Michael Sears is a financial advisor with AE Wealth Management, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked with firms including Global Financial Private Capital and currently leads Sears Wealth Management & Insurance Solutions. Sears is also the author of the book *Retire With Simplicity & Clarity: 10 Mindset Shifts Nurses Should Understand to Feel Confident About Their Financial Future*, which targets nurses approaching retirement. Additionally, he serves as a member and CEO of Clarity Tax Partners, LLC, providing tax strategies and planning services. AE Wealth Management delivers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm utilizes discretionary model portfolios and a range of investment strategies while supporting third-party RIAs through sub-advisory and model-licensing programs.

Juan Garcia is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at firms including GWFS Equities, PNC, BBVA Compass Insurance Agency, and Compass Bank. He is also registered as a public notary, although he is not currently active in that role. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm delivers services through an integrated model linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Patrick Ryan is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Redlands, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Eagle Strategies since 2019 and has also worked with Nylife Securities, LLC and New York Life since 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition to his advisory work, Ryan is licensed as an insurance broker for non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types tailored to client objectives and primarily manages assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Veronica Gauthier is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors and holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She has 10 years of industry experience and has worked with Transamerica Financial Advisors and affiliated firms since 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she manages the administrative and tax-related operations for an S corporation established with her husband. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory and broker-dealer services, utilizing proprietary and third-party model portfolios with both discretionary and non-discretionary investment programs.

Ryan Mayer is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 15 years of industry experience. Mayer has been with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014 and is also involved with Shared Insurance Solutions, where he sells and services health, life, and annuity insurance products. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm utilizes both discretionary and non-discretionary account management, combining in-house and external strategies supported by technology-enabled tools.

Jim Bootsma is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with 36 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation, Mid Atlantic Financial Management, and FDx Advisors. Outside of advisory services, he owns and operates a tax and accounting practice and is involved in fixed insurance sales as well as managing a cattle operation through Breezy Boots, Inc. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through a network of independent advisers and emphasizes centralized due diligence, ongoing manager monitoring, and technology-supported investment strategies.

Kirsten Baron is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. She has two years of industry experience and is involved with the Black Excellence Leadership Council as a council member. Baron also participates in estate planning services through Inheritguard, LLC, and holds a CFO position at Barons Enterprises International, Inc. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services, utilizing proprietary and third-party model portfolios with discretionary and non-discretionary program options.

Lester Baron is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has held roles with multiple organizations, including WealthWave, Baron's Enterprises International, and the Heartland Institute of Financial Education, where he serves as a Certified Financial Educator. Baron is also involved in leadership and community roles such as mentoring with the Black Excellence Leadership Council and serving as Public Relations Officer for the Dominica Livestock Cooperative. Transamerica Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base including individual investors, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm utilizes model portfolios and third-party managers, offering multiple program platforms and integrated retirement plan solutions.

Kristina Bell Taylor is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has been with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014 and previously worked at Voya Financial Partners, LLC and Cetera Wealth Services, LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she owns a commercial cleaning franchise business. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale firm offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement advisory services to individuals, institutions, and corporate clients. The firm combines in-house and external strategies, utilizing technology and both discretionary and non-discretionary account management to serve a diverse client base.

Darlene Pachot is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. She has been with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014 and has a concurrent role at UCLA since 1999. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as a visiting preacher involved in public speaking. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale firm offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement advisory services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm combines in-house and external strategists with technology-enabled tools to manage client relationships, providing both non-discretionary and limited discretionary investment management.

Benjamin Sturkie is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials. He has been with the firm since 2025 and has experience in various other business activities including roles at Ojai Pizza and Performance Concrete Services Inc. Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. primarily serves U.S. individuals including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers wrap programs, portfolio management, and financial planning using a large network of advisors and centralized technology solutions.

Daniel Ellington is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes six years at CitiBank and roles at Albertsons and A&M General Construction. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer execution and custody services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and combines large institutional scale with unique market roles, including in-house research and activities as a swap dealer and futures commission merchant.

Diana Goldman is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors and holds a Series 65 credential. She has been with Transamerica since 2026 and has over a decade of experience at World Financial Group Insurance Agency. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers fee-based advisory programs and commission-based brokerage products, utilizing a combination of proprietary and third-party model portfolios with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Nima Helmi is a financial advisor with Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. in Corona, California, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. Prior to joining Bankers Life Advisory, he worked at Edward Jones for six years. Outside of his advisory role, he is the CEO of Empire Call Centers LLC and provides English/Farsi translation and interpretation services on a flexible basis. Bankers Life Advisory Services, Inc. offers discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and retirement plan consulting primarily for mass-affluent and high-net-worth individuals. The firm’s investment approach includes customized asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analyses to guide portfolio decisions.

Giuseppe Vitulli is a financial advisor at Eagle Strategies (NY Life) with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Eagle Strategies, he worked at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company, and has experience in educational roles at the University of California, San Diego, and local schools. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and retirement plans, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages a substantial portion of assets on a non-discretionary basis through an integrated structure with New York Life affiliates.

Bob Tan is a financial advisor at VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with various entities affiliated with Voya Financial since 2007. In addition to his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale firm providing financial planning, portfolio management, unified managed accounts, and retirement advisory services to individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad product shelf through a large network of investment adviser representatives and combines in-house and external strategists with technology tools to manage primarily non-discretionary client relationships.

Erin Green is a financial advisor at Valic Financial Advisors with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Merrill, UBS Financial Services, Stifel, and Agia. In addition to her advisory role, Erin is appointed as an agent to sell non-securities insurance products for Agia. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models to construct client portfolios.

David Cockeram is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Glendale, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2012 and also serves as an agent with Agia, focusing on non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Citlalli Rojas is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) based in Corona, CA. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience, including roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company since 2016. Rojas serves on several local boards, including the La Sierra Council Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce executive board, and the Riverside Community Hospital Board of Trustees. Eagle Strategies serves a broad range of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated investment adviser representatives. The firm emphasizes tailored advice and offers multiple program types, with most assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Andrea Gilbert is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. She has been in the financial industry since 2019 and previously operated Plums Cafe & Catering for nearly two decades. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services with a range of proprietary and third-party investment programs.