Ryan Thomas is a financial advisor at Thomas Investment Advisors LLC in Orange, CA. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in the financial and accounting industries since 2018, including roles at Baker Tilly US, LLP, and Chapman University. He co-founded Thomas Investment Advisors LLC in 2025 and also has experience with Thomas & Thomas. Thomas Investment Advisors LLC provides discretionary investment management and wealth management services to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on long-term, fundamentally based portfolio construction using low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, and occasionally individual securities, while also offering separate tax and accounting services through an affiliated practice.

William Pugh is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently with Vela Consulting, LLC and has previously worked at Apriem Advisors and Columbia Capital Securities, Inc. In addition to his advisory role, he acts as an independent insurance agent for life, health, and disability insurance. Vela Consulting is a state-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans, managing approximately $47 million in assets. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach, emphasizing diversification, long-term allocations, and periodic rebalancing, and offers customized portfolio management and financial planning services.

George Ayala is a financial advisor at Sackett Wealth Advisors, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at MML Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance/Capstone Partners, CAK International, and The University of New Mexico. Sackett Wealth Advisors is a team-based registered investment adviser managing approximately $181 million for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm provides discretionary investment advice focused on asset allocation across public and private securities, with a preference for passively oriented asset-class funds, and offers additional tax and consulting services through an affiliated accounting practice.

Charles Fish is the principal of Charles Fish Investments, Inc. in Irvine, California, with 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Charles Fish Investments since its founding in 1996. Charles Fish Investments, Inc. provides discretionary investment management primarily focused on fixed income, especially municipal bonds, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, retirement accounts, and select institutions. The firm also offers sub-advisory and consulting services, employing an active investment approach supported by internal research and industry relationships.

Brandon Boyd is a financial advisor at Legacy Advisory Group, Inc. in Santa Ana, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with 17 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at LPL Financial, Crown Capital Securities, and Heritage Planning Financial Group, where he is also co-owner of a tax preparation and accounting practice. Legacy Advisory Group, Inc. provides portfolio management and advisory services to individual, high-net-worth clients, and retirement plans. The firm utilizes a model-informed investment process overseen by an internal committee and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account management through a range of program-based services.

Michael Lagos is a CFP® professional with 38 years of industry experience. He is the president of Lagos Wealth Advisors, where he has worked since 1995, and has also been affiliated with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC since 2022. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in a referral business focused on securing R&D and ERC tax credits through partnerships with CPA and law firms. Lagos Wealth Advisors serves individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, sponsoring organizations, and other entities by offering discretionary portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and advisory referral services. The firm employs the AssetMark platform and third-party managers to implement customized investment strategies and manages a Next Level IRA program using a quantitative and qualitative scoring process for mutual funds.

West Cohan is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at InvestLinc Wealth Services since 2013. He is also the founder and CFO of Lémore, a skincare products company. InvestLinc Wealth Services provides wealth and portfolio management to high-net-worth individuals, families, and related entities, offering customized investment implementation, comprehensive financial planning, and access to both traditional and alternative asset classes.

Michael Vaughn is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Vaughn Investment Advisors Inc. in Tustin, CA, where he has worked since 2007. He has 12 years of industry experience. Vaughn Investment Advisors Inc. is a fee-only registered investment adviser managing approximately $74.85 million in assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement accounts, trusts, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and corporations, using a team-based investment process that combines top-down macro analysis with bottom-up security selection and emphasizes diversification through ETFs and ETNs.

Jeffrey Weston is a financial advisor at Tortuga Wealth Management with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank. He serves on the board of the Kaena Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Tortuga Wealth Management advises individuals and high-net-worth clients, providing financial planning, consulting, and discretionary portfolio management. The firm manages approximately $223 million in discretionary assets and utilizes a range of investment strategies through LPL Financial–sponsored programs and its own wrap fee offerings.

Tami Simpson is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Wealth Financial Group West, Inc. She has worked at multiple firms including Gradient Advisors, LLC and Brokers International. Simpson is also involved with Simpson & Simpson Life Insurance Services, Inc., where she has served in an insurance sales and services capacity. Wealth Financial Group West, Inc. provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines model portfolios and external platforms with various security analysis methods and conducts ongoing portfolio monitoring, while also facilitating access to third-party managed programs.

Steven Mansell is a financial advisor at Kodiak Capital Advisors LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked for the Los Angeles County Office of Education from 2006 to 2020 before retiring in 2020. Mansell has been with Kodiak Capital Advisors since 2021. Kodiak Capital Advisors LLC is a state-registered investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses fundamental analysis and may focus on small- and medium-cap securities, employing various investment strategies including stocks, bonds, ETFs, and options.

Brian Walker is a financial advisor at SVL Investment Management with 29 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Thrivent Investment Management and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for 22 years. Walker has held a Series 63 designation and has experience as a former insurance agent earning trailer commissions. SVL Investment Management is a boutique, research-oriented firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, endowments, and corporate entities. The firm employs a fundamentally driven, global investment approach that incorporates strategic asset allocation, monthly rebalancing, and a proprietary valuation model with a long-term horizon.

Ritwik Kumar is a financial advisor at Leyland Cypress, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked previously at DBD Partners and RIGZ. Leyland Cypress, LLC provides investment monitoring and recommendation services primarily to individual clients and other entities, employing a quantitative ETF arbitrage strategy focused on asset allocation. The firm emphasizes daily account monitoring and frequent client reporting through a secure portal and quarterly written updates.

Armand Batocabe is a financial advisor at Golden State Capital Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior work experience includes roles at LTNG Capital, X Capital Advisors, SecureVest Financial Group, and Wells Fargo Clearing, among others. Golden State Capital Inc. provides investment advisory services primarily to accredited investors and family offices, focusing on private and alternative investments such as private equity and venture capital. The firm employs a long-term, research-driven approach and offers non-discretionary portfolio management with customized due diligence on private placements.

Richard Lederer is a financial advisor at Lederer & Associates Investment Counsel with 38 years of industry experience. He has been with the firm since its founding in 1986 in Long Beach, California. Lederer & Associates provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, foundations, charitable organizations, corporations, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm manages equity, fixed-income, and balanced portfolios using distinct equity strategies focused on growth and income, maintaining concentrated portfolios with active monitoring and disciplined sell criteria.

Vladimir Pixa is a financial advisor with My Portfolio Guide, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Deloitte, Fisher Investments, and Charles Schwab. He has been with My Portfolio Guide since 2010. My Portfolio Guide provides investment supervisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, using proprietary investment models and a mix of charting, fundamental, and technical analysis to tailor portfolios. The firm also includes financial planning and client education as part of its services.

Edward Schuh II is a financial advisor at Inception Financial Services with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Inception Financial Services since 2016, as well as at AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC from 2017 to 2023. Schuh is also a licensed insurance agent. Inception Financial Services provides portfolio management and investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and certain business entities, focusing on non-discretionary account management. The firm employs a variety of analytical methods and strategies, including long-term trading and tactical asset allocation, using a range of investment vehicles such as mutual funds, ETFs, and options.

Andrew Geller is a financial advisor at Quantumvest, Inc. in Los Alamitos, CA. He holds a Series 65 credential and has recently started his career, with experience beginning in 2025. Prior to joining Quantumvest, he worked in non-financial roles at Saxum Surgical and Allied Universal. Quantumvest serves individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and small businesses. The firm combines buy-and-hold portfolio construction with technical analysis and cycle-driven charting to guide timing and rebalancing decisions, and provides discretionary portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and wealth-planning services.

William Davis III is a financial advisor at Pinnacle Capital Advisors with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at several firms, including LPL Financial and Sentinel Stone Financial. Outside of advisory work, he is also licensed as an insurance agent. Pinnacle Capital Advisors provides non-discretionary financial planning and consulting primarily for individuals and high-net-worth clients, including family offices and corporate executives. The firm employs a long-term, fundamental investment approach and recommends third-party advisers for portfolio management, with client participation emphasized throughout the process.

South Bay Financial Partners was founded by Tara Unverzagt in 2014. Tara’s interest in financial planning was sparked at a young age as she watched her mother become a financial planner in the 1960s, a time before the development of the financial planning career. Now, with over 30 years of experience in financial planning, investment advice, and tax preparation, Tara is more dedicated than ever to walking with clients through their life's journey, navigating financial decisions at various stages along the way. Her clients range from young adults just embarking on their careers to business owners to couples going through post-retirement transitions to multi-generations of families. Much like her mother, Tara is a visionary within her industry, fueled by her active involvement in the Financial Therapy Association (FTA). The FTA places a strong emphasis on recognizing, addressing, and working through the emotional factors that intertwine with money, like fear, shame, and anxiety, which frequently impede individuals from making optimal financial choices. In 2019, Tara received her CFT-I in Financial Therapy and now utilizes those skills in every client interaction. Since founding South Bay Financial Partners, Tara has grown her team to now have three other planners who bring their own areas of expertise and extensive experience to the table. This collective knowledge ensures that clients receive a well-rounded approach to their financial planning needs. Tara and her team firmly believe that your finances should support your life, and not the other way around. You deserve to have a life plan that is unique to you and your dreams. A plan that helps you live by your values without shame, fear, or anxiety. Your budget should tell your story. “We believe it’s your day-to-day decisions that make the difference in achieving financial success.” – South Bay Financial Partners team Overall, South Bay Financial Partners offers a comprehensive range of financial planning tools and services for anyone with any budget, with a focus on supporting clients in their day-to-day decisions, aligning their finances with their life goals, and addressing the emotional aspects of money decisions to create a fulfilling financial journey. Tara and her team provide investment advice and management, tax preparation and planning, cash flow (aka budgeting), estate planning support, charitable giving, generational wealth transfer, career development, insurance/company benefits review, and student loan and debt management, with financial therapy tools woven in everything they do. Learn more about Tara, the rest of the team, and their services by visiting southbayfinancialpartners.com