly projects.

Grant Knox has been a Financial Advisor since 1994 and holds the following registrations and licenses: General Securities, California Life and Health Insurance, and California Real Estate and Mortgage Lending. A Southern California native, Grant excels at strategies for financial health and wealth that are attainable and effective. He is passionate about helping others achieve financial success and exceed their goals. He is a certified Kingdom Advisor, able to offer counsel on the integration of a Biblical worldview into financial practices. He holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Designation (CPFA), designating expertise in company retirement plans. He holds a Bachelors degree from Evangel University and a D.Min. from Summit Bible College. Grant lives in La Mesa with his wife, Nicole and their son Noah. He loves to travel, active in his church, is a voracious reader and an avid soccer fan, having played on and managed recreational soccer teams for over 30 years.

Scott Smith is the sole advisor at Conscious Investment Services, LLC in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial from 2011 to 2018 before founding his current independent advisory firm in 2018. Smith is also a licensed insurance agent. Conscious Investment Services, LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and other advisers. The firm provides non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and participant account management using a third-party platform, applying a combination of fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and technical strategies across various time horizons.

Steven Friedman is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Kalo Capital Management, LLC since 2011, where he also serves as Portfolio Manager for affiliated hedge funds. Additionally, he has a minority ownership interest in ABF Enterprises, Inc., and serves as Portfolio Manager for Potomac Partners, LP, a family fund of funds hedge fund. Kalo Capital Management provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, family offices, hedge funds, and institutional clients. The firm focuses on an emerging-growth equity strategy centered on North American companies and employs fundamental and technical analysis, including derivatives and leverage when appropriate.

Gabriel Kadmiri is an independent financial advisor at Green Harvest Capital Management with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has operated a screen printing business and a dog walking service alongside his advisory work. Green Harvest provides portfolio management and fee-based financial planning primarily to individual investors, with occasional services for small businesses and non-profits. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis, utilizing both passive fixed-income and index strategies as well as active investment approaches tailored to client objectives.