John Palermo is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with a Series 65 credential. He has been with Hightower Advisors since 2026 and has prior experience in education, having worked at Vanderbilt University, McQuaid Jesuit High School, and Bay Trail Middle School. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse group of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s approach includes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers, and offering a range of portfolio management and planning services.

Kerrianne Creegan is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 12 years of industry experience. She has been with HSBC in various roles since 2015. Outside of her advisory work, Creegan is an Executive Consultant for a premium skincare company and engages in crafting handmade items sold to friends and family. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations through various program types, including client-directed and fully discretionary options. The firm’s investment approach combines strategic and tactical asset allocation developed with HSBC Global Asset Management and involves ongoing fund due diligence and monitoring, with a significant portion of assets held in client-directed portfolios.

Douglas Castren is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Securities Inc. since 2016 and previously operated Nicastro & Castren Financial Services from 2014 to 2017, along with experience at Principal Life Insurance Company. Outside of advisory roles, he has been involved in insurance and fixed annuities. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and active-duty military personnel. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions, with investment implementation generally managed on a discretionary basis by these managers.

Zachary Hale is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining HSBC Securities and HSBC Bank USA, N.A., he worked at Bank of America, Merrill, Brighton Securities, TF Browns, and Allstate Insurance Company. He also had a role outside the financial industry at Billy Jack's Shack. Hale is dual-hatted as a Bank Officer for HSBC Bank (USA) N.A., engaging in the sale of bank-related products alongside his advisory role. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations through various client-directed and discretionary platforms. The firm’s investment process uses multiple risk profiles and combines strategic and tactical asset allocation with ongoing fund due diligence, serving a broad client base via a range of program options including offshore offerings.

Emily Certo is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities. She has held roles at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life since 2019. Outside of her advisory work, she serves as Chair of the Ambassador Council for the PUNT Pediatric Cancer Collaborative and is a board member of the Porter Cup golf tournament. Park Avenue Securities LLC, operating as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. The firm serves individual, corporate, and nonprofit clients with brokerage, financial planning, and investment advisory services using proprietary and third-party models.

Justin Trybus is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Pruco Securities, LLC and Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of his advisory work, he manages a rental property in Buffalo, NY. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing through point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Tyler Marriott Wells is a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Edward Jones and CVS Pharmacy. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors and retirement plans, offering investment advisory programs alongside brokerage and insurance services. The firm provides a digital advisory program and a Managed Account program, operating as both a broker-dealer and insurance agency.

Richard Hulburd is a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with five years of industry experience. He has worked exclusively within various capacities at Citizens Bank and Citizens Securities since 2014. Outside of his advisory role, Hulburd creates content for a YouTube channel covering weather and storm chasing. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors and retirement plans, offering both advisory programs and brokerage and insurance services. The firm provides a digital advisory program with ETF-based portfolios managed alongside a Managed Account program, operating as both a broker-dealer and insurance agency.

Peter Godios is a financial advisor with Guardian Life in Buffalo, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Guardian Life and its affiliate, Guardian Life Insurance Co of America, since 2011. Godios is involved in additional insurance activities outside of Guardian Life. Guardian Life’s Park Avenue® Wealth Management, a wholly owned subsidiary, serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through brokerage services, financial planning, retirement consulting, and a range of advisory programs that include proprietary and third-party strategies.

Cheryl Vallon is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at HSBC Securities since 2010 and with HSBC Technology & Services USA since 2015. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. provides managed account programs to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers both client-directed and discretionary investment programs, utilizing model risk profiles and combining strategic and tactical asset allocation developed with HSBC Global Asset Management and affiliated providers.

James Fashano is a financial advisor with Guardian Life in Buffalo, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Guardian Life and its affiliate since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he is a 90% owner of Alliance Advisory Group Inc., a non-investment-related business based in Buffalo. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a range of advisory programs using both proprietary and third-party portfolios.

Joseph Herrmann is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at MassMutual Life Insurance Company, Gilder Gagnon Howe, City National Rochdale, and Merrill. He serves as an advisory board member for Seton Hall University’s Transformative Leadership Certificate Program, contributing to periodic reviews and program development. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations through client-directed and discretionary options. The firm’s investment process combines strategic and tactical asset allocation with ongoing fund due diligence and management, serving a broad client base with both non-discretionary and discretionary portfolios.

Brian Geary is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He has worked at Hightower Advisors since 2022 and previously spent ten years at Linwood Investment Advisors. Based in Buffalo, NY, he is currently affiliated with Hightower Advisors. Hightower provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, combining proprietary research and a variety of investment vehicles to serve its clients.

Nicole Macdowell is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. She has 11 years of industry experience, including prior roles at LPL Financial, M&T Bank, and Wells Fargo Clearing Services. Macdowell also serves as a Bank Officer for HSBC Bank (USA) N.A., engaging in the sale of bank-related products alongside her registered representative duties. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations through several program types, including client-directed and fully discretionary options. The firm employs a multi-profile investment approach and utilizes affiliated and third-party providers for advisory and fund selection services.

Nila Khoury is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 13 years of industry experience. She has worked at HSBC Securities and HSBC Bank USA since 2016 in various roles. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs for individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations through several client-directed and discretionary program types. The firm uses model risk profiles and combines strategic and tactical asset allocation with ongoing fund due diligence, operating as both an SEC-registered adviser and broker-dealer.

Austin Reese is a financial advisor at Key Investment Services LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC, and Citi Group. Key Investment Services LLC serves individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and institutional plan clients through a network of financial professionals, offering portfolio management and model-based advisory products primarily on a non-discretionary basis. The firm employs a multi-provider platform model and integrates services from KeyCorp affiliates, including KeyBank and KeyBanc Capital Markets.

John Birkby is a CFP® with 43 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and Clark & Company Wealth Management since 2024. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities from 2008 to 2024. Outside of his advisory work, he is co-owner of Swanson & Birkby Associates, LLC, a commercial real estate management entity, and has engaged in fixed insurance sales. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and hundreds of thousands of clients. The firm offers discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and a comprehensive adviser-support platform.

Zachary Koch is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Buffalo, NY. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Prior to Commonwealth, he worked at American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. and M&T Bank among other roles. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $210 billion in client assets. The firm offers discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and a variety of investment options while providing back-office support including trading and reporting.

James Krieger is a financial advisor at HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. with 4 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been associated with HSBC entities since 2010 in various roles, including serving as a bank officer at HSBC Bank USA N.A. in addition to his advisory position. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations, with a range of client-directed and discretionary investment options supported by multiple affiliated service providers.

Joshua Haueise is a CFP® professional with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and Black Diamond Custom Wealth Management. His prior experience includes six years at Lincoln Financial Securities and roles at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients, providing a range of advisory programs and support services including wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and discretionary model portfolios. The firm offers various program structures and operates as a platform provider delivering operations, trading, technology, compliance, and practice-management support.