Many blue-collar business owners spend years building successful companies but struggle with inconsistent cash flow, high taxes, and uncertainty about how to turn their business into a secure retirement. Unlike most financial firms that focus primarily on investments, I take a planning-first approach that connects your business strategy with your personal financial goals. As a CFP® professional and fee-only fiduciary advisor with 10+ years of experience, I help business owners integrate cash flow planning, tax strategies, risk management, retirement planning, and investments into one coordinated plan. Having experienced the challenges of business ownership firsthand and growing up in a family business, I understand that your business is often your largest asset. My goal is to provide the guidance and strategy business owners need to protect what they've built and create financial freedom beyond their business.

Richard Kos is a CFA® charterholder with six years of industry experience and is the principal advisor at Sursum Financial LLC in Madison, CT. He has previously worked at Merrill and Carolina Capital Markets, Inc., and has led Kos Consultants, an educational institutional consulting and marketing firm, since 2007. Sursum Financial is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, business owners, family offices, and institutional and charitable clients. The firm employs a proprietary research-driven approach with a long-term orientation while incorporating shorter-term strategies and third-party manager relationships tailored to client objectives.

John Bubello is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience. He is the principal at Compass Retirement, LLC, an independent firm he has led since 2011. Prior to founding Compass Retirement, he worked at Everlist, LLC from 2014 to 2017. Outside of his advisory role, he manages an income-producing real estate entity as a part-time activity. Compass Retirement, LLC serves individuals and high-net-worth clients with customized financial planning and discretionary portfolio management, as well as consulting services for retirement plan sponsors. The firm employs a diversified, asset-class allocation approach guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and focuses on retirement-plan clients, advising approximately $167 million in retirement-plan assets.

Dennis O'Connor is the sole advisor at Brae Head, Inc. in Essex, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Brae Head, Inc. since 1997. Brae Head, Inc. provides fee-only, discretionary portfolio management and basic financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans, including charitable organizations. The firm uses a disciplined, systematic investment process based on Modern Portfolio Theory and actively manages diversified equity and fixed-income portfolios, serving a relatively small client base with approximately $82 million in assets under management.

Evan Wax is the principal advisor at Wax Asset Management LLC in Madison, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 14 years of industry experience. He has led Wax Asset Management since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an independent board member at Servotronics, Inc. Wax Asset Management LLC provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $107.8 million across about 74 accounts. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and cyclical analysis, utilizing strategies including short sales and options writing, and conducts quarterly portfolio reviews with direct management of client assets.

Gregory Guidone is a CFP® with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at East Guilford Financial Services LLC since 2021. He previously worked at Bannon, Ohanesian & Lecours, Inc. for 14 years and has been involved with East Guilford Financial Services since 2001. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed independent insurance agent in Connecticut, selling life, medical, disability, and long-term care insurance, a practice he has maintained since 1982. East Guilford Financial Services LLC is an SEC-registered independent investment adviser managing approximately $193 million for about 301 clients, including individuals, pension plans, charities, and businesses. The firm employs an asset-allocation approach using mutual funds, ETFs, and other securities, with portfolios reviewed regularly and investment restrictions accommodated when feasible.

Pawel Borowiec is the principal of Norfield Capital, LLC, an independent firm based in Madison, CT, with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Source Capital Group, Inc. He is also the owner and managing member of BlueStream Capital Partners, Inc., a hedge fund, to which he devotes part of his time. Norfield Capital provides discretionary asset management primarily for individuals and high-net-worth clients through growth-focused and concentrated custom portfolios. The firm employs a “private equity in public markets” investment approach with an emphasis on ongoing account supervision, monthly reviews, and the use of derivatives for hedging and capital management.

Frank Flores Jr. is a CFP® professional with 43 years of industry experience and is the principal advisor at Sound Planning and Investments, LLC, an independent firm he founded in 2017. He previously worked at National Planning Corporation for 17 years and spent a year at LPL Financial. Flores also holds life, long-term care, and fixed annuities insurance licenses. Sound Planning and Investments, LLC provides non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting services primarily to individual and small business clients. The firm manages approximately $99 million in assets and employs a long-term, asset-allocation focused approach across multiple asset classes, with client approval required before executing trades.

Thomas Alexa is the principal advisor at Alexa Wealth Management, LLC, an independent firm based in Deep River, CT. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 28 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his firm in 2019, he worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Ohanesian/Lecours, Inc. He is also a licensed independent insurance agent. Alexa Wealth Management serves primarily individual clients with discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm applies a blend of modern portfolio theory, fundamental analysis, and technical approaches, managing accounts typically on a discretionary basis while focusing on tailored advice aligned with client objectives and risk tolerance.

Douglas Brenneman is the sole advisor at Brenneman Investment Adviser, LLC, an independent firm based in Centerbrook, CT. He holds the CFA® designation and Series 63 license and has 22 years of industry experience, having led his firm since 2004. Brenneman Investment Adviser, LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning to individual investors and small business clients. The firm employs a disciplined, active money-management approach that integrates tactical and strategic asset allocation across diverse asset classes and maintains formal quarterly account reviews.

Lawrence Kaplan is a financial advisor at Summit Investment Management, LLC with 36 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Summit since 2009. Kaplan is also a licensed insurance agent in Lyme, CT, selling insurance products alongside his advisory work. Summit Investment Management provides individualized investment advisory and consulting services to individuals, including high net-worth clients, using tailored portfolios that may include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and private securities. The firm’s investment approach is based on fundamental analysis and asset-allocation principles, offering ongoing asset management, financial planning, and consulting engagements.

Emily Wood is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Jeffrey N. Mehler, CFP LLC. She previously worked at Connecticut Wealth Management, LLC and Asset Strategies, Inc. Wood is a board member of Advancing Connecticut Together and the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center. Jeffrey N. Mehler, CFP LLC is an independent investment adviser managing approximately $391 million for individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers customized financial planning and investment management services, employing a range of strategies including derivatives and margin transactions.

Derek Lyon is a CFP® professional at Jeffrey N. Mehler, CFP LLC with one year of experience in financial advising. His prior work history includes roles at Aquilance, LLC, SS&C Technologies, Barnes Group Inc., Hickok & Boardman Insurance Group, and the University of Vermont. Jeffrey N. Mehler, CFP® LLC provides financial planning, investment management, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm uses fundamental analysis to build customized portfolios and employs advanced investment strategies including margin and derivatives, managing a largely discretionary asset base with specialized services such as forensic financial statement analysis.

Mark Bobruff is a financial advisor at Tumolo Wealth Management LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including LPL Enterprise, Prudential Financial Planning Services, and TD Ameritrade. Tumolo Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $134 million in discretionary assets through a small advisory team. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning tailored to client objectives, employing various investment approaches such as asset allocation and technical analysis.

Kenneth Tumolo is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Tumolo Wealth Management LLC. His prior roles include positions at Tucker Asset Management and JB Capital LLC. Tumolo also acts as a licensed insurance agent, selling various insurance products. Tumolo Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients with approximately $134 million in discretionary assets. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, employing a tailored investment process that incorporates asset allocation, technical analysis, and both long- and short-term trading strategies.

John Shaw is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Professional Alliance Associates, LLC since 2002 and concurrently serves as a full-time CPA and officer at Mason DiMarco and Shaw PC, a certified public accounting firm where he has worked since 1992. Professional Alliance Associates, LLC operates through fee‑sharing arrangements with other investment management firms and does not provide direct investment advice, manage client assets, or maintain discretionary authority. The firm focuses on operational support rather than hands-on asset management.

Mary Jane Sullivan is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience and is the sole advisor at Sullivan Financial, LLC in Essex, CT. She has been with Sullivan Financial since 2008. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in life and health insurance sales. Sullivan Financial serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides financial planning and consulting and recommends portfolio management through co-advisory relationships with independent third-party registered investment advisers.

Jeffrey Mehler is a CFP® professional with 20 years of experience in financial advising. He has led Jeffrey N. Mehler, CFP LLC since 2005. The firm is an SEC-registered independent investment adviser managing approximately $391 million for individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. Jeffrey N. Mehler, CFP LLC provides financial planning, discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, and consulting services, including forensic financial statement analysis for divorce matters. The firm’s investment approach is based on fundamental analysis and uses a range of strategies, including derivatives and margin transactions, to construct customized portfolios.

Nicholas Tumolo is a financial advisor at Tumolo Wealth Management LLC with five years of industry experience. He has held roles at Tumolo Wealth Management since 2022 and previously worked at Tucker Asset Management and CWPM LLC. Additionally, he is an insurance agent licensed since 2014, actively involved in insurance sales. Tumolo Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $134 million in discretionary assets. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, employing tailored investment strategies that consider client objectives and risk tolerance.

Justin Howard is a CFP® professional with 28 years of industry experience. He has worked at Howard Wealth Management, LLC since 2018 and previously held roles at APW Capital, Inc. and Cherry Street Partners. Outside of his advisory work, he is a member of 47 Lafayette Place, LLC, an entity related to managing a real estate property. Howard Wealth Management serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans and corporate clients, managing approximately $356 million in discretionary assets. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and family office services with a discretionary, customized approach that emphasizes low-cost investments and educational outreach.