Jonathan Hurm is a financial advisor at NextGen Wealth Defense LLC in Lorain, Ohio, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Equitable Advisors LLC for nine years before founding NextGen Wealth Defense in 2024. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent involved in insurance sales. NextGen Wealth Defense LLC provides discretionary investment management, wealth management, and financial planning services for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm employs a primarily long-term investment approach that combines fundamental and technical analysis with Modern Portfolio Theory and utilizes unaffiliated Independent Managers for portfolio implementation and oversight.

Adam Schaffer is a financial advisor with A Schaffer Advisor Services in Norwalk, Ohio, holding a Series 65 designation and eight years of industry experience. He previously worked for Buckingham Capital Management, Inc. for 11 years before founding his current firm in 2021. A Schaffer Advisor Services provides discretionary portfolio management and advice-only engagements to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm employs a long-term, passive investment approach focused on strategic asset allocation using market-tracking ETFs, with customized investment policies and periodic portfolio reviews.

Luke Washburn is a financial advisor at Washburn Asset Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. from 2015 to 2019. Washburn also served in the United States Army Reserve for over 20 years. Outside of advising, he performs intermittent freelance work as a trumpet player. Washburn Asset Management LLC is an independent, single-adviser firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an active management approach focusing on selected individual equities complemented by mutual funds, ETFs, and option strategies to manage risk, and offers periodic educational workshops on personal finance and investing.

Shawn Armstrong is the sole advisor at Structured Investment Advisors, LLC in Sandusky, OH, with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has led his independent firm since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, Armstrong is a partner and lessor involved in building upkeep and related management duties. Structured Investment Advisors, LLC manages approximately $90.8 million across more than 300 client relationships, offering discretionary portfolio management, model-portfolio and asset-allocation services, as well as portfolio and pension consulting. The firm serves individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and pension/profit-sharing plans using a structured investment process that includes fundamental analysis, model portfolios, and documented investment policies.

James Ruthsatz is the principal of James Ruthsatz Pinnacle Advisors LLC and holds a Series 63 designation with 20 years of industry experience. He is also actively involved full time as a CPA with James L. Ruthsatz, Inc., a separate certified public accounting firm he has operated since 1990. He has led his advisory firm since 2004. James Ruthsatz Pinnacle Advisors provides advisory services primarily to retirement plan sponsors, trustees, and high-net-worth clients through co-advisory wealth and trust programs. The firm focuses on manager selection, monitoring, performance reporting, and coordination with other professional advisors, leveraging its formal affiliation with an accounting practice to offer integrated tax, bookkeeping, and trustee administration services alongside investment management.

Andrew Brewer is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Great Lakes Benefits and Wealth Management in Sandusky, Ohio. He has two years of industry experience, including prior roles at Northwestern Mutual and Pepperidge Farms. Outside of advisory work, he has worked part-time as a bartender and holds insurance agency licenses with Sentinel Security Life and Delaware Life. Great Lakes Benefits and Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and a long-term trading approach, incorporating a range of investment products and offering additional services such as tax preparation and educational workshops.

Wayne Maslyk is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience and has been with Great Lakes Benefits and Wealth Management since 2004. He is also a principal of Great Lakes Benefits, Inc., an employee benefits firm specializing in group health and fixed insurance products. Great Lakes Benefits and Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a long-term investment approach using fundamental analysis and offers additional services such as tax preparation and educational workshops.

William Murray is a Series 66-licensed advisor with Firelands Wealth Management, LLC in Huron, Ohio, where he has worked since 2015. He has 14 years of industry experience. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a catering business and provides legal services as a licensed attorney. Firelands Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm uses a combination of analytical methods and model portfolios tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance, and it integrates investment management with broader wealth-planning services.

Phillip Mc Kee is a financial advisor at Firelands Wealth Management, LLC with a Series 65 designation and approximately one year of experience in the industry. His prior work includes roles at Edge Plastics Inc., Hanlline Group, Whitaker Myers Wealth Managers, and several other organizations across various sectors. Firelands Wealth Management serves individual investors, including high net worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm employs a mix of analytic techniques and trading approaches to construct and monitor portfolios, primarily using ETFs, mutual funds, government bonds, and equities.

Jeremy Pifer is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Firelands Wealth Management, LLC since 2019. He previously worked at On Investment Management CO, THE O.N. Equity Sales Company, and Ohio National Financial Services. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent involved in selling life insurance. Firelands Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting. The firm combines analytical investment approaches with broader wealth-planning considerations and utilizes AI tools to support its services.

Brandon Schaefer is a financial advisor at W.A. Smith Financial Group with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management Inc. before joining his current firm. W.A. Smith Financial Group advises individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, offering portfolio management, financial and tax planning, and qualified retirement plan oversight. The firm employs a top-down, macro-driven investment process using both active and passive strategies, and utilizes sub-advisors, third-party managers, and alternative investment vehicles when appropriate.

William Lauer is a financial advisor at W.A. Smith Financial Group with nine years of industry experience. He has been with W.A. Smith Financial Group since 2013 and is also associated with Great Lakes Retirement, Inc. since 2016. He holds a Series 65 designation. W.A. Smith Financial Group advises individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, offering portfolio management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan oversight. The firm uses a top-down, macro-driven investment process with both active and passive strategies, incorporating sub-advisors and alternative investment vehicles for suitable clients.

Andrew Toccaceli is a financial advisor at W.A. Smith Financial Group with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Great Lakes Retirement, Inc. since 2013, concurrently with his tenure at W.A. Smith Financial Group beginning in 2010. W.A. Smith Financial Group advises individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm employs a macro-driven, top-down investment approach overseen by an investment committee and offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, tax planning, and qualified retirement plan oversight.

Logan Bolin is a financial advisor at W.A. Smith Financial Group in Sandusky, OH, holding a Series 66 designation. He joined the firm in 2024 and has prior experience with Fidelity Investments, Rea & Associates, Inc., and Northwestern Mutual. Bolin's background also includes roles in education at Ashland University and Midview High School. W.A. Smith Financial Group advises individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan oversight. The firm employs a top-down, macro-driven investment approach using both active and passive strategies, and utilizes sub-advisors and alternative investment vehicles for suitable clients.

William Smith is a financial advisor with W.A. Smith Financial Group in Sandusky, Ohio, holding a Series 66 designation and 19 years of industry experience. He has been with W.A. Smith Financial since 2011 and is also associated with Great Lakes Retirement, Inc. Outside of advisory work, he owns and operates several non-investment-related businesses, including an employee benefits firm, a marketing company, and a consulting business serving financial firms and individuals. W.A. Smith Financial Group advises individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, offering portfolio management, financial and tax planning, and qualified retirement plan oversight. The firm employs a macro-driven, committee-based investment process using both active and passive strategies and incorporates third-party managers and alternative vehicles for suitable clients.

Jacob Kinsley is a financial advisor with W.A. Smith Financial Group in Sandusky, Ohio, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at PNC Investments, Edward Jones, The Huntington Investment Company, LPL Financial, and FirstMerit Bank. W.A. Smith Financial Group advises individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, offering portfolio management, financial and tax planning, and qualified retirement plan oversight. The firm employs a top-down, macro-driven investment process with both active and passive strategies, utilizing sub-advisors and customized model portfolios.

Jarrett Lang is a financial advisor with W.A. Smith Financial Group in Sandusky, Ohio, holding a Series 65 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has been with W.A. Smith Financial Group since 2012 and is also associated with Great Lakes Retirement, Inc. since 2013. W.A. Smith Financial Group advises individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, offering portfolio management, financial and tax planning, and retirement plan oversight. The firm uses a top-down, macro-driven investment process with both active and passive strategies and employs an investment committee for manager selection.

Karen Morris is a financial advisor at B. Riley Wealth Advisors, Inc. with 24 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Wunderlich Securities, Inc. and PNC Investments. Outside of her advisory role, Morris serves as treasurer for the Campbell Christian Community Center and the Polar Bear Swim Club, and she is involved in tax accounting businesses she plans to own and operate. B. Riley Wealth Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $7.03 billion in client assets through a team of 274 advisors. The firm provides a wide range of services including advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement solutions to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans.

Jeri Siss is a financial advisor at Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. with four years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Primerica and SA Stone Investment Advisors. Outside of finance, she is an independent fitness instructor, a life coach and business consultant, a corporate trainer and speaker, and serves on the board of the Amherst Historical Society. Ausdal Financial Partners manages over $2 billion in client assets and serves individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and brokerage services with a focus on combining investment advisory, brokerage, and insurance activities.

Steven Hafner is a financial advisor with Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Kestra in 2020, he worked at UBS Financial Services for five years. He serves on the boards of Catholic Charities of Erie County and Serving Our Seniors of Erie County, Ohio. Kestra Private Wealth Services manages approximately $10.2 billion in client assets through nearly 200 independent advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of advisory and financial planning services, supporting independent advisor decision-making with access to various platforms and managed solutions.