Mary Brennan is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Stone Steps Financial, LLC since 2019. Prior to that, she worked at Dowling & Yanke, LLC from 2015 to 2019. Outside of her advisory role, she operates a bookkeeping business as a sole proprietor. Stone Steps Financial is a fee-only advisory firm serving primarily individuals and high-net-worth clients, offering comprehensive financial planning and investment management. The firm employs a passive, asset-class-based approach using index mutual funds and ETFs to create tax-efficient, low-turnover portfolios tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

William Rutherford is a financial advisor with Rutherford Investment Management in Palm Springs, CA, holding 24 years of industry experience. He has worked at multiple firms bearing the Rutherford name since 2000, including W D Rutherford LLC and Sentinel Rock Wealth Management LLC. Rutherford Investment Management is an SEC-registered, fee-only advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, including retirement plan investors. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management using a mix of fundamental and technical analysis and manages a Multi-Cap Growth Fund focused on U.S. equities. It also acts as Investment Manager for a collective investment trust maintained by Alta Trust, serving qualified employer-sponsored defined contribution plans.

Maria Melecio is a CFP® professional with 11 years of experience in the financial industry. She has worked at Desert Wealth Management LLC since 2018 and previously held roles at Alpha Wealth Management, LLC and as an insurance agent. Outside of her advisory work, Ms. Melecio serves as a FINRA arbitrator and is an adjunct professor at California State University San Bernardino. Desert Wealth Management is a fee-only investment adviser managing approximately $49.6 million in discretionary assets for a small client base, primarily individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an academic investment approach that integrates macroeconomic and fundamental security analysis to guide asset allocation and investment selection.

Christian Maclean is a CFA® charterholder with 25 years of industry experience. He is a principal at MacLean Capital Advisors, LLC, where he has worked since 2011, and also has experience with Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in independent insurance sales. MacLean Capital Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a range of investment strategies, including long-term holdings, short-term trading, options writing, and margin transactions, generally managing accounts on a discretionary basis aligned with documented client risk tolerances.

Lea Wiviott Boracchia is a financial advisor with Boracchia Wiviott Wealth Partners LLC in Palm Desert, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 12 years of industry experience. Prior to founding her current firm in 2017, she worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and related entities from 2013 to 2016. She is also a licensed insurance agent and occasionally offers related products and advice alongside her advisory services. Boracchia Wiviott Wealth Partners serves individual clients, including high-net-worth households, as well as institutional clients such as pension and employee benefit plans. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and subscription-based investment research, employing fundamental, technical, and modern portfolio theory analyses across a broad range of investment vehicles.

Akram Tadlaoui is a financial advisor at Weisberg Capital Management with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Alpha Wealth Management, LLC and as CEO of Financial Wellness For All, a separate business focused on non-investment activities. He also operates as a licensed insurance agent. Weisberg Capital Management is a two-advisor registered investment adviser providing asset management, financial planning, and limited ERISA 3(21) retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm employs multiple analytical methods and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management tailored to client needs.

Justin Young is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving at Weisberg Capital Management. His prior work includes roles at Gonda + Co. and Alpha Wealth Management, LLC. Outside of advising, he serves as CFO for Financial Wellness For All and operates a tax preparation business. Weisberg Capital Management is a two-advisor registered investment adviser providing asset management, financial planning, and limited ERISA 3(21) retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm employs multiple analytical methods and manages portfolios using both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches.

Mathew Mellier is a financial advisor with Hardworking Capital Advisors, LLC in Palm Desert, CA, holding the CFP® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses. He has 25 years of industry experience, including roles at Emerson Equity LLC and Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. Mellier is also involved in life insurance and index annuity sales as part of his broader financial planning services. Hardworking Capital Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a portfolio management approach using both proprietary and third-party models, serving a relatively small client base with multi-tiered service offerings that include discretionary portfolio management and project-based consulting.

Brian Heublein is a financial advisor with Marsha Lee & Company, Inc. in Palm Desert, CA, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cetera Advisors LLC since 2022 and was previously with First Allied Securities, Inc. from 1994 to 2022. Heublein serves as a FINRA arbitrator. Marsha Lee & Company, Inc. provides investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to individual clients, using an active, discretionary management approach focused on diversification and risk optimization across various asset classes. The firm operates with a small client base and offers clients both asset-based and transaction-based billing arrangements.

Michael McConnell is a financial advisor with M Premier Partners in Indian Wells, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has worked at M Premier Partners since 2017 and previously at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and Integrated Wealth Management. M Premier Partners provides portfolio management and retirement plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and business entities. The firm employs a blend of fundamental and technical analysis, third-party manager due diligence, and multi-asset allocation strategies, utilizing a range of securities including stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds.

Marsha Lee is the principal advisor at Marsha Lee & Company, Inc. in Palm Desert, CA, with 44 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Cetera Advisors LLC and First Allied Securities, Inc. She serves on the FINRA Board of Arbitrators. Marsha Lee & Company, Inc. provides investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and pension plans. The firm employs an active, discretionary management approach focused on diversification and risk optimization, offering clients a choice between asset-based or transaction-based fee arrangements.

Joel Kocen is a financial advisor with The Kocen Financial Group, Inc. in Rancho Mirage, CA. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 41 years of industry experience, including 38 years with Financial Goal Securities, Inc. and 35 years with his current firm. The Kocen Financial Group, Inc. provides discretionary investment management and related services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm utilizes an asset-allocation framework tailored to clients’ risk tolerance, time horizon, tax efficiency, and cash flow needs, offering portfolio management primarily through mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party money managers.

John Wills is a financial advisor at The Kocen Financial Group, Inc. in Rancho Mirage, CA, holding a Series 65 designation with seven years of industry experience. He has been with The Kocen Financial Group since 2007. The Kocen Financial Group, Inc. provides discretionary investment management and related services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm employs an asset-allocation approach that considers clients’ risk tolerance, time horizon, tax efficiency, and cash flow needs, and offers portfolio management primarily through mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party money managers.

Stephen Biesinger is a financial advisor with Cypress Wealth Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cypress Wealth Services since 2017 and previously held roles at M.S. Howells & Co., Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc., and Integrated Wealth Management, Inc. Outside of advisory work, he serves on the board of Pathfinder Ranch, a charitable organization, and assists with bookkeeping for a social media business. Cypress Wealth Services is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $965.5 million for over 700 clients through a 10-advisor team. The firm serves high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, and businesses, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting with a focus on fundamental analysis and long-term portfolio construction.

Penny Houseman is a financial advisor with The Kocen Financial Group, Inc. She holds a Series 65 designation and has six years of industry experience. Houseman has been with The Kocen Financial Group since 2019 and previously worked at Jeffree Lee Financial Services for ten years. The Kocen Financial Group, Inc. provides discretionary investment management and related services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm employs an asset-allocation framework considering clients’ risk tolerance, time horizon, tax efficiency, and cash flow needs, and offers additional services including financial planning, business consulting, and seminars.

Brian Amidei is a financial advisor at Fortem Financial Group, LLC with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and has been with Fortem Financial Group since 2018, following two years at Fortem Financial, LLC. He is also the owner of BPA Capital Management, Inc., a flow-through entity for RIA compensation, and holds a license as an insurance agent. Fortem Financial Group provides financial planning, consulting, discretionary investment management, and retirement plan consulting for high-net-worth individuals, families, corporations, employee benefit plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm constructs portfolios based on financial plans and investment policy statements, emphasizing diversification and alignment with clients’ risk tolerance, and manages accounts with ongoing reviews and a fiduciary approach under ERISA.

Brandon Rosi is a financial advisor at Keystone Private Wealth with Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Keystone, he worked at Desert Oasis for four years and has owned and operated Rosi Physiotherapy since 2017, where he is involved in physical therapy, performance training, and medical consultation. Keystone Private Wealth is a SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $861 million with a team of 13 advisors. The firm serves high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plan sponsors with customized portfolios that may include mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, fixed income, and alternative investments, applying both long-term and tactical strategies as appropriate.

David Tsikman is a financial advisor with The Kocen Financial Group, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Kocen Financial Group, Financial Goal Securities, Inc., Glean Management LP, Orthodox Union, Miracle Mile CPA, and West Coast Talmudical Seminary. Outside of securities advisory, he manages a property management and real estate business under Tsikman Holdings. The Kocen Financial Group is a team investment adviser managing approximately $186 million on a discretionary basis for individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm focuses on asset allocation and comprehensive financial planning, combining traditional wealth management with institutional sub-advisory work and business consulting.

Norman Mangina is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Illumination Wealth Management since 2015, where he is part of an 11-advisor team based in Palm Springs, CA. Illumination Wealth Management is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm provides comprehensive financial life management, pension consulting, and business-owner exit planning services, employing a values-linked, long-term investment approach across multiple offices and integrated family office offerings.

Bradley Arave is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 17 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cypress Wealth Services, LLC since 2019 and previously at J.P. Morgan Securities LLC from 2012 to 2019. In addition to his advisory role, he provides insurance solutions as an independent insurance professional. Cypress Wealth Services is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $965.5 million for high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, and businesses. The firm employs a fundamental, long-term investment approach with customized asset allocation, offering discretionary management and financial planning through a team of 10 advisors.