Michael Bird is a financial advisor at Kovack Advisors, Inc. with 42 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Arete Wealth Advisors, LLC, American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc., and UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in consulting for Nextrip, Inc. Kovack Advisors, Inc. is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 260 advisors and over $6 billion in client assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, banks, and government entities, using a combination of internally created models and third-party managers to manage client portfolios.

John Obrien is a financial advisor with Westminster Financial Advisory Corp in Brookfield, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp for 15 years before joining Westminster Financial Securities, Inc. in 2018. Obrien is also licensed as an insurance agent, offering various insurance products including health, disability, and life insurance. Westminster Financial Advisory Corporation provides investment supervisory services and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, and small businesses. The firm emphasizes a diversified, multi-asset class investment approach with a buy-and-hold strategy supplemented by tactical adjustments based on market conditions.

Robert Beckett is a financial advisor at Summit Financial, LLC with 41 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Summit Financial since 2018, with prior experience at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and multiple affiliated Summit entities dating back to 2010. He is a 10% owner of Stabilization Plans for Business, Inc., which manages succession plans for insurance clients of retired or deceased agents. Summit Financial, LLC is a multi-team advisory firm serving approximately 17,800 clients with about $26.35 billion in assets under management. The firm offers investment advisory and portfolio management programs alongside financial planning and retirement plan advisory services, operating a combination of discretionary and consultative platforms tailored to client preferences.

Nicholas Zaccour is a financial advisor at Coastal Bridge Advisors with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Llbh Private Wealth Management and Snowden Lane Partners. Coastal Bridge Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach to construct diversified portfolios and offers specialized advisory services including retirement plan consulting and HSA investment management.

Jay Nakahara is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC since 2026 and previously held roles at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Mass Mutual Investors Services, NYLIFE Securities LLC, and New York Life Insurance Company. Fortis Capital Advisors serves individuals, families, businesses, retirement plans, institutional clients, and other advisers with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm provides customized investment advice through a combination of discretionary management, various investment styles, and model portfolios, including ESG options, and manages $1.615 billion in discretionary assets as of year-end 2025.

Joanne Gautrau is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with 30 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Merrill for 23 years. Her recent roles include positions at Essex Financial Services Inc., LPL Financial, and PKS Investments. Merit Financial Group, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $10.6 billion and serving a diverse client base that includes individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, diversified investment approach using model portfolios and customizable strategies overseen by a central Investment Management team and committee.

Alejandro Velazquez is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Carnegie Investment Counsel. His prior work includes roles at Eagle Ridge Investment Management and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. Carnegie Investment Counsel provides investment supervisory services, financial and retirement plan advice, and financial planning to a diverse client base, including individuals, high net worth clients, pension plans, nonprofits, corporations, trust companies, government entities, and other advisers. The firm employs a variety of analytical approaches and trading strategies to align portfolios with client goals and offers specialized services such as ERISA fiduciary support and governance consulting.

Daniel Morris is a financial advisor with Vanderbilt Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 44 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Westport Capital Markets and Oppenheimer. He is also involved in fixed insurance sales as an Investment Advisor Representative. Vanderbilt Advisory Services serves a diverse client base, including individuals, charitable organizations, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm’s investment approach combines strategic asset allocation with fundamental, technical, and charting analysis, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and consulting services.

Stefano Safaei is a financial advisor with Wedbush Securities Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Wedbush Securities since 2007. Safaei is involved in tax planning services through his role as a partner at SkyArch Capital Advisors, a firm assisting small and mid-size businesses and high-income individuals with tax strategies. Wedbush Securities provides investment advisory and broker-dealer services to a diversified client base, including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of services spanning wealth management, fixed income, commodities, and capital markets, with portfolio management tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Jose Da Cruz is a CFA® charterholder with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at International Assets Investment Management, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, METLIFE SECURITIES Inc, and Merrill. Outside of his advisory work, he is an adjunct professor at the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University and serves on the mission ministry committee of the First Congregational Church of Ridgefield. International Assets Investment Management provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and corporations through a national network of independent representatives. The firm focuses on customized, long-term portfolio construction and offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary management strategies, including the use of third-party money managers and financial planning services.

Howard Schloss is a financial advisor at SeaCrest Wealth Management, LLC with 7 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. Schloss has been affiliated with SeaCrest Investment Management, LLC since 2011 and joined SeaCrest Wealth Management in 2026. SeaCrest Wealth Management is a multi-advisor SEC-registered firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a customized, long-term investment approach combining fundamental and technical analysis, utilizing both proprietary and third-party artificial intelligence tools to support decision-making.

William Loftus is a financial advisor at Coastal Bridge Advisors with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Llbh Private Wealth Management, LLC for 11 years before joining Coastal Bridge Advisors in 2019. He is also a partner in CBA MGMT CO., LLC and serves as a member and executive officer of Manifest Growth Fund GP, LLC. Coastal Bridge Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach and offers diversified portfolios while leveraging affiliated businesses and strategic partnerships within the Focus Financial Partners network.

Ines Kasdorf is a CFP® professional at Coastal Bridge Advisors with 12 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Raymond James & Associates, Excel Securities & Associates, and Ashton Thomas Private Wealth. Coastal Bridge Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm uses a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach to construct diversified portfolios and offers specialized advisory services including retirement plan consulting and ERISA services.

David Gershoni is a financial advisor with Aegis Capital Corp., holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. for 17 years before joining Aegis Capital in 2022. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an agent and producer at ACC Agency, Inc., a general insurance agency. Aegis Capital Corp. serves individual investors, retirement and benefit plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients by providing investment advisory and brokerage services, financial planning, and access to managed account programs through RBC and AXOS platforms. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account options and provides trade execution, clearing, custody, and reporting services.

Michael De Moura is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Coastal Bridge Advisors and has one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Charter Communications and involvement with Oceanview Pool and Patio. Coastal Bridge Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach and constructs diversified portfolios across various asset classes, utilizing External Managers and affiliated SMA strategies as appropriate.

Elena Fusillo is a financial advisor with A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. She has worked at Euro Pacific Capital, Inc. since 2008. A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer platform with approximately 131 advisors managing around $2.95 billion for over 7,000 clients. The firm offers a range of services including portfolio management, financial and retirement planning, sub-advisory and third-party manager programs, and brokerage and insurance products, employing an open-architecture investment approach with a focus on international equity strategies and a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary mandates.

James Iannazzo is a financial advisor at Aegis Capital Corp. with 29 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and Bank of America prior to joining Aegis in 2022. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as a principal in Coastal Private Wealth, an entity established for tax purposes, and serves as a producer/agent for ACC Agency, Inc., an insurance general agency. Aegis Capital Corp. serves individual investors, retirement and benefit plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients by providing investment advisory and brokerage services, financial planning, and access to managed account programs through RBC and AXOS platforms. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account options and emphasizes service to individual, corporate, and retirement plan clients.

Michael Kazakewich is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience and has been with Coastal Bridge Advisors since 2009. He holds a Series 66 license and is based in Westport, CT. Coastal Bridge Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, foundations, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a goal-based, fundamental analysis approach to construct diversified portfolios and offers specialized advisory services including retirement plan consulting and ERISA services.

Lynn Najman is a CFP® with one year of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Carnegie Investment Counsel. Prior to joining Carnegie in 2025, she worked at Eagle Ridge Investment Management for four years and LRN Associates, Ltd for thirteen years. She volunteers with the Foundation for Financial Planning, providing pro bono financial coaching to recently widowed women. Carnegie Investment Counsel offers investment supervisory services, financial and investment planning, and retirement-plan fiduciary services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and government entities. The firm employs a comprehensive investment process that incorporates fundamental, technical, cyclical, and ESG analysis, and it provides both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management tailored to client preferences.

Emily Boothroyd is a CFP® professional with 14 years of industry experience. She is currently with Merit Financial Advisors and has held roles at PKS Investments, LPL Financial, Private Advisor Group, and other firms. Emily is also involved in providing insurance advice alongside her advisory duties. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with over 260 advisors serving more than 20,000 clients across 66 offices, managing approximately $24 billion in assets. The firm offers coordinated wealth management services, emphasizing long-term, diversified portfolios managed through a combination of centrally managed models and advisor customization.