Zhivago Velasco

Melissa Mason is a financial advisor at Cascade Wealth Management Solutions Inc. in Pittsfield, MA, with one year of industry experience. She holds the Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Berkshire Retirement Strategies. Outside of advising, Mason owns and operates Shire Virtual Admin, providing administrative clerical services. Cascade Wealth Management Solutions provides discretionary asset management and financial planning to high-net-worth individuals, managing approximately $16.6 million in assets. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and personalized client profiles to guide investment decisions, conducting quarterly reviews and offering portfolio customization without outsourcing investment selection or proxy voting.

James Rose is a CFP® certificant with 21 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Dollar & Sense and has operated Herrick-Rose, Inc., his tax planning and preparation firm, since 1998. His work integrates tax consulting with retirement and investment planning. Dollar & Sense Tax & Financial Planning Services primarily provides tax planning and preparation for individuals and various business entities, offering fee-only financial planning and investment advice focused on no-load mutual funds and ETFs. The firm follows a tax-first model, emphasizing long-term buy-and-hold strategies and asset allocation while encouraging clients to manage their accounts actively.

Stephen Galib is the principal advisor at Stephen P Galib CRPC in Pittsfield, MA, holding a Series 65 designation with seven years of industry experience. He has a long-term engineering career at General Dynamics Mission Systems and also works as a tax preparer for Giardina & Bresett PC. His firm provides financial planning and investment advice to individuals and related estates and trusts, focusing on diversified allocations to mutual funds and ETFs based on client goals and risk tolerance. The practice does not manage client assets directly and uses an hourly billing model, emphasizing strategic allocation with limited discretionary authority.

Phuong Luong is a CFP® professional with eight years of industry experience, operating through her independent firm, Just Wealth LLC in Pittsfield, MA. She has held roles at Adasina Social Capital, Saltbox Financial LLC, Morningstar, and Robasciotti & Associates, Inc. Luong contributes as a curriculum developer for the Boston University Financial Planning Program and serves on Adasina Social Capital’s Stewardship Circle Committee advising on social justice issues. Just Wealth LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, families, and related entities such as small organizations and foundations. The firm employs a largely passive, low-turnover investment approach informed by Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing ESG and socially responsible investing, with integrated financial planning and educational services.

Hao Jiang is a financial advisor at East River Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining East River Capital Management, he worked at Zhong Lun for eight years and Broad & Bright for four years. East River Capital Management LLC is an independent, fee-only advisory firm serving individuals and entities, including pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and municipal government clients. The firm provides tailored financial planning and non-discretionary asset management, combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and is notable for its pension consulting services and educational seminars on topics such as value investing and private equity.

Eric Katzman is a CFA® charterholder with 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Rockingstone Advisors since 2016. Katzman serves on the Board of Trustees at Oberlin College, where he advises on the university endowment, and he is also a board member of the Berkshire Natural Resource Council, focusing on environmental stewardship. Additionally, he is an advisory board member of Jove Island Acquisition Corp, contributing to investment decisions. Rockingstone Advisors manages approximately $280 million for primarily high-net-worth individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and select OCIO clients. The firm employs an actively managed, multi-step investment process across various asset classes, using strategies that include derivatives and margin in separately managed accounts.