Valerie Hurst

Michael Melo is the principal of Melo Out Financial, LLC, holding a Series 65 credential with over 20 years of experience, including two decades at Yosemite Farm Credit. He began his financial advisory career independently before founding his current firm in 2025. Melo Out Financial provides investment management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, and small businesses, including agricultural clients. The firm focuses on long-term, index-oriented strategic asset allocation with a mix of ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, and cash equivalents, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside coaching, consulting, and estate-planning coordination.

Robert Hillberg is the principal of Hillberg Capital Management, LLC in Turlock, California, and holds the PFS™ designation. He has 21 years of experience in financial advising and has operated his investment advisory firm since 2004. In addition, he has been a partner at Hillberg & Co, CPAs since 1980, providing tax, accounting, and general business services outside of investment advising. Hillberg Capital Management is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and businesses. The firm focuses on strategic asset allocation and diversification, primarily using mutual funds and ETFs, and integrates its investment management with the affiliated CPA practice for coordinated tax and financial planning.

Nicole Seghetti is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience. She is the sole advisor at Luminary Financial Planning in Modesto, CA, and has operated Seghhetti Holdings LLC since 2012, providing financial planning content for online publications. Luminary Financial Planning offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm manages client accounts on a strictly non-discretionary basis and employs a long-term investment approach using fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory.

Kevin Berger is the sole advisor at Berger Asset Management, Inc. in Turlock, CA, holding a Series 63 credential with 14 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his firm, he worked at Berger & Company, CPAs for 18 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president and director of several non-investment related companies, including Colonize Media, Inc., a digital media distribution firm, as well as employee benefit administration and consulting companies. Berger Asset Management provides discretionary portfolio management and advisory services to individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and estates and trusts. The firm employs a fundamental, value-oriented investment approach focused on large- and mid-cap securities, tailoring portfolios to client objectives and incorporating various instruments such as equities, debt, mutual funds, ETFs, options, and limited futures.

Joshua Natham is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and holds a Series 65 license with six years of industry experience. He has been with Kenneth E. Boone Wealth Management, LLC since 2016, after working at HKG LLP for one year. Natham is also a licensed insurance agent, offering insurance products as part of comprehensive wealth planning when appropriate. Kenneth E. Boone Wealth Management advises individual and high-net-worth clients on wealth planning and portfolio management, utilizing a Modern Portfolio Theory framework. The firm emphasizes customized investment policies, diversified long-term asset-class exposures, and manages the majority of assets on a non-discretionary basis through a third-party administrator.

Kendall Seifert is a financial advisor at Blom & Howell Financial Planning, Inc. in Modesto, CA, holding a Series 65 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Blom & Howell in 2023, Kendall worked at Grand Canyon University and has concurrent experience at Trader Joe’s since 2018. Blom & Howell Financial Planning serves individuals, trusts, estates, business entities, and retirement plans with comprehensive wealth management, financial planning, and estate-planning assistance. The firm offers customized asset allocation and portfolio management services, including a firm-sponsored wrap fee program, and integrates technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in its investment processes.