Sean Cates

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.

Ivan Sacks is a financial advisor at Kingsley Advisors, LLC in Dallas, TX, with 23 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Kingsley Advisors since 2015, with a brief tenure at National Asset Management, Inc. from 2015 to 2017. Kingsley Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management to individual and institutional clients, focusing on deep-value, out-of-favor opportunities through concentrated positions in a limited number of securities. The firm offers its investment strategy exclusively via its own wrap fee program, managing portfolios primarily through separately managed accounts.

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 in Richardson, TX, with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Bent Tree Trust Advisors since 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner and investor in KDL Medical Inc. Bent Tree Trust Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients with financial planning, consulting, and referral-based investment supervisory services. The firm uses a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach based on Fama–French principles and relies on third-party sub-advisors for portfolio management.