Ruth Bettencourt Freitas

James Ward is a CFP® with 4 years of experience in financial advising and is the sole advisor at J Ward Financial in Morgan Hill, CA. He has a background in legal and real estate fields, operating an estate-planning and elder-law practice as well as a real estate business. Ward also holds licenses related to insurance and broker-dealer activities outside his advisory role. J Ward Financial provides discretionary investment management primarily for high-net-worth individuals, families, and trusts. The firm focuses on asset-allocation strategies tailored to clients’ circumstances and regularly reviews portfolios every one to three months, often utilizing third-party managers such as FPAS and Dimensional.

Michael Garber is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience and the principal of Michael Garber Financial Planning, an independent advisory firm. He has worked at Keysight Technologies, Inc. since 2014 in an internal organizational consultant role focused on sales skills development. Michael Garber Financial Planning serves individuals and families through a fee-only, independent model offering comprehensive financial planning, investment consulting, tax preparation, estate-plan review, risk management, and small-business planning. The firm emphasizes a long-term, cost-minimizing investment approach using passive vehicles and operates on a retainer- and project-based fee structure without discretionary trading authority or acceptance of commissions.

Ying Chen is a financial advisor with Wolfe Signal Capital LLC in San Jose, CA, holding a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. She is also a Senior Analyst with Aurum Equity Partners, a position she will hold until the end of September 2025. Wolfe Signal Capital LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, using a blend of fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and quantitative models to tailor portfolios according to client risk tolerance and objectives. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and fixed-fee financial plans, with a distinctive investable universe that includes venture capital funds and private placements.

Todd Smith is a financial advisor at Silicon Valley Wealth Management Solutions, Inc. in San Jose, CA, with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with his current firm since 2012. In addition to advisory services, he works as an insurance agent, assisting clients with life and health insurance as well as annuities. Silicon Valley Wealth Management Solutions is an independent registered investment adviser that provides asset management, pension consulting, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate entities. The firm focuses on non-discretionary portfolio supervision and pension consulting, serving a broad client base including high-net-worth individuals and plan sponsors.

Lindsay Stuart is a CFP® professional affiliated with EquityFTW, bringing 12 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Mercer Advisors, Moss Adams Wealth Advisors, and Charles Schwab. EquityFTW is a fee-only advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and other businesses with advice-only financial planning. The firm provides written deliverables, educational seminars, and structured client service calendars, focusing on integrated planning and equity compensation analysis without managing or custodying client accounts.

Marialisa Caruso is a financial advisor at Caruso Family Financial Advisors (CFFA) LLC in San Jose, CA, with five years of industry experience. She holds the Series 65 designation and has been with CFFA since 2020. Outside of her advisory role, she works as a model and actress with Halvorson Model Management and serves as a front desk and bridal consultant at Trudys Brides and Special Occasions. Caruso Family Financial Advisors provides portfolio management and pension consulting to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $15.4 million across about 50 client accounts, using a combination of fundamental, quantitative, technical, and modern portfolio theory analyses to guide discretionary asset allocation and offers performance-based fee arrangements for qualified clients.