Rong Gao is a CFP® professional with over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. She has worked at BNY Mellon for 24 years before joining Core Planning, LLC in 2026. Gao is based in San Francisco, CA. Core Planning provides fee-only financial planning and wealth management services primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, along with ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services for qualified plans. The firm uses a combination of third-party model portfolios and rule-based rebalancing tools to tailor investment strategies according to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Michael Faust is a CFA® charterholder with 24 years of industry experience. He has been with Bailard, Inc. since 2008, including five years in his current role. His career spans positions within Bailard Fund Services, Inc. outside of their asset management platform. Bailard provides wealth and asset management services to both individual and institutional clients, employing an active, multi-asset approach that integrates quantitative models, fundamental research, and qualitative judgment. The firm serves a diverse client base that includes high-net-worth individuals, endowments, foundations, and pension plans, and offers sustainable and impact investing options upon request.

James Vandevoorde is a financial advisor at Summitry, LLC with 30 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at Vantage Wealth for 33 years before joining Summitry in 2026. Summitry serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, as well as investment companies and other investment advisers. The firm emphasizes a research-driven, bottom-up investment approach and offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, model equity strategies, third-party manager selection, and advisory services to a registered mutual fund.

Richard Larsen is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Team Hewins, LLC in Foster City, CA, bringing two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Team Hewins, he worked at Insight Global in various roles from 2019 to 2024. Team Hewins advises individuals, families, trusts, business entities, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting services. The firm’s investment approach is grounded in asset-allocation principles based on Modern Portfolio Theory and includes both discretionary and non-discretionary management, with a notable focus on serving state and municipal employee benefit plans.

Adam Simon is a financial advisor with Concorde Asset Management, LLC in San Francisco, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Outside of his advisory role, he is president of Nomisimon, Inc., a real estate consulting firm providing strategy and consulting services to owners, buyers, and sellers. Concorde Asset Management serves individual, corporate, and retirement-plan clients by offering portfolio management, tailored financial planning, and access to third-party asset managers. The firm builds individualized portfolios using model-based strategies and serves as an overlay manager with discretionary trading and allocation responsibilities.

Mary Bersot is a CFA® charterholder with 20 years of industry experience. She spent 20 years at BERSOT Capital Management, LLC before joining Bailard, Inc. in 2025. Bailard provides wealth management and asset management services to individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning and discretionary portfolio management across multi-asset and single-asset strategies. The firm employs an active, multi-asset approach combining quantitative models, fundamental research, and qualitative judgment, and offers sustainable and impact investing options upon client request.

Daria Victorov is a CFP® professional with nine years of industry experience. She has been with Abacus Wealth Partners in San Francisco since 2016. Abacus Wealth Partners provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management services to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, and various institutional entities. The firm employs an asset-class investing approach based on academic research, using primarily no-load mutual funds, ETFs, and passive institutional funds, while also incorporating ESG screening and private pooled investment options for qualified clients.

Claudia Rivas is a financial advisor at SeaCrest Wealth Management, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at J.P. Morgan Securities, First Republic Investment Management, Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of her advisory role, she is a partner in OTOMI TTO, LLC, a real estate business involved in property updates and rental planning. SeaCrest Wealth Management is a multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and investment management using a customized, long-term approach that integrates fundamental and technical analysis, supported by artificial intelligence tools and human oversight.

Mikhael Balachov is a financial advisor at Team Hewins, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Team Hewins since 2018, previously working at Hewins Financial Advisors, LLC from 2005 to 2018. Balachov serves as a board member of The Russian Center of San Francisco, where he participates in board meetings and annual festival planning. Team Hewins, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as business entities, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employee benefit plans. The firm’s investment process is guided by an Investment Committee using Modern Portfolio Theory and offers specialized retirement plan services, managing approximately $3.43 billion in regulatory assets under management.

Jeff Weber is a CFP® professional with 23 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with The Wealth Consulting Group and has held prior roles at Titus Wealth Management and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, Weber is also licensed to sell fixed insurance products. The Wealth Consulting Group provides fee-based wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, corporate sponsors, charities, and trusts. The firm employs a tailored investment process utilizing multiple strategies and custodial platforms, and integrates legal-service pathways alongside its advisory offerings.

Brennan Foust is a Series 65-registered financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at RWA Wealth Partners since 2022 and previously held roles at Adviser Investments, LLC and Stevens Foster Financial Advisors. RWA Wealth Partners serves individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, business entities, and retirement plans with investment management, financial planning, tax planning, and retirement plan advisory services. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes strategic asset allocation using an open-architecture platform and incorporates customized fixed income and tactical adjustments.

David Pryor is a financial advisor at First Heartland Consultants, Inc. with 26 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at First Heartland Capital Inc. since 2001, Marquis Financial Services Inc. since 1999, and Crisali, Sciahica & Woodward since 1980. Outside of investment advisory, he is involved in CPA, bookkeeping, and tax services through Crisafi, Pryor, Farquhar, and owns an equipment leasing business. First Heartland Consultants serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan participants, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm offers financial planning, model-based management for self-directed 401(k) accounts, asset management, and third-party asset management solutions delivered through a network of independent investment adviser representatives.

Noah Holmes is a financial advisor at Bailard, Inc. with a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Bailard since 2021 and multiple positions at the University of Oregon. Bailard provides wealth and asset management services to individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-asset diversification strategy that combines quantitative models, fundamental research, and qualitative judgment. The firm is notable for its sub-advisory roles, management of affiliated pooled vehicles, and its status as a Certified B Corporation.

Liam Ehlers is a financial advisor at MissionSquare Retirement with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Fidelity Investments. MissionSquare Retirement serves state and local government employers, their employees, and certain nonprofit entities by administering deferred compensation and qualified retirement plans, providing plan administration, recordkeeping, education, and Guided Pathways Advisory Services. The firm uses model portfolios developed by Morningstar Investment Management and supports more than 40,000 participants through a multi-team advisory structure.

Christopher Anderson is a financial advisor at Team Hewins, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Team Hewins in various capacities since 2015. Team Hewins, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as business entities, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employee benefit plans. The firm’s investment approach is guided by an Investment Committee using Modern Portfolio Theory and offers specialized retirement plan services, managing approximately $3.43 billion in regulatory assets.

Osman Akgun is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Bailard, Inc. in Foster City, CA. He has worked at Bailard since 2012. Bailard, Inc. provides wealth and asset management services to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, endowments, and pension plans. The firm employs a multi-asset, actively managed approach combining quantitative models, fundamental research, and qualitative judgment, and offers sustainable and impact investing options upon request.

Xuejing Li is a financial advisor at American Independent Securities Group, LLC with five years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. and World Financial Group, Inc. Outside of advising, she owns an IT consulting and services company, Win Win Technology, LLC. American Independent Securities Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and features affiliated broker-dealer registration alongside non-discretionary assets.

Sonya Mughal is a CFA® charterholder with 26 years of industry experience. She has worked at Bailard, Inc. and its affiliates since 1994, holding various roles including positions as director and treasurer of affiliated investment-related private funds. Mughal currently serves as director of Bailard Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. and BB&K Holdings, Inc., Bailard’s parent holding company. Bailard, Inc. offers wealth and asset management services to high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, employing a multi-asset, actively managed investment approach that integrates quantitative models and fundamental research. The firm manages affiliated pooled vehicles and serves as a sub-adviser to mutual funds, with offerings that include sustainable and impact investing strategies.

Irene Liando is a CFA® charterholder at Bailard, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. She has worked previously at Evans & Partners and Schroders before joining Bailard. Bailard provides wealth and asset management services to a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, foundations, pension plans, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs an active multi-asset approach that combines quantitative models, fundamental research, and qualitative judgment, offering both discretionary portfolio management and sustainable investing options.

Tanis Kelly is a financial advisor at Cooper McManus with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cooper McManus, Tanis worked at Securities America Advisors, Inc. and has been involved with Greystone Advisory Group and TK Settlement Consulting. Cooper McManus serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer retirement plans by providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a fundamentally driven investment process and utilizes a broad range of instruments, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and cryptocurrency products.