Michael Ventura is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC since 2022, following previous roles at Wells Fargo Clearing and WELLS FARGO Advisors. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning supported by firm-approved tools and models. The firm manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets and offers services both directly to individuals and through corporate financial planning agreements.

Thomas Dittmeier is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation for 10 years before joining LPL Financial in 2024. In addition to his advisory role, he operates an insurance agency focused on fixed annuities and traditional life insurance. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services, utilizing various model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies supported by advanced operational tools.

Darrell Fox is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Old Saybrook, CT, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Vice President of Public Relations on the Board of Directors for the nonprofit Light For All. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services focused on individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies to provide tailored, written recommendations delivered through a centralized consulting team.

Jesse Perrault is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with nine years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently an advisor at Edward Jones, where he has worked since 2022, and previously held roles at Franklin Distributors LLC, Legg Mason Investor Services LLC, and ClearBridge Investments. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Craig Taliento is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He worked at UBS Financial Services for 12 years prior to joining Raymond James in 2025. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and advisory services with a range of portfolio management styles supported by affiliated research and model managers.

Steven Degraff is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at multiple firms including Guardian Life Insurance Company and Park Avenue Securities, and operates his own financial services practice, DeGraff Financial. In addition to his advisory work, Degraff provides pro-bono financial counseling through the Women and Family Life Center and teaches part-time at Gateway Community College. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and retirement services utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, with a multi-manager platform supporting diverse investment strategies.

Jack Giegerich is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2019. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked at Synchrony Financial and held roles at Fairfield University. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm with more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, supported by a nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Ryan Busby is a financial advisor with Charles Schwab in Old Saybrook, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 25 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Scottrade, Inc. for 16 years and spent time at TD Ameritrade Investment Management and TD Ameritrade, Inc. before joining Schwab in 2019. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program, offering a combination of non-discretionary and discretionary investment management services with a multi-asset model portfolio approach and centralized operational structure.

John Grillo is a CFP® professional with over 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors since 2008 and previously operated Grillo & Associates for more than two decades. Outside of advising, he is owner and CPA at Compass Tax LLC and serves on the board of the Atlanta Neuroscience Foundation. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is a large SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charities, and trusts. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, retirement advisory, and financial-wellness services through a network of independent professionals utilizing multiple platform arrangements and a mix of proprietary and third-party strategies.

Kelly Maryeski is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 1 year of industry experience. She has worked with Merrill since 2008 and Bank of America, N.A. since 2024. Outside of advising, she operates a food delivery business as a 1099 contractor. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Silviya Cassar is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with seven years of industry experience. She previously worked at Citizens Securities, Inc., Citizens Bank, and Jackson Hewitt. Outside of her advisory role, she works as a waitress helping with events. Ameriprise Financial Services is a diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. It offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service that provides written Recommendation Reports and annual retirement-income planning focused on dependable income sources and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

James A Chambers II is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in New London, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with UBS since 2002. Outside his advisory role, he consults for his father's business, Saybrook Counseling Center, providing services related to drug and alcohol counseling, accounting advice, and retirement planning. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients with a broad range of brokerage and investment advisory services, including fee-based financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management, offering proprietary research and integrated capital markets services.

Matthew Gross is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Ameriprise since 2017, with a brief period outside the industry. Outside of finance, he contributes occasional writing and blogging to SB Nation as a hobby. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a specialized Premier Retirement Income service focused on retirement-income planning, combining investment research and algorithmic tools to support tax-aware withdrawal strategies and dependable income sources.