Steven Mac Near

John Cruse is the principal of Cruse Investments in Petaluma, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has led Cruse Investments since 2013. Cruse Investments provides investment management and written financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporations. The firm customizes portfolios using stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds, operates primarily on a non-discretionary basis, and offers advice on retirement rollovers and employer plan distributions.

Hardik Patel is the principal of Trusted Path Wealth Management, LLC in Santa Rosa, CA. He holds a Series 65 designation and began his advisory career in 2025. Prior to founding his firm, he worked as a lead software engineer at Williams-Sonoma Inc., where he continues to hold that role. He also serves as a board member of Catholic Charities of Northwest California. Trusted Path Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a blend of passive and active investment vehicles guided by modern portfolio theory and offers financial planning services on both a project and ongoing basis.

Daniel Peterson is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience and has been with Northbay Financial Group, Inc. since 2003. He is the president and CEO of North Bay Financial Group, which provides income tax preparation services through its subsidiary Express Income Tax Services. Northbay Advisors is an independent firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses with personalized financial planning and investment management. The firm combines advisory services with an affiliated tax-preparation practice, offering clients integrated tax and planning coordination.

John Jones is the principal of John Schooler Jones LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Petaluma, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 24 years of industry experience. Jones has led his firm since its founding in 2003. John Schooler Jones LLC provides financial advisory and planning services to a client base primarily consisting of higher-net-worth individuals, closely held corporations, trusts, and pension plans. The firm operates on a non-discretionary model, coordinating third-party asset managers and dedicating significant focus to business succession planning.

Harry Licursi is the sole advisor at Harry Licursi Tax & Retirement Planning in Santa Rosa, CA, with 19 years of industry experience and registrations including Series 63 and Series 65. He has operated his independent firm since 2004, providing financial advisory and tax services. Harry Licursi Tax and Retirement Planning offers personalized investment advisory, financial consulting, asset management, and pension consulting to individuals, trusts, estates, endowments, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm integrates investment management with tax advice as an IRS Enrolled Agent and emphasizes diversified portfolios tailored to client risk tolerance and time horizon.

Mark McDonell is a financial advisor based in Santa Rosa, CA, with two years of industry experience. He is a CPA and Personal Financial Specialist with over 37 years of accounting experience through his role at Mark R McDonell, CPA. His firm, McDonell, Mark Robert, combines accounting and advisory services with personal financial planning, offering fee-only compiled financial statements, auditing, tax preparation, and planning. The firm focuses on audit-ready financial reporting and integrates tax considerations into financial plans, serving clients requiring GAAP-based compilations and audit-capable services.