Kenneth Silva Ballard Jr. is a Series 66–licensed financial advisor with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently the sole advisor at Communitas Financial Planning PBC and has previously worked with First Affirmative Financial Network, Summit Financial, and other firms. Outside of finance, he owns and operates Chef Pro Life, a consulting and training business in the culinary field. Communitas Financial Planning PBC primarily serves institutional clients such as plan sponsors and retirement plans, focusing on socially responsible investing combined with diversification and asset-allocation strategies. The firm provides services including retirement plan consultation, participant education, third-party manager due diligence, and investment advisory program implementation.

Perry Kotval is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Galileo Planning Group, Inc. since 2007. The firm serves senior corporate executives, high-income professionals, and wealthy individuals, providing customized financial planning and investment counseling on a non-discretionary basis. Galileo Planning Group emphasizes long-term, diversified portfolios and detailed analysis of private and alternative investments.

Patrick Mc Donnal is a CFP® and Series 65-registered advisor with Tamarind Financial Planning, based in San Mateo, CA. He has been with Tamarind since 2024 and has additional experience as an applications engineer at Indicate Technologies and as a high school athletic coach. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in automated inspection technology and coaching athletic teams. Tamarind Financial Planning serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and pension and profit-sharing plans by providing comprehensive financial planning, portfolio reviews, and project-based advice on a fee-only basis. The firm emphasizes customized financial plans and asset allocation using Modern Portfolio Theory and generally delegates portfolio management to selected sub-advisers.

Lucus Ubaldo is a financial advisor with Envest Advisors, LLC in San Mateo, CA. Holding a Series 65 designation, he has one year of industry experience and has previously worked with The Valoram Group LLC. He was a full-time student for eight years prior to beginning his advisory career. Envest Advisors, LLC provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services primarily to individual clients, tailoring portfolios based on clients’ goals, time horizons, and risk tolerance. The firm employs a variety of outsourced managers and platforms while maintaining a small advisory team.

Patricia Williams is a CFP® with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Silicon Private Wealth, LLC in Fremont, CA. She has worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Silicon Private Wealth since 2016. In addition to her advisory role, she holds insurance licenses and performs insurance reviews and variable annuity discussions for clients. Silicon Private Wealth, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $177.8 million in assets. The firm employs a range of investment strategies and analysis methods and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management services.

Sumeet Ganju is a financial advisor at InverseWealth LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation. Prior to joining InverseWealth, he worked in various roles including positions at Draft.co dba Contentfly Inc and Mixmax. InverseWealth LLC provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses proprietary quantitative investment models and typically implements portfolios with ETFs, employing trend-following rules and active management strategies.

Amie Shapiro is a financial advisor at Lula Financial in Oakland, CA, holding a Series 65 credential with five years of industry experience. Prior to her advisory role, she worked at Sephora and Starbucks Coffee Company for a combined total of over 20 years. Outside of advising, she is involved in hospitality and retail sales ventures. Lula Financial provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, using a fee structure that includes fixed, hourly, and subscription arrangements. The firm emphasizes passive investment strategies with index funds and ETFs and operates primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

Stephanie Fisher is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Shum Financial Group, Inc. in Alameda, CA, with three years of industry experience. She previously worked at Jack Brain & Associates for 15 years before joining Shum Financial Group. Shum Financial Group serves individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations with fee-based investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services. The firm employs fundamental analysis and documented investment policies to guide investment decisions and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Phillip Rice is a financial advisor at Insight Capital Management with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Insight Capital Management since 2012. The firm serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, foundations, and other entities, managing approximately $330 million across about 374 client relationships. Insight Capital Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and educational workshops, tailoring investment recommendations to clients’ goals and risk tolerance using a combination of fundamental and technical analysis.

Peter Verbica is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving at Silicon Private Wealth, LLC since 2020. His prior roles include positions at Viant Capital, LLC, All American Cowboy Funds Management, LLC, and Bank of America/Merrill, where he worked for eight years. Outside of financial advisory, Verbica is a licensed California real estate broker, founder of a private family LLC, an author, and involved in several entrepreneurial and nonprofit activities, including serving on the San Jose Symphony Foundation board and chairing the Santa Cruz County Republican Central Committee. He is also a candidate for U.S. Congress in California’s 19th district. Silicon Private Wealth provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $177.8 million in assets. The firm employs multiple analysis methods and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management, advising across a broad range of investments and occasionally referring clients to third-party advisers.

Practicing financial planning since 2008, I came to this profession out of a desire to help others and work in a meaningful profession where I impact lives positively. A graduate of Smith College, I worked in consulting and marketing earlier in my career, which brings a broad perspective to my clients' financial lives. As a partner at Tamarind Financial Planning, I focus on George Kinder's Life Planning techniques, delving deeper into what clients want to get out of their time on this earth so we can direct their finances towards that end. Having lived in France, India, and the UK, I specialize in helping those with cross-border situations navigate complex financial journeys. I love the outdoors, yoga, Pilates, reading, and meditation. Married to an academic working in Climate Finance involves inevitable travel, and with our two children now pursuing studies and work, we are embracing life as fresh empty nesters! I welcome the opportunity to hear your story and help you plan your future.

Sergio Rivera Vazquez is a financial advisor at Veraz Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has previously worked at Edward Jones, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Veq Capital, and Petro Equity Partners. Veraz Advisors manages approximately $110 million for about 150 individual and high-net-worth clients, offering discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting. The firm customizes investment strategies using equities, ETFs, and fixed-income securities, applying multiple analytical approaches while conducting ongoing account reviews and coordinating with sub-advisors or third-party managers as needed.

Marvin Shiue is a financial advisor with Asia Global Asset Management, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Asia Global Asset Management since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in selling fixed life insurance policies. Asia Global Asset Management provides financial planning and facilitates the selection and monitoring of third-party investment advisers for individuals, pension plans, trusts, and other entities. The firm relies primarily on outside managers for portfolio management and emphasizes a discovery process to align client goals with suitable advisers.

Atul Dubal is a CFP® with over 21 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Prudent Prospera Planning, Inc. since 2015 and also works as a licensed insurance agent through SaveOnTerms.com. Additionally, he has involvement in tax planning services through Professional Tax Planners America. Prudent Prospera Planning offers financial planning and advisory services to individuals and businesses, including high-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on written financial plans, asset-allocation analysis, and third-party investment adviser recommendations, with a distinctive approach that includes insurance sales and sharing of management fees disclosed as potential conflicts of interest.

Zheng Wan is a CFP® professional with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Sierra Pacific Private Wealth, LLC. He has been with Sierra Pacific Financial Advisors, LLC since 2005. Sierra Pacific Private Wealth provides wealth management, comprehensive financial planning, and corporate retirement plan advisory services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and plan sponsors. The firm manages approximately $212.7 million in assets for about 122 clients, offering individualized asset management with regular reviews and rebalancing, and supports plan participant education through seminars and workshops.

Thomas Swift is a financial advisor with Financial Avengers, Inc. in Oakland, CA, holding a Series 63 designation and 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Financial Avengers since 2000. Outside of advising, Mr. Swift writes plays, scripts, and books, and works as a producer through Tom Swift & His Amazing Productions LLC. Financial Avengers serves individuals and families with discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm manages $488.4 million in discretionary assets, emphasizing long-term, value-oriented, buy-and-hold strategies focused on income and low turnover, combined with a behavioral approach to client relationships.

Erick Ormsby is the sole advisor at Alcosta Capital Management, Inc. in San Ramon, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Alcosta Capital Management since 2002. Alcosta Capital Management serves individual clients, trusts, and pension plans through discretionary portfolio management and limited financial planning. The firm employs a combination of quantitative and fundamental analysis to select U.S.-listed equities for diversified portfolios tailored to various risk profiles.

Sudeep Goel is a financial advisor with Lucerna Capital Management LLC, holding a Series 65 registration and beginning his advisory career in 2026. He has been involved in residential real estate brokerage through Greenfield Realty since 2015. Lucerna Capital Management LLC serves individuals and high-net-worth households, including technology professionals with equity compensation. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and integrated wealth management with a focus on diversified, low-cost index funds and ETFs, alongside tactical strategies to address concentrated stock positions.

John Kim is a financial advisor with Giving Tree Wealth Advisors in San Ramon, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 32 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial and ownership of Kim Financial Advisors, Inc. He also operates as a sole proprietor. Giving Tree Wealth Advisors manages approximately $138 million for around 217 clients, including individuals, qualified retirement plans, and charitable institutions. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive and hourly financial planning, and limited-scope ERISA 3(21) fiduciary services, utilizing model-based asset allocations across various custodial platforms.

Benjamin Packard is a financial advisor at Lula Financial in Oakland, CA, holding a Series 65 credential with seven years of industry experience. He has been with Lula Financial since 2018 and has been self-employed since 2010. Outside of advising, he produces videos for non-profits, dedicating a small portion of his time to this activity. Lula Financial provides financial planning and portfolio management services to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm emphasizes passive investment strategies using index funds and ETFs, and offers a fee model based on fixed, hourly, and subscription arrangements rather than asset-based fees.