Shawn Barnum is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2014 and also holds a position at Agia since 2022. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Power of Attorney for his mother. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-based individual investors, including 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 UMA models and operating at scale with over 1,200 advisors and approximately $26.4 billion in discretionary assets.

Matthew Verel is a financial advisor at Key Investment Services LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at Key Investment Services and Key Bank since 2017. Outside of his advisory role, Verel serves as a reserve deputy sheriff with the Erie County Sheriff Department. Key Investment Services LLC serves individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and corporate clients through various wrap-fee advisory programs and model portfolios. The firm emphasizes client-directed investment strategy selection and provides access to third-party discretionary managers, operating within the KeyCorp group alongside KeyBank and KeyBanc Capital Markets.

David Gelia is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services, holding a Series 63 designation and 37 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LPL Financial, Cadaret, Grant & Co., Cambridge Investment Research, Guardian Life Insurance Company, and United Insurance Agency. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a trustee for Villa Maria College. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

Melanie Gagliano is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding a Series 63 designation and eight years of industry experience. She previously worked at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. and Exile East LLC before joining Kestra in 2021. In addition to her advisory role, she is involved in designing 401(k) plans and sells health insurance plans to small businesses. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a range of institutional and individual clients, offering services including plan design, fiduciary consulting, and advisor-managed accounts. The firm serves large institutional investors and operates diverse programs such as pooled employer plans and private fund placements.

Thomas Volpini is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience, currently serving at Hightower Advisors since 2017. Prior to this, he worked at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC from 2009 to 2017. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a reserve with the Erie County Sheriff Reserve in New York. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and financial institutions. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers along with proprietary research and a range of investment vehicles.

Debbie Sawma is a financial advisor with Key Investment Services LLC in Niagara Falls, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 16 years of industry experience. She has worked with Key Investment Services since 2015 and previously spent 11 years at KeyBank. Outside of financial advising, she serves as vice president of Sawma’s Car Care Inc., an automotive repair business owned by her spouse. Key Investment Services LLC serves individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and corporate clients through various advisory programs, model portfolios, and managed accounts. The firm emphasizes client-directed model selection and provides access to third-party discretionary managers, operating within the KeyCorp group with affiliations to KeyBank and KeyBanc Capital Markets.

Joseph Martin is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Amherst, NY, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 license. He has 28 years of industry experience, including over two decades at Principal Securities Inc. and Principal Life Insurance Company. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a broad client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel stationed abroad. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under various advisory and promoter arrangements.

Charles Lytle is a financial advisor with United Planners Financial Services of America, holding a Series 63 license and 16 years of industry experience. He has operated his own advisory businesses since 2009 and currently serves as an insurance agent specializing in non-variable insurance. Additionally, he provides tax preparation and accounting services through a separate firm. United Planners Financial Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan services, and brokerage solutions through an open-architecture platform with multiple custodians and third-party money managers.

Bennett Gagliano is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory who holds extensive industry experience spanning 45 years. Prior to joining Kestra in 2021, he spent two decades at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. and G & C Pension Services LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of Bennett A Gagliano Inc., focusing on the design and sale of benefit plans, and manages multiple third-party administration firms related to retirement plan services. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a broad range of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including plan design, fiduciary consulting, investment advice, and employee education, serving large institutional investors with assets under management of approximately $79.8 billion.

Michael Williams Jr. is a financial advisor at Valic Financial Advisors with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2017, with prior experience at Pruco Securities LLC. Williams is also involved in offering non-securities insurance products through a separate business activity. Valic Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer serving primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, as well as employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm provides wrap programs, portfolio management, and financial planning services using discretionary unified managed accounts and centralized technology solutions.

Marc Rosenthal is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 66 and Series 63 credentials and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Eagle Strategies since 2017 and concurrently associated with ROI Financial Group, Nylife Securities Inc., and New York Life Insurance Company since 2001. Outside of his advisory work, Rosenthal serves as an officer of the Kaleida Health Foundation and is a board member of the Amherst Youth Hockey Association. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional plans, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm delivers tailored advice through multiple program types and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis, operating within the integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Michael Winter is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. His career includes multiple roles within HSBC-affiliated entities as well as positions at Ameriprise, Valic Financial Advisors, Merrill, and Global Retirement Partners. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm utilizes a range of client-directed and discretionary programs supported by a structured investment process that incorporates strategic and tactical asset allocation alongside fund due diligence.

Robin Lee is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Commonwealth and Clark & Company Wealth Management in 2025, Lee worked at Morgan Stanley from 2020 to 2023. Commonwealth Financial Network is a registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their retail and institutional clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs and operational support, including discretionary model portfolios and customized investment solutions.

Emily Ford is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently an advisor at Hightower Advisors. Her prior roles include positions at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, ESAS, LLC, and Russell Schwartzbeck. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and access to alternative investments and custom indexing strategies.

Matthew Turco is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Eagle Strategies and ROI Financial Group since 2023, and previously at Nylife Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Co since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he owns a business selling vintage and antique items on eBay. Eagle Strategies serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis, working within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Daniel Schlein is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors based in Williamsville, NY, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. He has worked with Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2017. Schlein is also involved in an insurance-related business outside of Guardian Life. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a diverse retail client base, offering brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of proprietary model portfolios, third-party managers, and digital advice solutions to implement investment strategies across various account types.

Seth Hamilton is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. and holds a Series 66 designation. He has seven years of industry experience, including prior roles at Cetera Investment Advisers and National Life Group. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in tax preparation through HD Tax Solutions. Equity Services, Inc., operating as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs multiple advisory platforms, including third-party asset managers and model portfolios, combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and managed accounts.

Jonathan Donatelli is a CFP® professional at Principal Financial Services with 23 years of industry experience. He has worked at Principal Securities Inc. since 2016 and has held concurrent roles at Wealth Management Services LLC and Principal Life Insurance Company since 2011 and 2014, respectively. Outside of advisory activities, he is involved in insurance services including fixed life, disability income, and long-term care insurance. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and military personnel overseas. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under multiple arrangements.

Lewis Wexler is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of a woodworking business and works as a notary public. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA retirement plans. The firm provides both model portfolio and customized portfolio management under a fiduciary standard.

Tyler Schmitt is a financial advisor with Hightower Advisors, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and 11 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Legg Mason Investor Services and Franklin Templeton Financial Services. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm’s approach includes multi-manager solutions and proprietary research, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management along with access to a broad range of investment vehicles.